Any true Chicagoan, even the ones who don't eat meat, can recognize the beauty of a good polish dog. Their grounds for comparison? The Patio in University Village. This dingy little dog hut serves up some of the best (and cheapest) Italian beef links to a loyal clientele. But the restaurant is more than happy to serve first-timers and out-of-towners, too.

The Patio serves a special "potato" sandwich for those tag-along veggie friends of meat-lovers. But be forewarned before biting into this one, it's merely a stack of fries wedged between two hunks of bread. The fries, though, are darn good—we recommend skipping the bread and eating them on their own. These starchy slices are so good, in fact that they're served with almost everything on the restaurant's menu. Make them even better by adding chili or cheese (or both!). We love The Patio for its authentic Chicago-style dogs, but we also love that those dogs are dirt cheap.

You won't find a thing on the Patio's menu over $5—unless you're planning for a party. In addition to its in-house offerings, the restaurant has special catering packages for large groups. These packs all include beef, peppers (sweet or hot) and bread. Prices vary, depending on how hungry your guests are.

Centerstage Reviewer: Stacy Warden