These people know what Chicago people want, starting with a chic but chill place to hang. Located within a hundred-year old Victorian building, People Lounge features faux-painted walls in caramel-latte hues, wrought iron chandeliers lit up with candles and a 30-foot bar made of rustic oak. A few communal tables await the pile-up of tapas plates, so order up a few rounds of gambas a la plancha and calamari frito and prepare to start passing.

The food menu, designed by former chefs from North Pond and Carmichael's, is divided into sections of hot tapas, cold tapas and a few choice desserts like caramel flan with berry sauce. None of the selections top $12 and most dishes ring in at about $8. Be sure to try popular menu items like the queso de cabra (goat cheese baked in tomato sauce with garlic crusted bread) and the hard-to-find albondigas calamari (tapas-speak for squid meatballs). The bar features an international roster of beers that focuses on Belgian breweries: look for Piraat Amber Triple IPA and strong golden ale Delirium Tremens. To get back to Spain, the drink list also offers white and red sangria. Expect a similarly exotic buffet of music, from bossa nova to acid jazz.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg