Rating Handlebar's outdoor eating space

2311 W North Ave (773-384-9546)

This laid-back Bucktown messenger magnet feeds famished cyclists (see fig. 4) with internationally inspired veg food. Warm weather demands grabbing a seat at one of the shaded, metal patio tables and ordering from the well-curated selection of microbrews—or, better yet, a pitcher of tangy, refreshing housemade margaritas. Pretension is rare in the fenced-in yard—unless you count the high-end fixed-gear bikes that roll through the back gate (an in-yard rack keeps them secure).

FOOD 5 Try the hearty black beans maduro and the buffalo “chicken” wrap
DRINKS 7 Decent microbrew selection and great margaritas
CROWD 7 Fixie riders, vegans
VIEW 4 A chipping mural of an Ecuador scene and an occasional bike-art sculpture
SPACE 6 Feels like a backyard party
TOTAL 29