The third annual Best of Logan Square awards have been tallied, and the neighborhood’s best is all here. Who’s got the best brunch? What’s the best family activity in the area? Where should you grab coffee, buy a book or take a date? You voted, we counted and together we assembled Logan Square’s favorites.
Leading the charge for this year’s winners are Hopewell, Miko’s Italian Ice and Cole’s Bar, all of which brought in victories (or ties for first place) in four separate categories. We’ll leave it to you to see which of them won Best Dog-Friendly Place, Best Hidden Neighborhood Gem (although not so hidden) and which won the Best Dive Bar. OK, not much suspense on that last one. Longman & Eagle and Reno tie for first place for Best Bloody Mary’s!
This year, we also included an open write-in question, where our readers could give the category and name the winner. We’ve included a few of those answers—the popular and the humorous—at the end of the awards.
Check out our 2016 results here.
Note: An asterisk * indicates that the business also won that category last year. Winners without an asterisk * are first-time winners in the category.
Businesses + Shops
Best Grocery Store
Best Thrift Store
Best Bike Shop
Best Bookstore
Best Clothing Boutique
Best Music/Record Store
Logan Hardware * (just in time before the business moves out of the neighborhood)
Best Toy Store
*Play *
Best Specialty Shop
Honorable Mention
Best Bank
Honorable Mention
Best Hair Salon
Best Barber Shop
Honorable Mention
Best Pet Business
Honorable Mention
Arts + Entertainment
Best Music Venue
Honorable Mentions
Best Club
Honorable Mention
Best Place to Dance
Slippery Slope
Best Art Gallery
Best Local Live Theater
Best Comedy Venue
Best Karaoke Spot
Best Street Festival
Best Mural
Chicago mural on Milwaukee Avenue
Best Local Band or Musical Artist
Basement Family *
Best Visual Artist
Gina Hunt
Best Comedian
Rebecca O’Neal (although she now lives in New York City)
Honorable Mentions
Bill Bullock, Kelsey Caja
Food + Drink: Restaurants + Vendors
Best Restaurant
Honorable Mention
Best New Restaurant
Honorable Mentions
Best Fancy Restaurant
Best Brunch Place
Best Budget-Friendly Restaurant
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Honorable Mention
Best BYOB Venue
Honorable Mention
Best Panaderia
Best Taqueria
Honorable Mention
Best Sweet Treats Shop
Honorable Mention
Best Place to Get Late Night Grub
Bars + Clubs
Best All-Around Bar
Scofflaw *
Honorable Mentions
Best Dive Bar
Cole’s *
Best Place For A Shot Of Malort
Honorable Mention
Best Patio Space
Honorable Mention
Best Date Spot
Honorable Mention
Best Place To Work While Enjoying A Drink
Best Dog-Friendly Place
Cocktails + Drinks
Best Beer Selection
Best Wine List
Best Cup Of Coffee
Honorable Mention
Menu choices
Best All-Around Dish
Plin at Osteria Langhe *
Best Taco
Taco al Pastor at L’Patron *
Best Cuban Sandwich
Cubano at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe *
Best Burger
El Hombre, the Working Man at Revolution
Best Pizza
Thin Crust at Dante’s Pizzeria *
Best Brunch Menu Item
Breakfast Burritos at Lula’s Cafe
Honorable Mention
Hook Sandwich at Reno
Best Bloody Mary
Best Margarita
Honorable Mention
Neighborhood
Best Running Path/Place to Bike
The 606 *
Best Park
Best Place To Work Out
Honorable Mention
Best (N0t-So-Hidden) Hidden Neighborhood Gem
Honorable Mention
That decorated house on Logan Boulevard at Christmas
Best Wedding Venue
Honorable Mention
Stan Mansion, Logan Auditorium
Best Place To Meet New People
Best Community Group
LoganSquarist (Thank you!)
Honorable Mention
Logan Square Neighborhood Association *
Best Alderman
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Best Neighborhood News Source
Write-In Categories and Winners
Category: Best Real Estate
Dumas & Associates Realty, Inc.
Best Coworking Space
If you’re a Best of Logan Square winner and did not receive your certificate, contact hello@logansquarist.com.
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