Even when not stalking Robert Pattinson or being Ryan Adams, our trusty interns remain vigilant. Early this morning, we received a tip that went straight to the BlackBook Red Phone: the cast of Gossip Girl was shooting on location at Japonais, two blocks from our office. I quickly dispatched our elite squad of hardworking, perpetually awesome BlackBook interns on a mission: locate the cast of Gossip Girl. Document them with your high-tech image capture devices. Extend a copy of our tangible paper product visible in the frame. Finally, exfiltrate from the hot zone and return safely to HQ. Did they succeed?

Communal tables in Chicago are huge right now. Get it? Because the tables are ...

1. avec (West Loop) - The place is always busy, no matter what time you arrive, so don't feel bad for asking those at a semi-full table if you can sit there. Just feel bad if they say no.
2. The Bristol (Bucktown/Wicker Park) - The main room is as intimate as the communal seating. Pass the salt and share your grilled prawns, would you?
3. Room 21 (South Loop) - Long tables and the long bar at this former Al Capone speakeasy make you feel like royalty upon arrival. The vintage leopard oil painting on the wall should provide a perfectly good conversation starter.