It’s nearing Friday, and we don’t know about you, but we’re ready for a drink—with a side of fries. If you want to join us, we’ll be at one of these homey neighborhood bars that just happen to serve fantastic food.

Edgewater Lounge

Edgwater Lounge offers a neighborhood feel and sloppy Joe’s. Photo credit: Mike Grossenbacher.

5600 North Ashland Ave.
They are known for the Fish Fry Fridays, but our favorite are the sloppy Joe’s they serve up on Tuesdays, otherwise known as bluegrass night at Edgewater.

The Holiday Club
4000 North Sheridan Rd.
Eat some mac and cheese, have a martini—and top the night off with some soon-to-be-classic pictures in their photo booth.

The Globe Pub
1934 Irving Park Rd.
The perfect spot for the casual (or rabid) Arsenal fan who wants a traditional English breakfast to go with his soccer.

Duke of Perth
2913 North Clark St.
All you can eat fish and chips on Wednesdays and Fridays.  We’ll just repeat that siren call: all you can eat fish and chips.

Diag Bar & Grill
2856 North Southport Ave.
In the mood for a hamburger?  Go to the Diag.  A skillet cookie?  Yes, the Diag has that, too.

Monkey’s Paw
2524 North Southport Ave.

Quenchers Saloon
2401 North Western Ave.
Quenchers offers more beer options than you could ever want, all helpfully categorized by country of origin. They also have loaded tater tots, delicious grilled sandwiches and free, perfectly salted popcorn.

Analogue 
2523 North Milwaukee Ave.
Cajun food in Chicago?  Yes, please.

Estelle’s

Estelle’s bar lives up to the bar part of its name; the fried pickles are a bonus.

2013 West North Ave.
Put a song on the jukebox, sit down for some loaded fries, fried pickles and a craft beer, and you’ve got yourself a perfect Friday night.

Old Town Social
455 West North Ave.
Old Town Social has perfect the art of baking bacon into a waffle.  They also offer warm, house-made pretzel bites for when you just need something to nosh on.

Cortland’s Garage

Stanley’s Kitchen and Tap 
1970 North Lincoln Ave.
Beer plus mashed potatoes: a heavenly combination.

Sedgwick’s Bar & Grill
1935 North Sedgwick St.
A sports bar with multiple nachos options, Sedgwick’s is the place to be now that baseball is back.

Marge’s Still
1758 North Sedgwick St.
Marge’s is one of the few neighborhood bars we know that offer calamari.

Three Aces
1321 West Taylor St.
You’re going to need to order off their Italian-American menu to keep up with the types of drinks specials this neighborhood “joint” has on offer.  Take the “Chicago special,” one of the mostly aptly named specials we’ve seen in a while.  What is it?  An Old Style tall boy and a shot of malort, of course.

Aberdeen Tap
440 North Aberdeen St.
We’re a sucker for two of their menu staples: hush puppies and fish tacos.

Skylark
2149 South Halsted St.
The best tots in the city.  Yeah, we said it.

Jimmy’s (Woodlawn Tap)
1172 East 55th St.
If you’re already a regular at Hyde Park’s neighborhood spot and haven’t ordered off their limited menu, you’re just going to have to trust us on this one: Jimmy’s grilled cheese and Reuben sandwiches are delicious even before you’ve started your second beer.  (And if you can get in to the University’s campus Pub instead, we humbly suggest the tacos.)