Champps Americana   

What they lack in spelling ability, the folks at Champps more than make up for with a diverse menu of eats and entertainment. Like its Bay Street "upscale casual" brethren (Blue Martini, Cheesecake Factory, et.al.), Champps offers the requisite gourmet salads and sandwiches and eclectic entrees (Grilled Salmon, Chicken Cordon Bleu) and desserts in a contemporary, yet warm, atmosphere (in this case, cool marble floors offset by cherry wood tables and leather cushioned bar stools). But this up-and-coming chain also dishes up weekly helpings of interactive entertainment like bingo, trivia contests and its soon-to-be-famous Tuesday night karaoke. For passive types, Champps, in keeping with its sports bar-sounding name, boasts a variety of strategically placed TVs, but they're just as likely to be tuned to weekly sitcom favorites as the Bucs or Lightning games. Whether its afternoon or evening dining, after-work or late-night socializing, Champps is a winner. -- Kerry Speckman