You love to go out. We love to go out. You love to eat. We love to eat. You love to drink. Well, you get the idea. So when you're itching for the lastest Chicago nightlife has to offer, check out The Extrovert for up-to-the minute details on the scene.
ALL BOTTLED UP: Babylon Eatery
The spot: After the City of Chicago passed the restaurant smoking ban, Babylon Eatery (2023 N. Damen Ave.) stopped offering hookah smoking on the weekends, but there are still a couple of pipes on display at this casual Bucktown spot. Perhaps they’ll be used again someday—management says they hope to expand upstairs within the next year to open a separate hookah lounge. For now, the food is the main attraction. The shawarma sandwich with a choice of pressed chicken, beef or lamb ($5.50; lamb $6.50) is the biggest draw. The vegetarian sampler appetizer, composed of falafel, baba ghanouj, hummus, tabbouli and dolmeh ($8), is popular too.
The bottle: Within walking distance of Babylon, you’ve got your choice of a 7-Eleven or Polonia Liquors (1956 W. Armitage Ave. 773-782-1111). Although Polonia’s selection isn’t the greatest, you’ll be able to find a chilled bottle of Santa Margherita pinot grigio ($24.99). The crisp, dry white pairs nicely with the vegetarian appetizers. If you’re feeling adventuresome, snag a bottle of Bacardi Silver ($15 for 750 milliliters) to spike one of Babylon’s fresh fruit smoothies ($3.50), offered in mango, strawberry or blueberry. No corkage fee. --By Emily Hiser Lobdell
[ Emily Hiser Lobdell is a Metromix special contributor.] metromix@tribune.com
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