Editorial Standards
How we cover the South Side. What we accept money for, what we don't, and how you can trust what you read here.
The Short Version
The Chicago Route is a curated, ad-supported local directory and publication. Some of what you see is paid placement — clearly labeled. The editorial coverage, ratings, and rankings are independent of who pays us. We don't trade good reviews for money, ever.
If we recommend a spot, it's because we think it's good. If a spot is sponsored, you'll see a disclosure. The line is bright. We don't blur it.
What We Accept
- Premium Profile (free). Every Chicago business can claim a real profile at no cost.
- Business Hub ($25/mo) and Mini Website Suite ($99/mo). Businesses pay for tools and visibility — a mini-site, booking, their own business AI, Stories, and the homepage Supporter Spotlight. None of those buy a higher rating, a better review, or favorable coverage.
- Sponsored placements. Banner ads on the site. Sponsored businesses surfaced in rotation. All marked as sponsored.
What We Don't Do
- Pay-for-positive-coverage. No business pays us to write a good article or boost a rating. Period.
- Hidden affiliate deals. If we link to something we earn from, we say so on the spot.
- Suppress negative coverage for advertisers. A paying business can get a critical mention or a low star rating if it's earned. The money buys placement, not silence.
- Let a hosted visit change the review. Businesses sometimes invite us in and cover the meal. When that happens, we say so in the review — and the rating is still ours. A free meal never buys a better one.
Sponsored Content Disclosure
Anywhere you see a paid promotional spot — like the Supporter Spotlight or a sponsored banner — this line appears nearby:
"Pros pay for placement; coverage is independent."
How We Rate
Ratings on The Chicago Route use a four-star scale, one star for each star on the Chicago flag. See the full ratings rubric →
Star ratings come from real reviews by people who've actually been there. The best-rated places rise on earned stars and reviews — paid placement is always separate and labeled, and ratings are never sold.
Corrections
We make mistakes. When we get a fact wrong, we update the story and note the correction. If you spot something off, let us know — we'd rather fix it than defend it.
Email info@chicagoroute.com
We read everything. We respond to most things.
Story Rules
Stories on The Chicago Route are for real, local businesses and real Chicago moments. Keep it real, local and legal.
Not allowed: nudity or sexual content · gang signs, gang content or threats · guns, weapons or violence · hate, harassment or bullying · drugs · anything illegal · spam or fake promotions.
Break the rules and you're out: the story comes down and the account is permanently banned from The Chicago Route. We may also block the device or network it came from. Anything showing a crime, a weapon being used, or a threat to someone's safety may be reported to law enforcement.
Every story is checked by our AI filter, and the Route can remove any story at any time.