Lago Wine Bar

The Perfect New York City Wine Bar Arrives in Lakeview

With Gorgonzola-Stuffed Dates and Lots of Lambrusco

By Sarah Freeman ·
None 9 Photos Lago Wine Bar

The cozy New York City trattoria. There's nothing like it.

Well, nothing like it in Chicago, at least. Lots of 300-seat showstoppers and corner burger bars, sure. But those... not so much.

And it's not that you don't like burgers or anything, but you also like mushroom bruschetta and glasses of Lambrusco. So here's Lago Wine Bar, now open in Lakeview from the team behind the West Village's Aria Wine Bar. Take a look around.

Steps away from the Belmont Red Line station and behind a wall of frosted glass windows is where you'll find your next date-night spot. A spot that'll have you drinking classic cocktails at a subway-tiled bar and then splitting a plate of linguine under exposed rafters.

Like its New York City sister, it takes a classic approach to the Italian feast. It starts with an array of cichetti, suckling pig crostini and Gorgonzola-stuffed dates, followed by black truffle mac and cheese or maybe a Grana Padano-topped filet.

None of which would be worth anything without a bottle of Tuscan Chianti (yes it would, but still). And they do Italian wines by the small glass here, too, so you can try the Sicilian Chardonnay. Then try something else. Just keep trying things and see where the night goes.

This seems like a good time to reiterate that it's steps from the Red Line.

Sarah Freeman

Sarah Freeman is often accused of hiding secrets in her hair. She can make any cocktail, as long as that cocktail is a rye Old Fashioned, and has never met a saison she didn’t like.

Vitals

Lago Wine Bar
3207 N Sheffield Ave
(between W Belmont Ave and W Aldine Ave)
Chicago, IL, 60657
312-819-6111
website

Extras

Elsewhere on the Daddy

More Nightlife in Chicago