Ñ

2977 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 866-9898

THE perfect place to get your "grown & sexy" on. N (I don't know how to get the ~ over the letter) is a perfect combination of restaurant & lounge, but I prefer it as a lounge.

A lounge? Yes. It's dark. It's not dark like "romantic atmosphere" dark. It's dark like "are shots about to ring out up in here?" dark. There are candles on the tables, but they don't illuminate the place very well.

A lounge? Yes. It's loud. When my friend & I walked in, we were able to speak to each other in a normal voice. Then, the dj started spinning some really tight Brazilian house. And we started to shout at each other. Then, he started pumping some awesome updated samba beats. And we started screaming at each other. Then, he mashed up a Portuguese version of "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" (and it was awesome). And we held up the candle so as to speak in sign language. By the end of the night, we said "Funk it" and gave up on talking to each other, so as to eat, drink & dance.

A lounge? Yes. There are great drinks. The food is pretty good, as well. We shared empanadas (spinach, beef, chicken and ham & cheese) and this tortilla thing (not very good). She ordered a chorizo sandwich that she liked and I ordered a chicken sandwich I REALLY liked (chicken, onion, tomato, lettuce - topped with melted cheese and a fried egg). We poured chimichurri on everything and got to some serious grubbing. But, this is about the booze. We started with La Negra martinis (dry for her, regular sweetness for me). Mmm, blackberry puree. Me like. Drink # 2 was a Cuba Libre served with little ice in a large pint glass. It was chock full of liquor and it made me become one with the music. Drink # 3 was La Pina. Yeah, I was getting sauced and didn't care to keep up a macho facade. Bring on the Pineapple & Coconut rum!! I won't be judged!! Mmm, fruity. The bartender had very heavy pours and me really likey that.

A lounge? Yes. You should dance. Since I was all boozed up, I decided that I needed to tear up tha dance flo'. Armed with darkness, beats and liquor, my hips were in no mood to lie and I started shakin' it. In fact, MC Hammer came out of retirement to ask me to stop hurtin' folks. I couldn't be stopped. I'd been to Sinha's earlier in the year. I knew how to shake it like a polaroid picture. In fact, my booty shakin' was so intoxicatin', I got another La Pina - on the house! You heard me; stop hatin'! Dancing for booze? Just call me "Gator." It wasn't shame that caused me to stop dancing. It was the stitch in my side. My azz is old!! I can't shake it all night anymore.

A lounge? Yes. Yes, please!! Again and over again.