May
10
2010
By Diane Ring
As the weather warms and we begin to shed our parkas and mukluks, it seems that there’s a primordial urge to eat and drink out of doors. To me there is nowhere that soothes this need like Big Star, located in the uber hip neighbourhood of Wicker Park in Chicago.
The patio is rough and rugged, and makes no effort to hide it. In fact, the bar is located inside an old car garage, the patio being a former parking lot; oil stains make the unrefined feeling far from subtle. The music is honky tonk, the servers are tattoo covered with a slightly surly attitude, and the tequila is strong. The patio has seating for 125 and the size means there's room for every demographic Chicago has on offer. While I was there, hipsters compared beards, alongside parents and their children, who watched their elders enjoy Schlitz and guac.
It’s not just for the prime tanning location that you visit Big Star. There’s also delicious food and drink: the restaurant specializes in simple Mexican fare. We sampled the guacamole and were happily stuffed after one serving, but after watching all of the tacos go by I couldn’t help but crave more grub. Since chefs Paul Kahan and Justin Large are two of Chicago’s finest, feel free to enjoy some of Mexico’s finest without concern about the location of the nearest bathroom. To be honest, you’ll want something filling to accompany the salty margaritas you'll no doubt be slugging back.
The spot is hardly difficult to find; take the CTA's (also known as the 'El' Train) Blue Line to Damen station and the intrinsic draw to sun and drink should direct you to the patio. If not, open your eyes wider; Big Star is located directly across from the El’s entrance. The bar is cash only and prices are low, but I’d bring a stack of bills; as the famous Aztec saying goes "one margarita is never enough."
bigstarchicago.com
Diane Ring has a sixth sense for finding sun-drenched patios... or maybe it's just clever use of her iPhone. Either way, contact her for more recommendations if you're planning an escape to Chi-town. And visit our trip planning site if you want info on destinations further abroad.