Thu. May 5, 2016
Chicago, IL -
Developers behind the new concept for Halsted's Bar + Grill are breaking their silence today as they officially announce Lark, a completely new bar and restaurant coming to Boystown in June.
Located at 3441 N. Halsted St., Lark will offer wood-fired pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, entrées, salads, appetizers and weekend brunch. The 2,400 square foot venue will accommodate approximately 90 people indoors, with the enormous backdoor patio more than doubling its capacity by adding 100 additional seats.
Halsted's Bar + Grill closed seemingly out of the blue on Valentine's Day this year after becoming a Boystown mainstay for 12 years, opening in 2004. Leaders at LKH Management – who own the space, along with successful venues like Replay, Elixir, Hydrate and Seven – say they imagine a casual environment accompanied by a brand new menu.
"Our goal is to provide the neighborhood a go-to place to relax over dinner and drinks in a casual, comfortable setting every night of the week," said Mark Liberson, LKH president.
Chefs Bernardo Ibarra (Girl and the Goat) and Kaz Medhat (Magnolia Café) currently lead the culinary team at Replay and Elixir in Andersonville, and also plan to helm the Lark kitchen. LKH says the two will create a menu rich in flavors, incorporating inspirations from Italy and beyond in dishes like sriracha BBQ baby back ribs with salsa verde and sweet pepper pico de gallo, and smoked chicken parpadelle with roasted red peppers and goat cheese.
Lark's beverage director, Vlad Novikov, will curate a drink menu consisting of craft cocktails, wine and 10 tap beers.
In addition to traditional table seating, Liberson says guests can choose to sit and watch the chefs prepare and cook the pizzas surrounding the Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven, dine and drink at the historic handcrafted wooden bar from the former Cullen's Bar & Grill on Southport, or lounge in comfortable seating surrounding Lark's working fireplace.
"We can't wait for everyone to join us and enjoy a taste of something they won't find elsewhere in the neighborhood," said Chef Bernardo. "We're thrilled to share all the special features of the new oven, and to create delicious dishes beyond artisanal pizzas, incorporating wood-fired items throughout the menu."
This is a noticeable change for the space, formerly known for its long menu featuring more traditional bar fare.
"Our goal is to add our combined experience to bring great flavors to simple dishes, preparing everything in-house with the freshest ingredients and offering a diverse menu that will change with the seasons," added Chef Kaz.
Along with the overhauled menu comes an entirely new space. Exposed brick and handcrafted wooden details will line the walls of the new venue, which will have 13 large screen TVs. LKH adds that DJs will play an eclectic retro blend of 80s, 90s and pop tunes Thursday through Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to close.
Lark will be open Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. A limited lunch menu will be served weekdays 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Brunch will be available 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dinner will be served every night from 5-10 p.m. Late-night pizza and limited menu options will also be available nightly during cocktail service until close.
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