The July Hit List: Pompette, The Pearl Club, Homeslice Pizzeria & Patio, and More

It doesn’t get more friendly or neighborhoody than Pompette, a lovely cafe and wine bar in Bucktown. The no-frills space is awash in natural light, with lots of four-tops and bar seating. But don’t conflate casual with boring: Pompette has three acclaimed chefs at its helm (Ashlee Aubin, Aaron Patten, and Katie Wasielewski), all alums of big Chicago spots (think Alinea and Moody Tongue), who have put together an exciting menu of French- and Italian-inflected dishes. There’s handmade agnolotti with sweet spring peas and wild mushrooms for dinner, brioche “toad in the hole” for brunch, and a sizable natural wine list — Pompette is French slang for “a little tipsy,” after all.

What was once a beloved food truck is now a bustling cafe in West Town, offering tons of Inez Melendez’s famed empanadas and other Puerto Rican specialties. The lively space is packed with hanging plants and bohemian pendants, with cozy cobalt couches to post up and get some work done, and tables grab a quick coffee (she’s serving Dark Matter) or enjoy a meal. You can also sit at the bar for rum-based cocktails, like a smoked-rum Old Fashioned. Pro tip: pick up a bag of frozen empanadas to bring home, for the days when you refuse to leave the comfort of your AC.

No reservations. More info here. 

Boka’s Rob Katz is behind this moody new cocktail lounge at Six Corners. Jewel-toned velvet floor-to-ceiling drapes, matching velvet banquettes, and sparse pendant lights set the dark-and-sexy scene. Cocktails are both classic and creative— try the Trambler with smoked gouda-washed Tequila, Giffard’s crème de mûre, mint syrup, and lime juice. While the setting is sophisticated, the menu has a sense of humor: pair your cocktail with pigs in a blanket or extra crunchy chicken nuggets. Then again, you can always opt for caviar and crisps to stay on-theme.

If summer is synonymous with seafood for you, head to Rosemont’s newly opened Saltwater Coastal Grill, from the Boston-based Lyons Group Entertainment. Fish is the focus here, in a breezy nautical-themed space with lots of stripes and woven bamboo lights. Expect Island Creek oysters, heaping seafood towers, and real-deal Boston clam chowder, along with an omakase selection from sushi chef Ichiro Hu. Take advantage of the summer sun while it lasts and enjoy your Jonah crab claws and crispy calamari on the 80-seat covered patio.

As its name implies, Tuk Tuk Thai Isan specializes in dishes from the Isaan region of northeast Thailand: there’s a green papaya salad enhanced with funky fish sauce and salted crab; a mix of curries and fried rice dishes; a fiery pla nueng manow (steamed red snapper with chili and lime); and lots of wok-fired noodles. Sure, you could order any of these dishes for pick-up or takeout, but we suggest dining in at Tuk Tuk, where the atmosphere is both casual and vibrant, with neon signs, festive flags hanging from the ceiling, and friendly service. 

No reservations. More info here. 

Twinkle lights, a disco ball, and a neon sign proclaiming “I could give up pizza, but I’m not a quitter” should tell you everything you need to know about this Lincoln Park favorite: It’s a lively, fun spot for groups seeking good times and great pizza. Enjoy lazy summer days on the patio with pies heaped with blackened chicken, bacon, and pepperoni (or artichoke hearts and roasted garlic for the non-meat lovers); paired with a frosé and spiked “big ass lemonade.” And if your inner frat kid wants to relive the good old days, they’ve got beer pong competitions every Tuesday and Chambongs at brunch.

While the Soho House is members-only, its new second-floor restaurant, Čálli, is fortunately open to all. Chef Jonathan Zaragoza (of Birriera Zaragoza) brings a diverse array of Mexican flavors to the table—more specifically, the flavors that remind him of home. (Čálli means “home” in Nahuatl.) The space, too, is inspired by his time in Mexico, with abundant plants and the soft hues of the Sonoran Desert. Masa is central to many of the dishes on Zaragoza’s menu, whether it’s served crispy with pork belly carnitas, or shaped into orecchiette with tomato confit and zucchini. Don’t skip out on the cocktails, especially the Old Fashioned that’s fat-washed with mole.

Call (312) 521-8000 for reservations. More info here. 

This Miami transplant is on our list of Chicago’s best cocktail bars for good reason. Tucked into the Freehand Chicago, it offers colorful, inventive drinks made with herbs, fresh-pressed juices, and surprising ingredients. Come in the evening for happy hour with friends, then hang around for late-night live music, DJ sets, and the occasional burlesque show. While perhaps a bit less wild, daytime is an equally nice time for a visit, with a cafe menu packed with comfort-food favorites like fried chicken biscuits and a hulking breakfast burrito. Want to keep the party going? Don’t worry: the cafe menu has cocktails, too.

This sprawling new Mexican spot in Evanston comes from restaurateur Michael Lachowicz and chefs Carlos Cahue and Miguel Escobar. The large, airy space has a dining room for 80, and a 5,000-square-foot cocktail bar decorated in earth tones with woven bamboo light fixtures and painted tiles from Mexico. The menu itself is inspired by the chefs’ grandmothers’ cooking—family dinners in Huandacareo and Huitzuco. There’s tender braised chicken legs in a red mole, beef meatballs in smoky chipotle broth, and black bass wrapped in banana leaf and served with warm tortillas—plus plenty of tacos, of course.

Call (224) 714-2866 for reservations. More info here. 

Want to go furniture shopping, play pickleball, and eat Detroit-style pizza all in the same space? Meet The School House’s latest spot, Grammar. The menu, brought to life by Lula Cafe executive chef Andrew Holladay, has just what you’d want after a rousing game of pickleball, from pepperoni pizza to Caesar salad and a bagel sandwich amped up with pickled jalapenos. To drink, there are refreshing booze-free options, like a Brazilian limeade with sweetened condensed milk, plus plenty of cocktails to celebrate a win (or a new furniture score). 

No reservations. More info here. 

As long as Barbiecore is still hot, we’re compelled to include this one as a bonus: an immersive Barbie-themed dining (and roller-skating) pop-up in the West Loop, running now through September 15. Dress up as Barbie or Ken, take lots of pictures in the cheery pink space, and enjoy California-inspired bites by chef Becky Brown (a Master Chef semi-finalist).

More info here.