Trio Bar, Palos Heights

There's something different about Trio Bar. The dimly lit atmosphere might seem familiar, the crowds of friends may feel like family, the vodka-lemonade mix might taste like a distant summer afternoon—but there's a scent in the air that isn't common in bars. That's because Trio's kitchen sends out a steady stream of classic Chicago-style sandwiches stacked with roast beef and spicy giardiniera, Angus beef burgers on fragrant pretzel rolls, and homestyle Italian favorites. Housemade meatballs crown platefuls of spaghetti, and crispy thin-crust pizzas emerge with any combination of 23 toppings, including shrimp, basil, and zucchini. It's this mix of garlic, barbecue sauce, grilled rib-eye steaks, and freshly baked dough that fills the air and transforms something familiar into something entirely different.

Trio Bar's tables let guests enjoy this bounty peacefully while leaving plenty of room for crowds to stand, mingle, and cheer on Thursday-evening karaoke performers. Live DJ sets get the weekends rolling, and flat-screen televisions fill the rest of the nights with sports broadcasts and slow-motion replays of Garry Kasparov's most famous chess moves.