Jamaica Jerk: Flask Not Included {From The Raving Dish}

Bar none, the very next 'hood poised to become the hottest ticket in town is East Rogers Park—specifically the tucked away pocket near Howard Street. It might take a few years and some major riff-raff clean out, but there is no better location in the city ready for revamping. It's near the lake, the L rumbles nearby, real estate is crazy cheap and do-gooder Evanston is just around the bend. Any remotely in-the-know outsider would say that you'd better get in while you can.

Try telling that to the owners of Jamaica Jerk, though. They've been in their sunny location for more than two years, and not a single new tenant has penetrated their stretch of Howard. Hell, if anything, folks have cleared out. All the better, though; it just makes for an easy dining choice for me, and a BYOB one, no less.