Rating Zed451's outdoor eating space

739 N Clark St (312-266-6691)

If ZED’s rooftop lounge were yours alone, you’d be the most popular kid in town, because this space is primed for entertaining: It has an outdoor bar, rustic lounges and a sleek fireplace for nights that dip below 70. Problem is, it’s not yours, and the crowd here, a mix of scene-seeking locals and tourists…well, let’s just say they’re probably not on your A list. So do your best to carve out a corner for you and your buds. If you can fool yourself into thinking it’s all about you, ZED can feel like (the perfect) home.

FOOD 4 It’s generic and all a little sweet, so eat beforehand
DRINKS 5 Again with the sweetness, though the cucumber cocktail isn’t bad
CROWD 3 A little obnoxious, a little older and a lot touristy
SPACE 7 It’s somehow both rustic and slick—a good combination
VIEW 7 A lot of condo windows, but on a clear night there are also a few stars
TOTAL 26