Las Palmas, Chicago

Executive Chef Armando Gonzalez crafts an inventive Mexican menu of ceviche, mole, and enchiladas, enjoyed by diners around a stylish bar's half-melted candles and Frida Kahlo-esque paintings, as described by Centerstage. Staff members mix up chunky guacamole—available in customized heat levels—tableside as bartenders occupy this whimsical space, crafting tasty concoctions such as sangria and margaritas with freshly-squeezed juices and housemade mixes. Local and international artwork lines the wall of the eatery's bright, sunny window-lined atrium, where servers deposit tortas and meaty tacos upon white tablecloth-topped tables. Mexican feasts can also be enjoyed outdoors on an expansive patio, where the sun can shine upon the upturned faces of diners or leashed pet plants.