Owen and Engine
2700 N Western Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Owen and Engine.

During the summer when Anna and I went to City North for a movie, we realized there was an interesting looking building going up on the corner of Western and Schubert.  Flash forward a couple of months and that building is now Owen & Engine.  The owners of Fat Willy’s Rib Shack are responsible for bringing this cozy two-level English countryside gastropub to Logan Square.  Owen & Engine is truly beautiful inside and out, with finely detailed wood and leather decor throughout the pub.  Anna and I visited Owen & Engine on a busy Friday night, so we were seated at the bar on the second floor, which was perfectly fine with us since the bartenders were so friendly and helpful in telling us what the pub had to offer.  Anna loves seafood, so she went with the haddock fish and house cut chips that came with malt vinegar aioli.  I went with the butter chicken that was really juicy and very flavorful, and I also had a side of aged cheddar mash.  We topped off our meal with an apple cobbler for dessert that was incredible.  It is worth noting that Owen & Engine also has four cask brews along with 20 other beers on tap, and they have many British, Belgian, and American craft bottled beers available as well.  Overall, Owen & Engine is another great addition to Logan Square.

-Rob

Anna’s fish and chips.

Rob’s butter chicken with cardamom scented basmati rice and chapatti bread.

Apple cobbler with a side of apple cider.

Shake Shop
3247 W Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Shake Shop.

After reading earlier this week about the opening of a new “rock and roll general store” in Logan Square, Rob and I knew we had to check it out.  Shake Shop had its grand opening this past Friday, and although that showed in the fact that they didn’t have a ton of merchandise when we visited on Saturday afternoon, it’s hard to find true faults in a store that is so unique and a welcome addition to our neighborhood.  Run by local musician Tom Cassling, Shake Shop not only sells used records and books, but they also specialize in artwork made by local musicians and instrument repair.  In all my years living in Chicago, I’ve never seen any other store with books priced as cheaply as Shake Shop’s.  I bought three used books—albeit still in good condition—for $6.50 total.  Yes, $6.50 for three gently used books!  Rob bought a book as well, for $3.99.  Shake Shop truly lives up to its “rock and roll general store” title and Rob and I will definitely be visiting it again sometime soon.

Rob browsing records at Shake Shop.

Cafe Mustache
2313 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Cafe Mustache.

Logan Square is flourishing with new restaurants and stores throughout the neighborhood.  One of those new establishments is Cafe Mustache, a wonderful new space that is being utilized for art, music, community, and hand-crafted coffee and tea.  Cafe Mustache’s coffee is locally roasted by the Bridgeport Coffee Company and they also sell fresh pastries from Roscoe Village’s Bleeding Heart Bakery.  Anna and I visited Cafe Mustache on a very hot and muggy day, so we both opted to have iced drinks.  Anna had a iced caramel latte that had a perfect balance of sweetness with a bold coffee flavor, while I went with the special of the day, a iced Mexican coffee that was brewed with fair-trade beans that are organic and shade grown.  The drink was medium-bodied, sweet, with hints of cocoa, and floral aroma.  It was quite impressive, to say the least.  Cafe Mustache is a great addition to the neighborhood, especially considering they opened up shop on a stretch of Milwaukee Avenue that is riddled with abandoned and empty storefronts.  It is also worth noting that Cafe Mustache will also host local and national music performances and art exhibits, so be sure to check out their current (and future) events too.

-Rob

Rob’s Mexican coffee on the left and Anna’s caramel latte on the right.

Cafe Mustache’s interior.

Boiler Room
2210 N California Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Boiler Room.

From the first day it opened several weeks ago, Rob and I have been dying to try out Logan Square’s newest bar/pizza place, the Boiler Room.  We finally stopped by earlier this week and although we had a few complaints (cash only, too crowded, etc), we were mostly pleased by the latest addition to our neighborhood.  Designed to look like a boiler room/train car, the restaurant features some of the best decor Rob and I have ever seen.  From the train cables that hold up the booths, to the industrial light fixtures, to the recycled CTA doors that lead to the men and women’s bathrooms, the Boiler Room owners definitely went above and beyond when they designed their establishment.  Food-wise, the Boiler Room excels as well.  Rob and I both tried two slices, the purist (fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic) and the boiler room (PBR Meatballs, giardinera, oregano).  The purist was a classic slice with a great flavor that we would both definitely get again.  The boiler room was good too, but it was a bit too spicy, which took away from the flavor of the cheese and meatballs.  Still though, the PBR meatballs make it a worthwhile slice.  Overall, between the excellent beer selection (see our drink choices below) and cheap slices ($3-4 each, pies are $20), Boiler Room is a great new addition to Logan Square.

-Anna

Rob’s Lion Stout and Anna’s Seadog Blueberry Wheat, complete with real blueberries.

The Purist on the left and The Boiler Room on the right.

Revolution Brewing
2323 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Photo courtesy of Metromix/Barry Brecheisen.

For months, Anna and I have patiently waited for Revolution Brewing to open up their doors; and this week, they finally did.  As one would suspect, the place was packed when we arrived and we had to wait for about 45 minutes to be seated.  While waiting, we couldn’t help but notice the amazing construction that was put into the brewery.  I particularly liked the woodwork at the bar, the beautifully restored tin ceiling, and the large glass window that peers into the brewing room where Revolution crafts their beers.

We started off our meal with an appetizer, opting for the bacon fat popcorn, which was terrific.  You can’t beat popcorn that is topped with crispy bacon, sage, and shaved parmesan.  For dinner, Anna went with the Smoked Pulled Pork sandwich that was topped with South Carolina-style mustard and honey-jalapeno slaw, and she washed it down with a Cross of Gold, a very crisp golden ale.  I decided to try Revolution’s Anti-Hero IPA beer and the Smokehouse Burger, that is topped with a slice of pepper jack cheese and a small portion of the South Carolina style pulled pork.  Our entire meal was very satisfying and the beers were good as well.  I’m happy Revolution opened up shop in Logan Square, especially on a stretch of Milwaukee Ave. that is riddled with abandoned store fronts.

-Rob

Bacon + popcorn = the best bar snack we’ve had in a long time.

Anna’s pulled pork sandwich.

Rob’s smokehouse burger.

New Wave Coffee
2557 N Milwaukee Ave / 3103 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Logan Square

Photo Credit: wcouch

When walking into New Wave Coffee, a fairly new and large coffee house located in the heart of Logan Square, you can’t help but notice the artwork (probably done by local artists), comfy couches, and the classic records that pay homage to the late 70’s music genre on the walls.  New Wave Coffee is a very inviting establishment where friends can meet to hang out or where one can bring their laptop to use the free Wi-Fi.  It was cold and rainy all day today, so to warm ourselves up, Anna and I walked over to New Wave and ordered hot chocolates made with Ghirardelli chocolate and 2% milk.  Our barista was friendly and we made small talk as he created a design in the foam of my hot chocolate, that he claimed was either a double heart or two lit cigarettes.  My drink was great and was just what I wanted on a crappy day.  Anna and I plan to visit New Wave Coffee again, seeing that they have much more to offer, including homemade soups, sandwiches, and vegan cupcakes.

-Rob