"If you ever spent time hanging out in a smoky basement with black-light posters during high school, then Dancen in Lincoln Square will make you nostalgic. But here, the obscuring haze is generated by the excellent Korean food being grilled at the bar, rather than your friend who was just kicked off the swim team—and the black-light posters advertise cocktails and the fire chicken. You’ll want to work your way through the long menu, starting with the aforementioned fire chicken. Chunks of marinated chicken are grilled until the marinade becomes charred and caramelized. It’s delicious and spicy, and it comes with a Thousand Island-dressed cabbage slaw to help balance out the heat. It’s perfect for a solo meal at the counter, where you can watch the grill with the intensity of your ex-swim team friend staring at a lava lamp." - adrian kane, john ringor
