John des Rosiers Opens Fast Casual The Sidedoor

Chef John des Rosiers carved out a little space inside Invosai and the result is The Sidedoor, now open. The project came together quickly, taking three months from idea to opening.

The fast casual Mexican takeout spot (featuring only a couple of stand-and-eat tables) opened last week. Previously Inovasi's private dining room, The Sidedoor is already generating "nothing but positive feedback" from customers, according to des Rosiers.

Blending aspects of Chipotle and Potbelly, the ordering process is "simple, fast and efficient." You pick your form (taco, burrito, tostada, bowl), then filling (pork belly, duck), toppings (pickled jalapeno, queso fresco), and salsas that range from mild — limoncitos (lemon, oregano, onions, avocado) to hot — La Malinche (roasted habanero, smokey cumin, Japanese citrus).

"There are a lot of taco places popping up, but not many that use local farms, with everything made by hand," des Rosiers says. "Our strength is in our creativity, quality that is unmatched, and the ability to offer better food for a very competitive price."
· All John des Rosiers Coverage [~ECHI~}
· The Sidedoor [Official Site]
[Photo: Eater Chicago]