There are a few good restaurants south of North Avenue on Wells Street, and of course, those several blocks make up the main drag of Old Town. But alas, those blocks are no more a part of the Old Town Triangle than Morton Grove is.
Bricks (no apostrophe, please), at 1909 N. Lincoln Ave., is a subterranean thin-crust pizza and beer mecca that is as homey and comfortable as they come. The pizza is top-notch, the beers are crafty (Bricks served Fat Tire before Fat Tire was Fat Tire), and the music veers toward live Dead and Keith Richards. There’s one TV at the bar — usually showing sports — and the dimly lighted dining room is accented with red-and-white-checked tablecloths and flickering candles. On Tuesdays, bottles of wine are half-price.
Adobo Grill, 1610 N. Wells St., is a fine, fine Mexican restaurant and that can’t be said about 99 percent of the Mexican restaurants in this city. Naturally, go for the legendary guacamole made tableside, but also go for the grilled pork tenderloin in Oaxacán black mole, with fresh corn tamal and sautéed garlicky spinach ($16.95) if you know what’s good for you.
The place is brightly decorated in that Mexican fiesta kind of way, but it is also sophisiticated in that downtown restaurant kind of way. There are a few outdoor seats too.
Sinatra went to Twin Anchors, 1655 N. Sedgwick St. for ribs, so why shouldn’t you? And William Petersen used to drink there when he lived in Old Town, before CSI became a hit. There’s a whole list of famous people who have been there on the restaurant’s Web site if you are impressed by that. I know I am. When you go, just order the ribs. The only real decision is fries or rings, mild or zesty sauce. Rings and zesty if you ask me.
Don’t be intimidated by the subterranean entrance at Bricks – it’s quaint as hell inside.
