As Southern States Bus Migrants to Chicago, Service Workers Are Waiting With Hot Meals

<div><figure> <img alt="U.S.-CHICAGO-MIGRANTS" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ayZrOSNl-9bQtAki3stSiqzxN80=/34x0:2701x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72695174/1613387985.0.jpg"> <figcaption>Scenes like this are familiar with migrants outside of police stations all over Chicago. | Photo by Vincent D. Johnson/Xinhua via Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p>With winter approaching, Chicago’s migrant community gets a helping hand from hospitality workers</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="sGOlf0">After seeing what migrant asylum seekers were being fed at shelters, Faraz Sardharia took matters into his own hands. </p> <p id="djDMrz">“I walked in and I was like... there’s kids on the floor,’” he says of his first visit to the Chicago police station near Larabee and Division. “There’s like two brothers literally two years old with their teddy bear and their mom and dad next to them, helpless.”</p> <p id="I2Sske">The experience left a lasting impression on Sardharia. Over the last four months, the owner of <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/tandoor-char-house">Tandoor Char House</a> has distanced himself from day-to-day operations at his three restaurants to focus on converting his River North location into a pantry of sorts, making culturally appropriate meals for the mostly South American migrants housed at police stations across the city. More than 14,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago over the last year or so.</p> <p id="az84Xu">“When you give somebody a meal, you allow them to smile for that moment,” Sardharia says. </p> <p id="2xdo1Z">Sardharia sits on the board of <a href="https://chi-care.org/">Chi Care</a>, a nonprofit organization started in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Through that group, he saw firsthand what the migrants face. He then partnered with the city of Chicago and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Sardharia and his team have distributed more than 250,000 meals. The effort, funded by the depository, has expanded to lunch and dinner. They’re making nearly 5,000 meals a day.</p> <p id="YGCKPY">Sardharia has visited the Inn of Chicago, <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/8/15/23833427/new-home-migrants-booted-from-chicago-shelter#:~:text=The%20Inn%20of%20Chicago%20is,is%20now%20housing%20migrant%20families.&amp;text=All%20new%20arrivals%20have%20a,matters%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20city%20said.">the hotel converted into a shelter</a> in Streeterville. Migrants staying at these makeshift shelters <a href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/06/12/migrants-report-moldy-food-poor-treatment-cold-showers-at-city-run-shelters-the-police-stations-treated-us-better/">have endured moldy food</a> and limited access to health care. Sardharia had the skills and the connections to help. He began speaking with migrants at the shelter to see what they needed, and Sardharia and his team of eight began doing research — most of the migrants are from Venezuela. Helped by mutual aid groups, Sardharia took input. Meals that initially started with fried chicken and fries have transitioned to arepas, empanadas, and more. </p> <p id="Ik7Vtc">“That was a big learning experience,” he says. “With their support and their advice, we developed proper menus that are healthy, nutritious, and culturally appropriate.” Restaurants like Chicago’s Dog House, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/cafe-bionda">Cafe Bionda</a>, and more have aided the effort. </p> <p id="pCpgyd">Serving food migrants recognize won’t solve the larger challenges they face, but Sardharia says it helps to have a quality meal on a consistent basis.</p> <div class="c-float-right"><div id="kCe951"><div data-anthem-component="aside:12071559"></div></div></div> <p id="Bh2sW1">The looming problem is the Chicago winter. Migrants are allowed to sleep in police stations at night but must remain outside during the day. Felipe Ospina, a Colombian native and consultant who works for Sysco, knows how harsh the transition is for those unfamiliar with Midwestern winters. After walking through a shelter in Pilsen, Ospina, who arrived in America 21 years ago as an asylum seeker from Bogota, left saddened. He imagined how families with young children journeyed through Central American jungles to Chicago: “I walked into this situation and it moved my entire world,” Ospina says.</p> <p id="pvGzBe">Ospina alongside Sysco, Chicago Public Schools, Pilsen Food Pantry, Chicago Chefs Cook, and Todos Para Todos, launched a clothing drive that runs through Friday, October 20, where people can drop off new or gently used winter clothing for kids ages 3 to 17. Coats and shoes are what’s needed the most, but they’ll also take hats, scarves, and gloves. Restaurants like <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/big-kids">Big Kids</a>, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/blvd-steakhouse">BLVD Steakhouse</a>, Arepa George, and Prairie Grass Café are drop-off points. They’re looking for more restaurants to join.</p> <p id="NE63YJ">Meanwhile, many restaurant owners want migrants to join their workforce, seeing a possible remedy to <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/12/15/23505303/workers-2022-quits-remote-work-unions">labor shortages</a>. It’s a touchy proposition when it comes to power dynamics: Undocumented workers are often <a href="https://www.eater.com/2020/5/29/21273410/undocumented-workers-coronavirus-risks">taken</a> <a href="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/undocumented-workers-restaurants-covid-19">advantage</a> of; <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/5/16/17362712/white-man-lawyer-threatens-spanish-speaking-workers-new-york-aaron-schlossberg">without leverage</a>, they’re afraid of speaking out or finding new jobs. They often remain in their current jobs even if bosses are abusive.</p> <p id="XSwqpH">Earlier this week, <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2023/09/21/pritzker-johnson-praise-biden-allowing-migrants-work-while-seeking-asylum">President Biden decided</a> to offer Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans who arrived in America on or before July 31. The Illinois Restaurant Association, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, praised the move. In August, <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2023/08/30/pritzker-johnson-press-biden-allow-migrants-work-while-seeking-asylum">the governor and mayor — along with other elected officials — lobbied the </a>president to make such a move. The association is a founding member of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition and has pushed for immigration reform and a path toward citizenship.</p> <p id="O2PQ2L">“Immigrants have always been the backbone of the hospitality industry and restaurants continue to be a home for immigrants from all over the world seeking to build a new life and achieve the American Dream,” reads part of an association statement sent to Eater Chicago.</p> <div class="c-float-right c-float-hang"><aside id="DDX9pr"><q>When you give somebody a meal, you allow them to smile for that moment</q></aside></div> <p id="QU8pZ9">Sardharia began his efforts in May and he wants more of his colleagues to show their support. While some have taken up the cause, others have been reluctant. The issue has become political thanks to the actions of the conservative governors of Texas and Florida who <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/9/17/23357832/desantis-marthas-vineyard-flights-gop-immigration-stunts">bussed and flew migrants from their states</a> to Democratic cities like Chicago and New York. Some restaurant owners within Chicago share this view and are still recovering after law-and-order candidate Paul Vallas lost his mayoral bid to progressive Brandon Johnson. </p> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Declares Emergency Amid Surge In Migrant Arrivals" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vINxVqQihH4tD9X52dHXHThVx8k=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24957847/1488711118.jpg"> <cite>Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images</cite> <figcaption>Chicago’s migrant crisis erupted in May with more asylum seekers spotted at police stations across the city.</figcaption> </figure> <p id="Piffhk">Loop bar owners whose establishments are located near the shuttered <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/standard-club">Standard Club</a> that’s been converted into a shelter spoke out in a recent <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/immigration/ct-migrants-residents-business-clash-loop-20230926-kjr6wlo3pzerxb37ps5ncj4eae-story.html"><em>Tribune</em> story</a>. The owner of Plymouth Restaurant &amp; Rooftop claims migrants drink at a nearby park and harass women. George Liakopoulos, who also owns diners like <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/hollywood-grill">Hollywood Grill</a> in Bucktown and <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/griddle-24">Griddle 24</a> in River North, says the behavior is keeping customers away. Liakopoulos says he supports helping the migrants but the city has to take action to protect businesses. Likewise, the owner of Brando’s Speakeasy, Brandon Vulpitta, tells the <em>Trib</em> some of his customers don’t feel safe.</p> <p id="qar0iD">The cost of migrant care has added about $200 million to the city’s projected budget deficit. <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2023/9/20/23882989/chicago-migrant-crisis-base-camps-tents-brandon-johnson-gardaworld-state-contract">The city recently signed a</a> $29.3 million deal earlier this month with a controversial security company — GardaWorld has a history <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/firm-under-contract-chicago-tents-migrants-denver/">of mistreating migrants</a> — for tents or “winterized base camps.” Migrants won’t be fed under the tents, but Sardharia says his group will be ready to help when the time comes.</p> <p id="gFTRtY">Ospina is trying to ignore the outside noise. He sees these disagreements as minor obstacles. </p> <p class="c-end-para" id="Y5kBPl">“Where I came from, you’re used to this — you see speed bumps everywhere,” he says. “You just find a way around it.”</p> <aside id="gt2rkp"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside><p id="g0dbgY"></p> <p id="xV6Ldp"></p> <p id="P6e0i7"></p></div>

