Two's the Charm? Two Opening Tonight in West Town

When the Black Sheep opened, many in the area complained that the upscale menu was too high-end for a neighborhood spot. For that reason (among others), the Black Sheep closed a few months after opening. Now as Two gets ready to open tonight in that same space, it has the opportunity to win over locals with a more approachable menu.

Two, opening by the owners of Zak's Place in Hinsdale, will introduce a butchery-focused menu by chef Tom Van Lente (Landmark, WestEnd). Look for dishes like Berkshire pork cheek crostini with homemade ricotta and chives; charcuterie plate with homemade pickles, beef jerky and more; grilled market asparagus with fried duck egg; lamb T-bone with lamb bacon and shallot jus; dry-aged beef short ribs with Anson Mills and cheddar grits; and a mushroom and ricotta raviolo with shiitake cream sauce and pea shoots.

The 60-seat dining room and approximate 25-seat bar and lounge have been re-imagined to reflect a more farm-to-table experience, with butcher knives on the back bar wall, antique cabinets, a grand red barn door, reclaimed wood throughout and a dramatic wine wall with numerous cubby hole cut outs for individual bottles.

Co-owner and certified sommelier Yamandu Perez (Gabriel's) has crafted a 100-bottle-deep wine list with about 20 in glass and a handful on tap alongside about 10 Midwest craft brews. And due to the seasonality of the menu, expect it to change often. But hopefully the restaurant itself won't.
· Look Inside the Black Sheep, Opening This Weekend [~EChi~]
· The Black Sheep Has Closed, Effective Today [~EChi~]
· Two [website]

[Photo: Thrillist]