16" on Center in the Press

“Although you’ve probably never heard of Chicago-based 16” on Center, chances are you’ve stumbled upon one of their growing number of bars, restaurants and music venues. From Evanston to Hyde Park, Ukrainian Village to Logan Square, and Pilsen to the Loop, 16” on Center’s venues draw Chicagoans out of their homes, enabling them to unplug, engage and be part of their neighborhoods.”

–12 for 12

11 Superheroes of the Chicago Dining Scene -Zagat

Bruce Finkelman Talks 16" on Center Initiative -Vocalo

Chicago’s Food and Drink Fifty -NewCity

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BEAUTY BAR

"Sparkling glitter paint adorns the walls, '60s beauty salon furniture acts as seating, and the backroom dance floor is completed with a shimmering disco ball. The music stays obscure and mostly dusty during the week, but DJs turn it into an electro dance party most weekends."

Time Out Chicago

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BITE CAFE

"Bite Café is a cozy, bustling neighborhood diner, offering a chef-to-table dining experience. It offers an eclectic menu of dinner items and creative brunch selections, including poutine. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well. Don’t forget dessert; you won’t regret the calories! BYOB. Next door to the Empty Bottle bar." 

-Check Please

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DUSEK'S BOARD & BEER

"Dusek's is really a Chicago original," Ellis said. "You really don't see places like that, and Longman & Eagle, anywhere else. They have fun, laid-back atmospheres, but serving remarkable food—foie gras, sweetbreads, but also great hamburgers. What they're doing is creative and imaginative."

-Michelin Guide

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EMPTY BOTTLE

"That address, for thousands of current and former Chicagoans of a certain age, is considered sacred ground. This owes mostly to the fact that the nightclub at that location is imbued with innumerable memories: of experiencing great bands on the verge of stardom, of youthful nights of drunken revelry, of endearingly bad plumbing."

-Chicago Reader

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LONGMAN & EAGLE

"Longman & Eagle is a throwback to a yesteryear of Chicago drinking, where inns served as places for people to eat, drink, and sleep. So you could pass the Windy City, grab dinner and whiskey at night, head upstairs to stay at one of the six rooms in the inn, and then head back down in the morning for a gastropub-inflected brunch. While the setting may look a bit rugged, the food is on-point."

-Chicago Eater

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MONEYGUN

"This West Loop venture from stalwart local group 16 on Center thinks of itself as a regular bar first. And although it features a come-as-you-are vibe, make no mistake that it serves some of Chicago's most high-caliber cocktails in ramped-up classics — Long Island iced teas and the like didn't taste this good before. There's also a massive backyard patio with bocce that it shares with sister restaurant Saint Lou's Assembly next door."

-Eater Chicago

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THE PROMONTORY

"Equal parts hearth-cooking restaurant, live music venue, and watering hole, this lofty, wood-accented gem delivers the gathering place that southerly Hyde Park was long missing—literally, in fact, with a central square bar providing the inviting focal point. A blazing wood fire anchors the open kitchen, which churns out singed delights ranging from scallops with wheat berries and sunchoke purée to prawns Dejonghe" 

-Bon Appetite

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PUNCH HOUSE

"Visitors to Punch House, located in Thalia Hall in Pilsen, find themselves surrounded by 1970s-inspired decor, complete with an aquarium and giant trophy fish on the wall. Whatever you do, don’t let the Life Aquatic environs fool you: There’s some damn good punch being served within these wood-paneled walls."

-Chowhound

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REVIVAL FOOD HALL

"When Revival opened in 2016 it instantly injected some much-needed life into a Loop lunch scene that always felt a bit short on fantastic non-chain options, much to the delight of office workers who now have 24,000 square feet of standout local flavor at their disposal. Sometimes that local flavor tastes quite a bit like other places—there's Nashville hot chicken from The Budlong, poke bowls from Aloha, and excellent ramen from Furious Spoon—but it's been a boon to have the depth and breadth of Chicago's culinary scene better reflected in the heart of the city. Definitely don't skip dessert, because you'd be missing out on the pastry wizardry of Mindy HotChocolate."

Thrillist

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THE RUIN DAILY

"The savvy restaurateurs who brought you Dusek’s and the Promontory have leaped to the rescue of that most neglected of eateries: the office-lunch sandwich joint.

The name of this bright and airy fast-casual spot, just off Van Buren Street in the Loop, is a deep-cut reference to President Martin Van Buren, nicknamed Marty Van Ruin by his political adversaries. Its sandwiches are equally irreverent."

Chicago Magazine

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SAINT LOU'S ASSEMBLY

"Next to their West Loop bar, Moneygun, this retro-inspired American kitchen from the Longman & Eagle crew specializes in refined takes on old-school comfort food in the form of customizable meat-and-three-side platters that diners select cafeteria-style. The simple setup features vinyl booths and black-and-white photographs, with beer, house cocktails and boozy floats on hand to complement your meal.”

- Zagat

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SPACE

"There are certain venues that hold a special place in my heart. SPACE in Evanston is one of those. I still remember the first time I walked into the venue and discovered just how impressive it was. The atmosphere reminded me of the cool jazz clubs I was promised as a kid but never actually found. SPACE truly feels special special venue, like a speakeasy updated to modern sensibilities. Whether it’s small local acts or national icons like Dr. John and Lucinda Williams, SPACE immediately heightens any concert going experience."

Third Coast Review

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TACK ROOM

"If you want to liven the night up a little bit, you can visit quite possibly the hippest piano bar in Chicago. Tack Room is the perfect combination of a cool and cozy cocktail bar with killer live entertainment to boot—who wouldn’t bond over belting out some of your favorite piano-man tunes? Even better: It’s part of Pilsen’s Thalia Hall building, so you can make a night out of popping in and out of the other establishments. Hear more music at Thalia Hall, nosh on some snacks at Punch House, or grab a full meal at Dusek’s."

-Magnificent Mile Mag

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THALIA HALL

"Motivating concertgoers, foodies, libation lovers and more to venture beyond the touristy downtown haunts, Thalia Hall includes a restored performance space, a beer-centric restaurant with a Michelin-starred chef, and an underground bar that specializes in, of all atypical cocktails, punch...

Now an eclectic array of performers, from under-the-radar bands to more mainstream artists like Estelle, Black Joe Lewis and Andrew W.K., take the stage. Up to 850 guests view shows from the original opera boxes, the full wraparound balcony and the floor, complete with restored original hardwoods."

-Dallas News