Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods

There is nothing like New Orleans. The never-ending nightlife scene is rife with Big Gulp-sized cocktails. Live music that is exuberant and spontaneous. A kaleidoscope of cultural influences housed in a single, flavorful dish. Pioneer Tavern Group executive chef Brian Jupiter, a native of New Orleans, occasionally mentions Bayou flavors at his whole-beast staple Frontier. But at Jupiter's breezy younger sibling Ina Mae Tavern (named after Jupiter's great-grandmother), he dives headfirst into his childhood cooking. The results are joyful, indulgent, and refreshingly relaxed—attributes that will entice you to return to the Big Easy time and time again, and will undoubtedly make Ina Mae a regular dining option for you.

The atmosphere in this light-filled, brick-and-wood-accented space is relaxed and welcoming to families, thanks in part to a vintage mechanical horse named Fanny. The checkered-tile floor of the bar and an old beer fridge in the dining room pay homage to the Beachwood Inn, a beloved Wicker Park dive. The back bar is adorned with dry goods and house hot sauce bottles, as well as a Sno Ball machine that churns out shaved ice, which is then doused in flavored syrup with the option of adding a shot of booze.

Google Rating: 4.2/5.0

Address: 1415 N Wood St, Chicago 60622

Contact: 773-360-8320

Website: www.inamaetavern.com