Ellen Bettenhausen refers to her pop-the-cork restaurant as a "unique wine experience"...which it is for Oak Park. The list of reds, whites and bubbly is paired with a menu that is similar to that of many Chicago eateries. Dishes like margherita flatbread pizza and pan-seared tuna with plum and ginger ragout sure sound tasty, but they're hardly groundbreaking wine pairings. So what makes Bettenhausen's spot different? Location, location, location.

The opening of Oak Park Abbey marks the Western suburb's first freestanding wine bar. Rumor has it that village leaders even created a new license to allow the Lake Street crowd a place to taste grape.

The Abbey keeps things neutral with creamy walls, smooth wood floors and dark wood tables. Up front a smattering of candlelit high-tops provide cozy conversation nooks for couples, though make sure your date has pretty excellent hearing: The Abbey's music, which can range from John Mayer to Frank Sinatra in a bite of cheese, tends to blare. If stools aren't your thing, the back of the restaurant opens up into a seating area with low tables, and there's outdoor seating in warmer months.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg