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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