Five Star Bar is packing them in, achieving five-star status among its crowd of hipsters. The impressive bar menu includes over 45-kinds of bourbon, 16-kinds of scotch, close to 40-kinds of bottled beer, 15-draft beers, and, adding to this haunt’s laid-back appeal, 4-kinds of canned beer. Hues of black and red compliment the leather and wood trims, providing the tavern with a dramatic rock n’ roll flare. A large mahogany bar wraps around the main room, where studded booths and four tops serve as seating. The front steel-and-glass façade opens during warmer months. Complete with a stripper pole, a circular enclave furnished with a leather settee and embellished with tattoos from famed artist Sailor Jerry, remains hidden behind the DJ booth. A pool table occupies the backroom, where framed rock posters and baroque mirrors adorn the walls, which are hand-painted with red lionesses. Appetizers include the likes of chili, hummus, wings, as well as Pigs in a Blanket, which can be ordered Russian roulette style, with one blanket deliberately stuffed with a jalapeño pepper. Aside from serving a variety of hamburgers and sandwiches, the menu also offers The Sid and Nancy. Owners Patrick Poncher, Howard Natinsky and Lyle Aker must be channeling Sid Vicious; or, perhaps not as this joint is rarely “Pretty Vacant”. Five Star Bar is packing them in, achieving five-star status among its crowd of hipsters. The impressive bar menu includes over 45-kinds of bourbon, 16-kinds of scotch, close to 40-kinds of bottled beer, 15-draft beers, and, adding to this haunt’s laid-back appeal, 4-kinds of canned beer. Hues of black and red compliment the leather and wood trims, providing the tavern with a dramatic rock n’ roll flare. A large mahogany bar wraps around the main room, where studded booths and four tops serve as seating. The front steel-and-glass façade opens during warmer months. Complete with a stripper pole, a circular enclave furnished with a leather settee and embellished with tattoos from famed artist Sailor Jerry, remains hidden behind the DJ booth. A pool table occupies the backroom, where framed rock posters and baroque mirrors adorn the walls, which are hand-painted with red lionesses. Appetizers include the likes of chili, hummus, wings, as well as Pigs in a Blanket, which can be ordered Russian roulette style, with one blanket deliberately stuffed with a jalapeño pepper. Aside from serving a variety of hamburgers and sandwiches, the menu also offers The Sid and Nancy. Owners Patrick Poncher, Howard Natinsky and Lyle Aker must be channeling Sid Vicious; or, perhaps not as this joint is rarely “Pretty Vacant”.

Best new bar Five Star Bar Other nominees: Cobra Lounge, Continental, J Bar, Lakeview Broadcasting Company Is Five Star Bar an ironic take on an old-school rock & roll bar, or is it the real deal? Whatever the answer, this alarmingly loud new watering hole has made a bass drum–thumping entrance into West Town. Somewhere amid the nouveau grunge décor—the leather banquettes and antique mirrors are mashed up with a pool table and Sailor Jerry wall tattoos—there’s a serious supply of alcohol: 14 draft handles and 30-plus bourbons. Five Star also seems to be conducting an experiment on what happens when you put a stripper pole near so much bourbon: After installing the pole as a supposed joke, the owners were shocked to find customers seriously working it. 1424 W Chicago Ave, 312-850-2555—NDBest new bar Five Star Bar Other nominees: Cobra Lounge, Continental, J Bar, Lakeview Broadcasting Company Is Five Star Bar an ironic take on an old-school rock & roll bar, or is it the real deal? Whatever the answer, this alarmingly loud new watering hole has made a bass drum–thumping entrance into West Town. Somewhere amid the nouveau grunge décor—the leather banquettes and antique mirrors are mashed up with a pool table and Sailor Jerry wall tattoos—there’s a serious supply of alcohol: 14 draft handles and 30-plus bourbons. Five Star also seems to be conducting an experiment on what happens when you put a stripper pole near so much bourbon: After installing the pole as a supposed joke, the owners were shocked to find customers seriously working it. 1424 W Chicago Ave, 312-850-2555—ND

This addition to west Chicago Avenue aims for immediate appeal over subtlety. Inside, the large space is anchored by a long, wrap-around bar and muted lighting from suspended globes and table lamps. Black leather-upholstered benches line a wall below dramatic red wallpaper and vintage mirrors. Back rooms serve different purposes; the first is packed with vintage concert posters and a billiards table, the second, a secluded area with a stripper pole. A menu offers fancified bar food.This addition to west Chicago Avenue aims for immediate appeal over subtlety. Inside, the large space is anchored by a long, wrap-around bar and muted lighting from suspended globes and table lamps. Black leather-upholstered benches line a wall below dramatic red wallpaper and vintage mirrors. Back rooms serve different purposes; the first is packed with vintage concert posters and a billiards table, the second, a secluded area with a stripper pole. A menu offers fancified bar food.

For something a little earthier, the rock ‘n' roll set has been visiting Five Star Bar (1424 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-850-2555). Here, we're talking early rock ‘n' roll, so expect vintage touches throughout, and a healthy bourbon selection. For something a little earthier, the rock ‘n' roll set has been visiting Five Star Bar (1424 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-850-2555). Here, we're talking early rock ‘n' roll, so expect vintage touches throughout, and a healthy bourbon selection.