Inside Lincoln Park’s Classy Speakeasy Inspired by ‘The Great Gatsby’

<div><figure> <img alt="A library-style room with green walls and ornate furniture." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N4fuoo16ZgFvZCljPetMf7p2Agg=/195x0:3306x2333/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72694603/53201403078_3d9593fe4a_o.0.jpg"> <figcaption>The Gastby is open in Lincoln Park. | <a class="ql-link" href="https://barrybrecheisen.com/" target="_blank">Barry Brecheisen</a>/Eater Chicago</figcaption> </figure> <p>Explore the Gatsby, Chicago’s lavish new Jazz Age cocktail den</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="OKEySc">When Children’s Memorial Hospital moved from Lincoln Park, it took 4,000 workers, potential customers, away from the Bourgeois Pig, the cafe across the street. The pandemic followed, dealing another blow to the business that turned 30 years old earlier this year.</p> <p id="pul2En">But with the challenges, owner Mason Green found positives. On a down-on-your-luck day that saw his car booted by parking enforcement, a Pig regular — a pediatric surgeon from across the street — offered to loan him his Mercedes.</p> <p id="HFsbwN">“Who does that?” Green says. </p> <p id="lVq1Sn">Dr. Alex Dzakovic eventually signed on as an investor. And though Children’s Memorial’s departure removed a strong customer base from the area, there was a silver lining. Green was now free to pursue a liquor license. Chicago bars applicants within 100 feet of a hospital, school, or church.</p> <p id="ZIYtGz">With that hurdle clear, Green, in earnest, began plans to convert his second-floor apartment to a speakeasy-style bar. The Bourgeois Pig is a cafe with sandwiches named after classic American literature and was a haven for late-night study groups for students at nearby DePaul University. But Green saw a chance to evolve with the area, to create a bar without TVs — not everyone needs Big Ten football highlights. Lincoln Avenue, once home to bars like the Big Nasty and John Barleycorn, was maturing. Right up the street, Galit had opened and earned a Michelin star. Parson’s Chicken &amp; Fish opened a nearby location in 2018.</p> <div class="p-fullbleed-block"><div class="c-image-grid"> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A secret door that looks like a bookcase hangs open beside an upholstered leather armchair." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oLnzWP0A-zRF9Yz82St4e6UeYss=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24938011/53201514545_9c54d97a47_o.jpg"> <figcaption>There’s another door behind this swinging shelf with a sliding peephole. </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A weathered metal door with an open peephole." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CVhghx6BR7_0kX9ChQs-Fg75lk0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937979/53201178286_6da5d478e7_o.jpg"> <figcaption>According to legend, this door was salvaged from a basement speakeasy once frequented by infamous Chicago gangsters.</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div></div> <p id="qDdPQ5">Earlier this month Green introduced the Gatsby. Green likens the aesthetic to an “old gentleman study” with boar heads and vintage books. It’s like a slice of the mansion from <em>The Great Gatsby.</em> </p> <p id="x6d70Q">“We don’t have any TVs by the way,” Green says. “We’re just a straight conversational place, you know, good jazz music and big band.”</p> <p id="16xe2I">Customers receive a card with a password and instructions from the first-floor host and climb the rickety stairs until they get to a 200-pound steel door with a peephole. The owner of the Red Lion Pub, Colin Cordwell, gifted the door to Green. A history buff, Cordwell salvaged the door after crews razed a neighboring building that’s been converted to condos on Lincoln Avenue. It was from a basement speakeasy. The speakeasy is conveniently located across the street from the Biograph Theater. That’s where gangster John Dillinger was with the infamous Woman in Red before a federal agent gunned him down in an alley outside.</p> <p id="PJezYa">Green is savvy when it comes to procuring antiques and vintage books. He’s a veteran of the auction circuit, and that helped fill the speakeasy’s room. He designed the space himself, including the swinging bookshelf that leads to the steel door. A red light will activate on the inside when a customer seeks entry. </p> <p id="ka9sZ9">Inside, bartenders Connor Barnett and Elena Nunez, who have worked for places like Bazaar Meat and Milk Room, have prepared six cocktails. The coffee bar remains in operation, but at night, it’s kind of a landing pad for customers waiting to be seated at the upstairs bar. There is wine and cheese.</p> <p class="c-end-para" id="rqYk7q">Walk through the space below. </p> <div><div class="c-image-grid"> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A corner of a room with built-in shelves filled with books and an upholstered leather armchair." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FdRR0GFoasUdri_X5yjLeM_I0QU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24938010/53201514365_e886708b87_o.jpg"> <figcaption>A secret bookcase entrance is just one of the playful obstacles to entry.