While Charlie's two Chicago locations are a bit family-centric for serious drinkers, both locations serve up a 100+ ingredient Mary bar on Saturdays and Sundays, in what is becoming a familiar refrain to this guide. Charlie's Navy Pier location clearly makes the sometimes-maligned Pier the unquestioned place to be for Bloody Mary bars, and the Andersonville installment provides a slightly more grown-up rendition. Both Charlie's feature old-time decor out the ears and a full menu of eats like Cajun Tilapia Caesar salads, homestyle pot roast and the PLT (that's "plenty of pork," in the form of country ham, Cajun andouille sausage and bacon with the requisite lettuce and tomato).

Centerstage Reviewer: Pete Beatty