Karolinka Club

Karolinka Club is a dive bar located right next to Midway Airport, and there is no better way to say “Welcome to Chicago” than taking someone to hang out in a space perennially filled with Christmas lights, Polish beer, and a polka band. There will be a very friendly bartender/server who will run up and down the stairs carrying plates of food from the kitchen, which we can only assume is in the basement. The menu is short, with dishes like bigos and golabki, and some very crispy potato pancakes. Expect the server to ask you how things are and then proudly tell you she made the batter after you answer “great.”