</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0Uvm3DZHYMZbHFacQ8ZLtTUbCv8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24941662/bb1_7373_53201178331_o.jpg"> <figcaption>The red light is a warning, possible narcs! </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div></div> <div class="p-fullbleed-block"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A long L-shaped wooden bar in a red room decorated with ornate furniture and candalabras." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cyl3NfT1QJqgKlOOnPbfgh5GoHY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937968/53200988194_6f7de83686_o.jpg"> <figcaption>This room used to be the owner’s apartment. </figcaption> </figure> </div> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A bartender pours a drink from one shaker high up in the air into another shaker held low down." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XR_UFihMdpy0F8IBGy53f2EQ214=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937993/53201512870_e159d9cf79_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Bartender Connor Barnett calls this a dream job.</figcaption> </figure> <div><div class="c-image-grid"> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A plush red room lit with candles and filled with ornate furniture." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/73kLxLl9Xtr0pXex2yBzBg_vStQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937955/53200713107_c36b480a25_o.jpg"> <figcaption>The owner scored most of these artifacts from auctions.</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A yellow room with dark brown upholstered leather armchairs." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NDQAw48wPzyygvSS5T6o-V5sweQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937999/53201513210_be44debd0f_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Yes, that’s a fireplace.</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div></div> <div class="p-fullbleed-block"><div class="c-image-grid"> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A room with blue walls and wooden furniture lit by a candle." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2XvddRiCBFXoCNIOj8bbQ_3O61o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937967/53200987784_2000cd1541_o.jpg"> <figcaption>The windows overlook Fullerton Avenue.</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A library-style room with green walls and ornate furniture." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mK_Gm23G6LFQQnqA3pRAV6Ii_q8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937957/53200713817_49dab22d00_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Note the boar head — makes sense for the Bourgeois Pig.</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div></div> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A low-lit room with wooden furniture and green walls." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T8Z8PJhYLSquFcuqiPhowoZQNr8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937988/53201403333_bd9f484789_o.jpg"> </figure> <div><div class="c-image-grid"> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A bartender stirs yellow sake pearls into a clear cocktail with a gold spoon." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TrPLeQcYA7nKKdsECr37Tanzirk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937990/53201512290_5de0f9783e_o.jpg"> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A flute filled with a dark cocktail and topped with a marigold blossom." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5A9SYBm3YEvnM_-hxXw6M4ftj0w=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937966/53200986504_2b75bdf86f_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Flowers for Daisy (bourbon, grenadine, cacao, grapefruit, spice).</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A yellow cocktail with red foam in a rocks glass." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3horpA8RlrrWzxbF6OKbp_ROIHQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937971/53201175651_28428dd9ed_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Voice Full of Money (clarified rye and cognac milk punch, black truffle honey, chamomile, cabernet foam).</figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="c-image-grid__item"> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A clear cocktail with yellow sake pearls inside." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r2XApSrLWNiQ6GPcauG1rpd_2qU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937965/53200985959_1f26427e7a_o.jpg"> <figcaption>Something Gorgeous (vodka, elderflower, violet, rice wine pearls).</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div></div> <aside id="AcIThI"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside><p id="HfK2rl"></p> <p id="OZlSV6"></p> <p id="yNwiiX"></p> <p id="tQyNBX"></p> <p id="o3zXca"></p> <p id="jxD5w7"></p> <p id="FuN4ea"></p> <p id="Ybrk7L"></p> <p id="k5XNPL"></p> <p id="sra6OL"></p> <p id="nbODY0"></p></div>

Tasting the difference with Belgian's Best Sommelier Jasper Van Papeghem x ATAG

Join us for an exquisite wine tasting experience as sommelier Jasper Van Papeghem and ATAG Ambassador Kris dive into the world of wine. Watch as they explore the nuances of wine flavors, aromas, and the art of wine appreciation. Discover the importance of proper wine storage with Atag's wine climate cabinet and learn from these experts as they share their insights. Get ready to indulge your senses in this captivating wine journey.

