If you are a wine lover and are looking to enjoy some wonderful wines and a casual meal or snack, Webster’s Wine Bar in Lincoln Park is the perfect place. It’s Chicago’s oldest wine bar, some 30 years old and I think, still the best. With tasting events, wine trips, wine dinners, live music and more, you can’t help but wish you had a place like this in your own neighborhood.

There’s always a Featured Wine, which is usually a real “find” and about 30 wines by the glass or the taste ( 2oz.). The full bottle menu has the most variety and best values I have seen on a wine list anywhere. Where else can you find wines from Basque Country and Lebanon? Most fun is to sample a number of wines through flights. 2oz. tastings are available of each wine segment.

Brick walls, candlelight, shades of green and brown create an intimate and cozy atmosphere to enjoy a small plates menu. There’s a killer selection of domestic and imported cheeses, an Alsatian-style tarte flambée: crispy organic bacon, sweet onions, Muenster cheese, a wild boar sausage, with parmesan, goat, and mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce, wonderful cured meats and munchies like Spanish olives, hummus, grilled shrimp skewers and bacon wrapped and almond stuffed dates. For something more substantial try the German pork bratwurst, thick-cut Nueskie bacon, fennel/apple sauerkraut, yellow mustard, and cornichons or the roasted pork tenderloin with caramelized shallots and brandied apricots served with roasted baby red potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Excellent service from a very knowledge wait staff. They know their wine and they know what tastes good with it.

Can’t beat the pricing here. Virtually nothing over $17 except the steak.

WHAT OTHERS SAY…
The former Telegraph space in Logan Square is given new life as this wine bar with a curated list of 400-plus global wines, plus boutique spirits and a few beer taps paired with small plates, from charcuterie to desserts. The relaxed, intimate setting combines rustic woods and loungey sofa areas with bookshelves and seasonal outdoor seating. ZAGAT