chicago | small scale.

opulent nightlife venues may be aplenty, but the recent opening of the smallbar division in the heart of wicker park proves that good things really do come in small packages.

owners ty fujimura and phil mcfarland want the smallbar to speak for itself and not let the hype do the talking, so they're already setting this little slice of bev heaven apart from others in the image-obsessed industry. given the name of the place, it's a no-brainer that you'll find something to wet your whistle (beergarita maybe?), but how about the smallbar's massive menu? there's nothing teeny about the "moo n' oink," a burger topped with pulled pork, or any of the other sig angus creations, all served up with your choice of one of four kinds of fries, including the crowd pleasing (and bite-sized) tater tot. if you like your men like you like your meat (lean and quick?), you'll enjoy the footballers found here; it's one of three official U.S. soccer bars in the city and the official watering hole of the chicago fire. the walls are adorned with jerseys and scarves from around the world, plus flat screens for non-stop soccer. sports fanatic or not, you'll find something to drink to with 300 beers.

go small or go home. the smallbar. now open. 2049 west division street. near damen. 773.772.2727. www.thesmallbar.com