Full Shilling in Wrigleyville and Eight More Bar and Restaurant Closures

<div><figure> <img alt="An orange rectangular sign with a white round border reading “Sorry, we’re closed” superimposed over a dining room photo." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OxSdJflZrjZmWU7_RiGl5FOPCfA=/86x0:1414x996/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72691126/ComingAttractions_Close_5.0.jpg"> <figcaption>Full Shilling lasted 20 years in Wrigleyville. | Eater</figcaption> </figure> <p>A running log of restaurant and bar closing across Chicago</p> <p id="qKMLyX">Sweater weather, spooky season — whatever one wants to call it, autumn is here. Changing leaves and perfectly crisp weather make for a charming lead-up to the inevitable winter doldrums, and Chicagoans are soaking up every second of fall fun at the city’s bars and restaurants. </p> <p id="5ZYnDb">Nevertheless, the hospitality industry remains a challenging and competitive place. Below, Eater is cataloging both temporary and permanent restaurant closures in Chicago. If you know of a restaurant, bar, or another closed food establishment, please email <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. We will continue to update this post.</p> <p id="V16hOR"><small><em>For summer closures, </em></small><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2023/7/27/23808731/chicago-restaurant-closings-summer-2023"><small><em>go here</em></small></a><small><em>.</em></small></p> <aside id="V0KiFi"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside><h3 id="KZilzz">September 26</h3> <p id="q4AR8H"><strong>Edison Park: </strong>A trio of sister spots — <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/the-curragh">The Curragh</a> Irish Pub, Mexican restaurant Que Onda, and a Giordano’s franchise — are permanently closed at 6701-6709 N. Northwest Highway after the building owner sold the property, according to <a href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/09/20/edison-parks-the-curragh-que-onda-and-giordanos-close-after-owner-sells-building/">Block Club Chicago</a>. Owners Paul Leongas and his sisters took over the Irish pub in 1999, launched the Giordano’s in 2013, and opened Que Onda in 2018.</p> <div id="oeylfY"> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxV2hOaPStF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxV2hOaPStF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div> </div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxV2hOaPStF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Que Onda (@queondachicago)</a></p> </div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> </div> <p id="XS31le"><strong>Hyde Park: </strong>Nashville-style poultry mini-chain <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/the-budlong-hot-chicken">The Budlong Hot Chicken</a> permanently closed an outpost in late July at 1301 E. 53rd Street after four years in business, according to the <a href="https://www.hpherald.com/evening_digest/leona-s-pizzeria-the-budlong-close/article_5ea33f94-58d7-11ee-b6bc-ef83572fc09e.html">Hyde Park Herald</a>. Founded in 2019, the location was the brand’s first on the South Side, joining sister restaurants in Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, and inside <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/revival-food-hall">Revival Food Hall</a> in the Loop. Craveworthy Brands, run by ex-Jimmy John’s CEO Gregg Majewski, purchased The Budlong in 2022. </p> <p id="A2XdPt"><strong>Lake Shore East: </strong><a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/carlucci-chicago">Carlucci Chicago</a> <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/2021/11/30/22810519/carlucci-chicago-lakeshore-east-joe-carlucci-italian-restaurant">has closed its doors</a> across the street for Millennium Park. Veteran chef Joe Carlucci opened the restaurant in 2021 at 400 E. Randolph Street. The original restaurant closed in 1997 in Lincoln Park and the chef also worked at Charlie’s Ale House. There are signs up at on the restaurant’s windows thanking customers for two years of patronage.</p> <p id="El16Du"><strong>Lincoln Square: </strong>Mexican restaurant El Xangarrito will permanently close on Saturday, September 30 after nearly three years at 4811 N. Rockwell Street, co-owners and spouses Rogelio and Erika Benitez announced in early September <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw1aGTXvMsj/">on Instagram</a>. The couple opened the restaurant in November 2020 and carved out a niche in the neighborhood with their. menu of tacos, moles, and enchiladas. Their hospitality careers, however, will continue. “We know this notice might be shocking to many if not all of you, but we know it’s the right decision for us as a family for now,” they write. “We have a big project for the future, and we hope you can be there to join us.”</p> <div id="xS6KXf"> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cw1aGTXvMsj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cw1aGTXvMsj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div> </div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cw1aGTXvMsj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by El Xangarrito (@el_xangarrito)</a></p> </div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> </div> <p id="qL9bt5"><strong>Wrigleyville: </strong>There will be no mad dash toward the playoffs for the <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/full-shilling-public-house">Full Shilling Public House</a>. After two decades in Wrigleyville, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fullshillingpublichouse/posts/pfbid0UtQjJMECqceStUVWCzU29XQi2iv7WckSzWBhXetjtFhXuzXU3FiHTjuMr7KHrVjAl">the sports bar has served last call</a> at 3724 N. Clark Street. Beyond baseball, the bar was also to Clemson Tiger football and is pushing fans toward its sister bar, Trace, to watch NCAA action. While shutters aren’t anything new with bars closing and opening regularly, the end of a 20-year run just illustrates how much the area has changed since the Hotel Zachary opened.</p> <p id="dhcNmY"><strong>Oswego: </strong>Five-year-old beer maker Oswego Brewing Company closed in late August at 61 Main Street in far suburban Oswego, which is located about an hour outside Chicago, according to <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-oswego-brewing-closing-st-0831-20230830-ufcrqu2ndfe6jjn346j3dq667y-story.html">the <em>Aurora Beacon-News</em></a>. Brewery managers announced the closure in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OswegoBrewing/posts/pfbid0F75Mspj1N6nRDReS4wwunUoMtfNPeJBxKJ5PC2PbVCPFPdRVFX9tGh22Sx8JVTu2l">Facebook post</a> that details the challenges the business has faced since the onset of the pandemic. “The reasons for this are many and varied, but the primary cause is this: We are a casualty of COVID,” they write. “The shutdowns severely damaged our income model, our tap room population never returned to pre-COVID numbers, and distribution revenue never rebounded to the numbers we achieved before March 2020.”</p> <p id="J3ZFoD"></p></div>

