Lost Lake

"Lost Lake, one of Chicago’s most popular bars, served tiki drinks, which would become a polarizing topic. However, the owners at Land & Sea Dept. closed Lost Lake in January 2022." - Tony Tran

"If there were ever a city where a tiki bar is bound to succeed, it’s Chicago —during warmer months, they can help us embrace our short-lived summers; and during winter months, they help us escape the reality of subzero temps. As such, the seats of this Logan Square hangout are always filled, and bartenders tirelessly mix cocktails like the Bunny’s Banana Daiquiri (with overproof Jamaican rum, overproof demerara rum, spiced rum, banana, coconut, and lime, served with a banana dolphin) and the Tic-Tac-Taxi (a frozen drink with aged multi-island rum, overproof Jamaican rum, coconut, passion fruit, and lime). A recently opened kitchen serves up dishes like pork dumplings with scallion and ginger, and curry udon with summer squash and coconut crème fraîche."

Nominee: Lost Lake, Outstanding Bar Program

James Beard 2019 - Great Lakes

"When Lost Lake finally remerged from its 18 months of hibernation and reopened its bar last month, management did so with a variety of changes. The Logan Square bar, which debuted six years ago, no longer serves a menu of tiki drinks: management has rebranded the cocktail list toward 'tropical' beverages..." - Ashok Selvam

"Lost Lake is a famed tropical bar spot in Chicago, operated by Land and Sea Dept, known for its vibrant atmosphere and creative cocktails." - Nadia Chaudhury