Tap into your inner Tommy Lee at the new Five Star Bar, 1424 W. Chicago. The West Town rock 'n' roll bar is all about beer, bourbon and babes. Cocktails include the bourbon-based Honey Pie and Kentucky Kiss. Walls are papered in vintage Sailor Jerry tattoos from the '40s and '50s, along with posters and memorabilia from Metro. Pleather- tufted booths line the perimeter. There's also a pool table, but so far a bigger draw is a semiprivate back room with a stripper pole. "We did it to be funny, but women are going crazy," says co- owner Lyle Aker. "A lot of them wear skirts and flip upside down. I've already seen my fair share of thongs." "Miami Ink" star Ami James visited the bar Monday night. At the grand-opening party last Thursday, more than 200 people attended. "It's the dirtiest, sexiest place I've ever been," says guest Stephen Westman. Tap into your inner Tommy Lee at the new Five Star Bar, 1424 W. Chicago. The West Town rock 'n' roll bar is all about beer, bourbon and babes. Cocktails include the bourbon-based Honey Pie and Kentucky Kiss. Walls are papered in vintage Sailor Jerry tattoos from the '40s and '50s, along with posters and memorabilia from Metro. Pleather- tufted booths line the perimeter. There's also a pool table, but so far a bigger draw is a semiprivate back room with a stripper pole. "We did it to be funny, but women are going crazy," says co- owner Lyle Aker. "A lot of them wear skirts and flip upside down. I've already seen my fair share of thongs." "Miami Ink" star Ami James visited the bar Monday night. At the grand-opening party last Thursday, more than 200 people attended. "It's the dirtiest, sexiest place I've ever been," says guest Stephen Westman.

If Louis XIV, the folks at Herman Miller and Mick Jagger were held at gunpoint and forced to design a bar, this would be the result. A neighborhood-bar version of the hall of mirrors at Versailles overhangs leather-wrapped banquettes, while a purple wall with arty stencils and vintage rock posters and faux tattooed walls round out the decor. Corn-mash aficionados can while away the hours sampling from more than 30 different bourbons, sipping their pleasure in the back lounge or shooting a few rounds of eight ball on the pool table. After a few Manhattans, you can work out your inner exhibitionist on the in-house stripper pole. If you're a traditionalist, you can stick the mahogany bar top, which is long enough to hold a phalanx of drunken amateur Rockettes. Toque-for-hire Jason Paskewitz (formerly of Wave, SushiSamba, JP Chicago and Pump Room among many others) developed the menu, which includes mini-pulled pork sandwiches; the Sid and Nancy, smoked muenster and turkey on thick slices of Texas toast; and a wicked version of pigs in the blanket, where one of the of the hot dogs is replaced with a jalapeno pepper. If Louis XIV, the folks at Herman Miller and Mick Jagger were held at gunpoint and forced to design a bar, this would be the result. A neighborhood-bar version of the hall of mirrors at Versailles overhangs leather-wrapped banquettes, while a purple wall with arty stencils and vintage rock posters and faux tattooed walls round out the decor. Corn-mash aficionados can while away the hours sampling from more than 30 different bourbons, sipping their pleasure in the back lounge or shooting a few rounds of eight ball on the pool table. After a few Manhattans, you can work out your inner exhibitionist on the in-house stripper pole. If you're a traditionalist, you can stick the mahogany bar top, which is long enough to hold a phalanx of drunken amateur Rockettes. Toque-for-hire Jason Paskewitz (formerly of Wave, SushiSamba, JP Chicago and Pump Room among many others) developed the menu, which includes mini-pulled pork sandwiches; the Sid and Nancy, smoked muenster and turkey on thick slices of Texas toast; and a wicked version of pigs in the blanket, where one of the of the hot dogs is replaced with a jalapeno pepper.

The rock 'n' roll theme at this West Town spot mixes an old-school 1940s deco element with modern touches. Sidle up to the 75-foot, L-shaped bar or settle into cushy booths near oversized mirrors. When the weather's warm, floor-to-ceiling windows open up the front of the bar to the sidewalk. If you're looking for more seclusion, a semi-private lounge area in back sets quite the scene: Vintage "tattoos" cover the walls, and there's even a stripper pole. If you like other, er, bar games, try the pool table in back. This spot specializes in bourbons, stocking 30 American varieties and a cocktail menu featuring 14 bourbon-based drinks. Boubon's not your thing? Choose from 16 beers on tap or the fully-stocked bar. A playful, upscale bar menu features everything from specialty burgers to tempura chicken fingers to the "Sid & Nancy" Honeymooner sandwich. Tap your toes to a weekly soundtrack of indie rock, punk, rockabilly and metal; DJs rock out on weekends.The rock 'n' roll theme at this West Town spot mixes an old-school 1940s deco element with modern touches. Sidle up to the 75-foot, L-shaped bar or settle into cushy booths near oversized mirrors. When the weather's warm, floor-to-ceiling windows open up the front of the bar to the sidewalk. If you're looking for more seclusion, a semi-private lounge area in back sets quite the scene: Vintage "tattoos" cover the walls, and there's even a stripper pole. If you like other, er, bar games, try the pool table in back. This spot specializes in bourbons, stocking 30 American varieties and a cocktail menu featuring 14 bourbon-based drinks. Boubon's not your thing? Choose from 16 beers on tap or the fully-stocked bar. A playful, upscale bar menu features everything from specialty burgers to tempura chicken fingers to the "Sid & Nancy" Honeymooner sandwich. Tap your toes to a weekly soundtrack of indie rock, punk, rockabilly and metal; DJs rock out on weekends.