2925 North Halsted Street (map)
(773) 528-7200
www.erwincafe.com
$$–$$$

At erwin: an american café and bar, Chef Erwin Drechsler just might greet you at the door. This hands-on chef/owner can be seen working the small but inviting dining room, showing customers to their tables, and even taking their coats. He applies the same attention to detail to his seasonal menus that feature fresh, local ingredients. The menu features old favorites with contemporary twists, a combination he calls “urban heartland cuisine.” The wood-grilled hamburger with horseradish slaw and homemade pickles (one of their regulars’ favorites) is a perfect example. Overall, erwin is very much a Midwestern neighborhood joint that happens to serve very inventive and thoughtful food.