Drinkin' in Lincoln (Park): part 1

Webster's Wine Bar

Squeezed between the retail, residential and culinary gems of Lincoln Park, there are also several bars. Make that a ton of bars. From traditional Irish pubs to sleek lounges to sticky-floored college sports bars, Lincoln Park has it all.

This week, as we explore the Lincoln Park area, we’ll be checking out several of the area’s finest drinking establishments and reporting our findings.

Webster’s Wine Bar 1480 W Webster St
You’re drinking: The European Classics flight tasting

Being off the beaten path in Lincoln Park is part of the allure of this relaxed locale. Just west of Clybourn on Webster, Webster’s has around 620 different wines, 40 of which are served by the glass.

A bar dedicated to wine at first made me, a 22-year-old with a penchant for cheap beer, slightly apprehensive. My sommelier-wannabe girlfriend assured me everything would be okay.

The inside of Webster’s is warm and comfortable with dark velvet curtains, low lighting and dark wood accents, and the garden-style patio is great for warm summer nights. Our server, Jeremy, was highly knowledgeable and, thankfully for me, who is completely devoid of any kind of wine knowledge, recommended a tasty sampling menu. I felt classy already.

Webster’s also has an upscale menu of fine cheeses (again I had no clue), appetizers and entrees, which can be paired with certain wines. The mellow crowd ran the gamut – we saw a party of drunk middle-aged Europeans, elderly couples and a solo twenty-something reading a book with her wine.

The bar also offers a variety of themed tastings throughout the year.

Don’t expect any dollar drink nights here (we dropped $60 on a round of tastings and some cheese), but this is experiential drinking – the ambiance and learning about what’s in your glass is half the enjoyment.

More like it: D.O.C. Wine Bar2602 N Clark St

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