07/19/2007
A ROOM WITH A VIEW:
TAVERN AT THE PARK OPENS IN CHICAGO JULY 31, 2007
CHICAGO (July 19, 2007) - When looking for inspiration for its
newest restaurant venture, the group behind Tavern at
the Park (130 E. Randolph St.), didn’t have to search far. With
breathtaking views of the extraordinary landscape of Millennium
Park and the architectural gems along Michigan Avenue just outside
its 20-foot windows, it comes as no surprise that Tavern
at the Park - opening July 31, 2007 - has its soul firmly planted in
the Windy City.
Located near the corner of Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue,
Tavern at the Park offers an elegant atmosphere and classic American
dining that appeal to Chicagoans and visitors alike, created
by the all-star team behind award-winning Chicago favorite Keefer’s.
Managing Partner Peter de Castro, a 30-year veteran of the restaurant
industry, describes the two-story eatery as “polished casual”,
paying homage to the city’s love for corner saloons. “Chicagoans
have such affection for those little friendly neighborhood taverns,” says
de Castro. “We wanted to create that atmosphere here that
makes people feel welcome. We want Tavern at the Park to feel
like home to Chicago.”
Executive Chef John Hogan, himself a Chicago institution, drew
from the comforting and familiar to shape Tavern at the
Park’s
classic, yet enlivened American menu. “Today, there’s
so much crazy stuff going on in the food world, with many young
chefs trying to reinvent the wheel,” says Chef Hogan. “For
me, it’s about taking the old, rusty wheel out of the shed
and polishing it up a bit. My style is keeping food unfussy,
but making it taste as good as it possibly can.” Hogan,
who has lent his culinary skill to numerous local establishments,
from steak and seafood favorite Keefer’s to French bastions
Everest, L’Escargot, Le Perroquet, Kiki’s Bistro
and his own Savarin, places his signature on the menu of straightforward
American dishes, adapting them with French nuances and contemporary
twists.
In keeping with the restaurant’s vision as a home away
from home for Chicagoans, Chef Hogan collaborated with Chef de
Cuisine Michael Cisternino - a veteran of Carmine’s Rosebud
Steakhouse and the South Loop’s Gioco - to design an all-day
menu that appeals to a wide variety of diners. An Herbed
Chicken Fondue appetizer features pulled chicken from the rotisserie
oven, paired with fontina cheese and house-made oversized garlic
croutons for dipping. Mussels take on a Portuguese slant with
the addition of pepperoni, white wine, tomato and garlic. Tavern
at the Park’s version of sliders, called Tavern
Teasers,
take things up a notch, with a choice of filet mignon with a
blue-cheese crust, crab cakes topped with remoulade sauce or
a sirloin burger with American cheese, all served with shoestring
fries. A cavalcade of sandwiches, including an open-faced Prime
Rib with Swiss cheese and caramelized onions and a hearty Grilled
Vegetarian option, satisfies the lunch crowd.
Fans of Keefer’s are sure to appreciate the large selection
of top-quality meats, from Chef Hogan’s famous Double-Cut
Pork Chop, grilled with cherry-cola barbecue sauce, to Braised
Beef Short Ribs in a red wine demi glaze, to Herb-Crusted
Filet Mignon, available in 9- and 12-ounce cuts, with a selection of
tempting sauces and crusts. Diners hungry for a lighter touch
have many options, including an Asian Shrimp Salad with spiced
grilled shrimp, mandarin oranges, red and green cabbage and a
tangy sesame-soy dressing; grilled Organic Salmon with lemon
buerre blanc and fried spinach chips or Blackened Sea Scallops tossed in a spicy vodka sauce with mushrooms and spinach, served
over five-grain pasta.
Desserts “up” the comfort factor with treats such
as a Fried Banana Split, Warm Blueberry Apple Bread
Pudding and
the inner child-pleasing Cookies and Cream Fondue with fresh
fruit, marshmallows, Rice Krispies treats and pretzels for dipping.
Tavern at the Park, as its name implies, also features an extensive
selection of beverages, including a 55-bottle wine list of moderately
priced and predominantly California-produced vintages, many of
which are displayed in the glass-walled wine room in the first-story
dining room. A well-stocked bar with an array of classic and
signature cocktails assures a perfect post-work or pre-dinner
drink, or a delicious nightcap.
Guests who wish to bring a piece of Chicago home with them can
order Tavern at the Park’s Cloud Gate
Martini, named for
Millennium Park’s iconic “Cloud Gate” sculpture
(affectionately known to Chicagoans as “The Bean”).
This indulgent cocktail, perfect for special occasions, comes
with a sterling-silver Bean pendant necklace, designed for a
top luxury jewelry store by designer Elsa Peretti.
To create a welcoming experience, Aria Group Architects, Inc.,
filled the 280-seat restaurant with plenty of mahogany wood,
from the semi-circular granite-topped bar and the broad overhead
beams to the hand rails of the wide staircase leading to the
second-story dining room. Buttery yellow walls complement the
chocolate brown leather of 20 booths positioned throughout the
restaurant, inviting diners to relax and enjoy. Victorian-inspired
pressed tin-style ceiling tiles hearken back to an earlier time
but are actually state-of-the-art, created with sound-absorbing
material that assures a conversation-friendly environment. Beautiful
light fixtures cast a golden-hued glow over flagstone-covered
columns and a gas fireplace, and detailed mahogany door and window
frames create an atmosphere reminiscent of famed Illinois architect
Frank Lloyd Wright.
Perhaps the most striking décor element, however, is
the remarkable view. “We concentrated on making sure that
every seat in the restaurant has a view of Millennium Park,” says
de Castro. In summer 2008, the visual will become even more spectacular
when Tavern at the Park’s rooftop terrace opens, offering
not only vistas of “Cloud Gate”, the striking Frank
Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the contemporary Harris
Theater for Music and Dance, but also a secluded space for guests
to enjoy a refined dining and drinking experience. “Guests
will feel as though they are part of the park,” explains
de Castro, “but at the same time enjoy some privacy.”
For groups, Tavern at the Park offers four private-dining areas.
The glass-enclosed Pub Room on the first floor accommodates more
intimate groups of 8 to 10. The Sky Box on the second level seats
22 and offers a corner-window view of Michigan Avenue below.
For larger groups, a 40-seat banquet room is available, as is
the entire second floor, with seating for 100. All private dining
rooms are equipped with plasma TVs and can be set up to host
any event, from a family birthday party to a board meeting, with
personally designed menus to complete the occasion.
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