Bless Your Heart

Bless Your Heart is a Southern barbecue spot in River North with decidedly average-to-bad food (looking at you, cornbread that’s as dense as Wallace’s Infinite Jest). But that doesn’t mean you should write this place off completely. There are decent Happy Hour deals until 7pm, 90-minute bottomless brunches on the weekend, and multiple outdoor spaces. Just pass on the dry and flavorless smoked meats, and snack on things like chicken wings and corn ribs instead. And while the food isn’t memorable, the vibes are. The ceiling is covered in dangling cowboy boots and flowers, and the massive pink deer heads painted on the wall (with disco balls for eyes) will have you wondering if you’re in a Cowboy Barbie-themed hunting fever dream.