In an Upset, Chicago Gourmet’s Best Burger Came From a Seattle ‘Top Chef’ Alum

The annual event is a great opportunity for some of the most beloved chefs and restaurants in and around Chicago to flex their take on the burger — while taking some very creative liberties with the ingredients and fixings for their entries as well. Often, this results in some eyebrow-raising offerings from unexpected sources including Lou Mitchell’s. The legendary West Loop diner’s chef Nick Thanas made a Spicy Sweet Powdered Hole Burger that included a classic Lou Mitchell’s donut hole speared

Hello, Customer From Hell. Welcome to My Wine Bar

Please never come back

100 Awesome Showcases — Sharing Medium’s Hidden Gem Stories 36

Stay connected with Inside the Mind of a Writer for insightful posts on writing, philosophy, and personal development. Want to contribute…

Chicago Gourmet, the Fancy Food Fest That Celebrates Chefs, Adds Composting

The city’s premier food festival returned for the 16th year For the first time in Chicago Gourmet’s 16-year history, the festival grounds had visible recycling and composting bins. It might be a minor detail for an event featuring dozens of Chicago’s most popular chefs and wines from all over the world, but for an event where upscale restaurants are celebrated, the move was welcomed. Throwing an event like this plenty of waste — it’s not uncommon site to see patrons cleaning their wine glasses o

