What are some of the best nightclubs Chicago?

What are some good restaurants/bars/nightclubs to work at in Chicago?

• I'm 19, which is old enough to serve alcohol in Chicago. This summer, a friend and I will be moving there. I have bar experience (currently work at a sports bar) and am certified to serve alcohol. What are some good restaurants, bars, and/or nightclubs where I could be a waitress, cocktail waitress, or shot girl? I want a nice, busy place where I'll make good money.

• Answer:

  UPDATED: I don't know if your young age would still be a factor, but you could start looking at popular chain restaurants and/or places that attract tourists. They are more likely to have plenty of customers. For example, T.G.I.F. (http://www.tgifridays.com/ ), Rock Bottom Brewery (http://www.rockbottom.com/ ), Uncle Julio's Hacienda (http://www.unclejulios.com/locations.html ), Lalo's (http://www.lalos.com/indexhome.html ), Applebee's (http://www.applebees.com ), Cheesecake Factory (http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/bar/bar ), Grand Lux Cafe (http://www.grandluxcafe.com ), Hard Rock Cafe (http://www.hardrock.com ), Landry's Restaurants (http://www.landrysrestaurants.com/pages/restaurants/pg_restaurants.htm ), Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants (http://www.leye.com/ ), Bennigans (http://www.bennigans.com - has had some health violation issues in the past) and Cubby Bear (http://www.cubbybear.com/daily-specials/ ). Even some movie theaters - like the new Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON (http://www.kerasotes.com/Showtimes.aspx?OptionTheater=Go&TheaterSearch=8146 ) - have trendy bars now. See a list here of "hardcore" sports bars - http://www.centerstagechicago.com/bars/styles/hardcoresports.html . See a list here of bars that are more social - http://www.centerstagechicago.com/bars/styles/socialsports.html . You could try working at sporting places like 10-pin Bowling Lounge (http://www.10pinchicago.com ), Lucky Strike Lanes (http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/ ), and Dave & Busters (http://www.daveandbusters.com/ ). The Tilted Kilt seems to be expanding in the area (http://www.tiltedkilt.com ), although you'd probably have to wear a very skimpy outfit. There are stretches of bars in Andersonville, Lakeview, Bucktown/Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Beverly (Western Ave.), scattered around Magnificent Mile & the Loop, and near North Ave. & Clybourn. You should search for actual "waitress" and "bartender" job listings via sites like Craigslist (http://chicago.craigslist.org ), Indeed (http://www.indeed.com/ ), Oodle (http://jobs.oodle.com ), SimplyHired (http://www.simplyhired.com/ ), Monster (http://monster.com ), and Careerbuilder through the Chicago Tribune newspaper site (http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/ ). You should research places thoroughly before applying - somewhere like Coyote Ugly Saloon (http://www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/ ) might not work for you.