The Aberdeen Tap

"As far as naked wings go, this busy corner bar in River West has some of the best. Aberdeen’s wings have a flavorful smoky char, putting them a tier above most spots before sauces are even thrown into the mix. But the crowning achievement of their culinary chemistry is—pause for dramatic effect—the Buffalo sauce. It’s the perfect balance of buttery and vinegary flavor, with a little sweetness to keep you from looking like the Warheads logo. Plus, they sell it in bottles, so you can always keep some in your bag in case of emergency." - adrian kane, phaithe norman, john ringor

"This River West bar has some of the best chicken wings in the city. The naked wings alone already have a pleasant smoky char, and get even more flavor from housemade sauces like spicy jerk or BBQ. The Buffalo is especially delicious—a perfect balance of buttery and vinegary, plus a little bit of sweetness. But if you don't really care about wings (you should), other dishes like their gator or duck sausages and the BBQ adobo chicken grinder are also delicious. Come by to catch a game, unwind with some friends, or relax with a beer on their patio." - John Ringor

"Variety is the spice of life - in both cloth masks and brunch options. Luckily, food hall Politan Row has eight different food and drink concepts. This way you can order anything from gyoza to lobster rolls to fried chicken to charcuterie, and enjoy your buffet while social distancing on their large patio." - courtney sprewer

"Despite your best efforts, you might find that deciding on a restaurant for you and your friends has become more like chaperoning a rowdy class trip where everyone’s getting hangrier by the minute. Instead of threatening to turn this car around, just give up and take everyone to Politan Row, the upscale food hall in the same building as the McDonald’s headquarters. There they can all scatter, order whatever they want, then reconvene on the patio. Assuming they can decide which of the nine stalls to go to." - adrian kane

"To the surprise of many, this divey spot on Aberdeen also serves some solid bar food on its quaint little tree-lined patio." - adrian kane