If a place echoes "chill-out neighborhood bar," it's Square One (1400 S. Michigan Ave.; www.squareonechicago.com ).
As soon as my friend and I stepped inside, it felt homey. Among the interesting decor-related items are high ceilings, chalkboard walls around the bar, stools of different heightsand even a bathroom floor made of pennies. (The floor is covered so patrons don't get any ideas.) There are also large-screen TVs, and a larger movie screen up high behind the bar.
Actually, movies fit thereand it's reflected in Square One's cocktails (which head bartender Billy Taylor told me is the spot's biggest selling point). In fact, the drinks are all named after James Bond villains, and some have very unique ingredients. For example, "Oddjob" (which I had) consists of mezcal, Ceres passion fruit juice, fresh lime juice and lemongrass, and ringed with two types of pepper. It was quite good and had a little kick, thanks to the pepper. (Note: Taylor said that, with the fall season, there will be some new drinks on the menu, as some ingredientssuch as watermelon juiceare harder to find.)
In addition, Square One offers small bites ranging from meat and cheeses to the BBQ pork sliders and shrimp skewers we hadand they were absolutely delicious.
Taylor told me that Square One is supposed to feel like a lounge. In addition, he stressed the diversity of drinks the place serves; for example, there are, in addition to the cocktails and wines, 25 craft beersand I hadn't heard of any of them (which means I'll probably keep going back to try at least a few).
As for the bar's name, Taylor added, "We offer classic cocktails so we tell people to come back to square one to get cocktails that are made correctly."
I can't argue with that. The drinks, however, are just one reason to enjoy Square One. The atmosphere is definitely chill enough to succeed as a neighborhood barand to lure people from other areas of Chicago.
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A scarily good drink
On a separate note, if you're looking for a drink to try on Halloween, check out the Smashing Pumpkin:
SMASHING PUMPKIN
1 ounce aged rum/whiskey/cognac
1 ounce Disaronno liqueur
1 heaping bar spoon of pumpkin pie mix
1/2 ounce heavy cream
1 whole egg
Place all ingredients into a mixing glass. Dry shake (shake without ice, so as to "whip" the ingredients together). Then shake again with ice. Strain into a rocks glass without any ice. Top with freshly grated cinnamon.