West Loop lounge Meze opens next week

In the past year or so, Club Royale in the West Loop opened, closed, opened again and closed again (and maybe more -- we lost count after that).

Here comes Meze, a sangria and tapas lounge taking its place at 205 N. Peoria St., and we hope this one sticks around for longer. From what we've heard so far, it has one thing going for it: value.

We like what we're hearing as far as prices go: $5 a glass for sangria (red and white, plus a seasonally changing specialty such as a cider-spiked recipe for the cooler months), plus cheap specials on pitchers in the plans for Friday nights. Though the name refers to the Greek style of tapas-like snacks, the menu of small plates (most $5-$8) pulls from all over the globe, from ceviche to crab spanokopita to chipotle-spiced patatas bravas.

The lounge hopes to open its doors as soon as Nov. 12, followed by a grand opening party on Nov. 14.