Four Corners Tavern Group, Chicago

Four Corners Tavern Group encompasses eleven kitchens and many times that number of taps, but it started in just one establishment, Schoolyard Tavern & Grill. There, Executive Chef Jim Hoban helped develop a menu of upscale, creative bar food, including bison burgers, korean steak tacos, and goat cheese quesadillas. As the group expanded, Hoban exported his menu to new establishments. Each location's chef enhances the selection with his or her own spin on the general concept. Though the flavors vary from location to location, the sister venues' promises remain much the same: creative fare, extensive beer lists, and flat-screen TVs playing sports while wearing the proper safety gear.