622 Davis St., 847-868-8686, cheesieschicago.com

It seemed like a good idea at the time. The idea, Cheesie’s; the time, of course, 3 a.m. There is, perhaps, nothing better than a late-night escapade for a monumental grilled cheese sandwich. You sit upright in the colorful restaurant, surrounded by your raucous friends as well as Northwestern heroes like Stephen Colbert and Mike Wilbon. Then you bite into the glorious combination of gooey cheese, hot sauce, crunchy bacon, crispy fried chicken tenders, tangy barbecue sauce and creamy ranch dressing in a Tenderizer, an experience that is made all the better by its nighttime context. But there is, perhaps, nothing worse than the morning after the adventure. You lie, half-naked on your side, surrounded by your other friends, Netflix and bed sheets, as that ungodly combination of ingredients sits in your stomach, marinating alongside the contents of several packets of Capri Sun (because what other restaurant sells juice concentrate drinks in foil pouches?) mocking your ability to make decisions at 3 a.m. But in the end, it is so worth it.

– Julian Gerez