Christmas lights, orange-sherbet-colored walls and casual kitsch make this Roscoe Village joint a cozy hangout. The Beat Kitchen has been building a loyal clientele for a decade and now welcomes new faces from the booming Belmont axis.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere is low-key even at its busiest, retaining the beer-drinking crowd. The back room serves as Beat Kitchen's live music venue, featuring local rock bands nearly every day of the week along with the occasional bigger name. Shows start at 9:30pm. On weekends, cover is charged at the front door; on weekdays, at the back door.

You really can't go wrong with the tasty grilled and baked dishes at Beat Kitchen. The most popular orders are the corn tortilla soup, Beat salad, Southwest grilled chicken sandwich and Thai pizza. Dishes range in price from $5 to $10.50, and the menu changes every six months.