Primebar

Between the business-like feel and the ubiquitous chain restaurants, finding a solid spot to hang out in the Loop can be tough, especially since your falling out with those elitists at Arby's. Welcoming you with open arms (plus, beer), Primebar.

Opening tomorrow downtown in the new John Buck building, Primebar is a classic-meets-contemporary, oversize leather booth'd 270-seat ale house offering up after-work beers and late-night steaks (also late-night beers, but you know, the bedwetting). Snacktacular fare includes deviled eggs spiced up with sriracha, beef lollipops with roasted beets/candied pistachios/goat cheese dip, and a trio of sliders -- roasted pork, applewood bacon cheeseburger, and angry shrimp that wants to know if you think it's a clown, there to amuse you. Heartier portions include pizzas like the chimichurri steak (shallots, oven roasted tomatoes, Fontina, arugula), all manner of grilled meats like a NY strip with roasted red pepper butter, and a fried egg/gouda/applewood-topped burger under the heading "Two-Handed-Sandwiches", ensuring both hands' jobs.

Suds-wise there's a huge beer list with 40 on tap, with the overwhelming majority coming from American craft brewers including Midwest faves like Chicago's own Goose Island and Metropolitan, along with Two Brothers and Three Floyds, who you wouldn't know were the jerks that got you kicked out of Arby's if it hadn't said so on their name tags.