A glance around the interior of Joe E's Unforgettable Lounge will leave you wondering what's so "unforgettable" about this apparently typical neighborhood bar. One conversation with any person in Joe E's will clear that confusion right up. This unassuming pub has been a fixture—nay, pillar—of the Old Irving Park neighborhood since the 1950s. During those golden days, the spot was called The Unforgettable Lounge and featured a stage for nightly talent.

When Joe E. took the reins in the '70s, he dropped the tired lounge vibe, rolled up his sleeves and jumped into community involvement by sponsoring softball teams and organizing charity events. It didn't take long before the little storefront became the number-one spot for locals to grab a brewski after a hard day's work. These days, Joe E. Jr. runs the show, but the pub remains the heart of the old neighborhood, with veteran drinkers keeping the barstools warm during the day, and crowds of young’uns keeping things wild during the late-night hours. The bottled beer menu features mostly domestics, with a few key imports (Heineken, Guinness, Corona and Tecate), but people don't come for the bottles, they come for the buckets. Buckets of domestic beer cost only ten bucks on Sunday. And Monday. Oh, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, too. Saturdays will get you a bucket of Old Style for only $5, and the two-buck bloodies on Sunday will help out with the hangover.

Centerstage Reviewer: K. Tighe