Dark Horse Tap & Grille

A Wrigleyville mainstay since 2003, this warm-and-woody tap is a welcome respite from the typical sports bar offering above-average pub fare from a scratch kitchen paired with seasonally-minded handcrafted cocktails and a 24-strong draft lineup with a craft focus.

Signature dishes, which draw raves from Lakeview locals and Cubs fans alike, include options such as Goose Island Blue Line-battered green beans with chipotle mayo; pulled pork nachos with braised pork shoulder, signature whiskey-spiked barbecue sauce, Cheddar cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, onions and sour cream; and a Moo and Oink burger, with Cheddar cheese, pulled pork, crispy onions and signature whiskey barbecue sauce.

The cozy-and-comfortable main room is fitted with rich woods throughout from the high-top tables to the custom-made back bar to the wood-paneled walls. The facade is fitted with floor-to-ceiling doors, which open in the warmer months for views of the sunny Sheffield Avenue sidewalk cafe. The bar also features a year-round beer garden, which is heated and enclosed in the winter, and open for alfresco dining during the summer months.

The Dark Horse is the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and draws throngs of Pennsylvania ex-pats to support the Black and Gold during football season. The bar also is an official Maryland Terrapins bar (in conjunction with the Chicago Network of the University of Maryland Alumni Association) and is an official Chicago Bulls venue.