Marmalade Looking to Open Late June with Juice Bar

It looks like Marmalade will have more than just hearty breakfast and fresh-squeezed juices. The corner restaurant, taking over the former Le Sabre space in Ravenswood, is shooting to open at the end of June, according to owner Gus Katsafaros, whose uncle actually owned Le Sabre.

Katsafaros hopes to take his family diner heritage to the next level at Marmalade, which will serve breakfast and lunch daily. The menu, being crafted by chef Manny Mejia (m. henry), will have warm bright colors and focus on a modern American menu with many housemade and organic ingredients. Marmalade will have pancakes, crepes and French toast that will be made on housemade brioche. Mejia will make all his own raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and strawberry reductions to accompany the sweet breakfast items. He's also making his own marscarpone cheese.

The 55-seat restaurant will use as many all-natural ingredients as possible and will stay away from using trans fats oils. They're making their own burgers, will roast their own turkey and will have both vegan and gluten-free offerings. At the espresso bar, Marmalade will offer Umbria coffee and Two Leaves and a Bud tea. The restaurant will also have a juice bar. To start, Katsafaros said they're keeping it simple with orange juice, cranberry, grapefruit and apple, but will expand the seasonal offerings soon after opening. Marmalade won't get a liquor license, but will allow BYO.

Marmalade will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week and will introduce an expanded brunch menu down the line. Most entrees will fall between $8 and $12.
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Marmalade [Photo: Sandor Weisz]