Verve Wine Revives its Chicago Restaurant With a French Reboot

<div><figure> <img alt="A portion of a bistro dining room with a large mural of people drinking wine." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3H7-PZbEyuZXE5l5-EncXmNgk5k=/693x0:6240x4160/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72687500/20230914_DSCF9740.0.jpg"> <figcaption>The bistro’s custom mural is by illustrator and Kasama server Angelo Dolojan. | Argot</figcaption> </figure> <p>Argot brings its bistro fare to Lincoln Park</p> <p id="qaVXiS">Verve Wine, a wine store mini-chain with locations in New York City and San Francisco, made its Chicago debut in 2021 in Lincoln Park with a restaurant component as Verve Wine and Provisions. But as operators searched for solid footing during the pandemic, Verge would close in January 2022 inside the Lincoln Commons development at the former Children’s Memorial Hospital.</p> <p id="xKuynE">But Verve hung onto the space which paved the way for a return. Argot is a new French restaurant from the team at Verve Wine that managing partner Dustin Wilson calls “an awesome neighborhood restaurant that provides good food and great hospitality.” </p> <p id="ypBbXP">“[We want] to be humble with all of it and take really good care of people,” Wilson adds.</p> <p id="7cR5Wm">Chicago has in recent years rekindled its romance with French dining, swept off its feet by the marriage of modern design and classical technique at <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/obelix">Obelix</a>, a 2023 James Beard finalist for best new restaurant, and the splashy styling at <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/le-select">Le Select</a>, <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/boka">Boka</a>’s cavernous brasserie.</p> <p id="Qoojpv">“We’re all big fans of the very classic French bistro and brasserie type of places,” says Wilson, who cites famed New York institution <a href="https://ny.eater.com/venue/4875/balthazar">Balthazar</a> as an influence. “We’re taking bits of inspiration from places like [Balthazar] and blending in Chicago flair and a heavy focus on wine. Picture a person who grew up in France and then lived a few decades in Chicago — this is what they want.” </p> <p id="voLyIt">Executive chef Lucas DePerry, an indigenous chef raised on the Miskwaabikaang (Red Cliff) reservation on Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin, will apply a playful touch to a dinner menu with options like a buttery Pigs en Croûte — a riff on cocktail weenies “in blankets” — with Toulouse sausage from <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/paulina-meat-market">Paulina Meat Market</a>. Midwestern meats giant Nueske’s gets a nod in the frisee with maple lardon, and Lake Superior whitefish and trout will be baked and served with Lentilles de Puy, creme fraiche, and sorrel. </p> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt="A plate of sausage wrapped in pastry on a wooden table." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7in7F6ynyn4QuyAozkV1-yeMNJI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24951611/20230914_DSCF9977.jpg"> <cite>Argot</cite> <figcaption>Pigs en Croûte is a play on Midwestern cocktail sausage canapes. </figcaption> </figure> <p id="QtFwLs">Classic bistro fare will also have a place at Argot, where traditionalists will find cast iron-seated steak frites with peppercorn sauce, gruyere-topped French onion soup, and crowd-pleasing Croque Madame. The side-by-side presentation of old and new extends to the restaurant’s wine list as well, which is built around French and domestic options. In a departure from a recent influx of Chicago spots exclusively featuring natural wine, Wilson says he felt strongly about making room for a wide range on Argot’s market list, where every bottle will be available for $150 or less. </p> <p id="rYTvlP">“The goal is to be a bridge between showcasing a lot of benchmark, traditional, more classic types of wines while balancing it out with more contemporary outside-the-box [styles],” he says. He’s mindful of its close proximity to DePaul University and thinks it’s a safe bet that students and their families won’t enjoy leafing through a massive list of expensive bottles. If a patron is looking to “go a little wild,” however, Wilson will be ready to deliver with a separate collections list that’s longer, pricier, and more regionally extensive. </p> <p id="vxVLQT">Argot’s 54-seat dining room bears many marks of familiar bistro style with a tiled entrance, dark wood furniture, and sleek banquettes. Cool tones run throughout, see in dark green upholstery and a lime-washed back wall decorated with French new wave posters. It also features a custom mural by <a href="https://dolojangelo.com/">Angelo Dolojan</a>, a local illustrator and server at acclaimed restaurant <a href="https://chicago.eater.com/venue/kasama">Kasama</a> where he snagged a cameo in Season 2 of FX series <em>The Bear. </em>There’s also a 14-seat bar and a private dining room for 12 where the team plans to hold wine dinners. An outdoor patio, which will open when weather allows, will add an additional 20 spots.<em> </em></p> <p id="lUUqtG"><a href="https://www.argotchicago.com/"><em>Argot</em></a><em>, 2349 N. Lincoln Avenue, Scheduled to open Wednesday, October 27.</em></p> <aside id="CW5DrD"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-eater"}'></div></aside></div>

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