BlackFinn AmeriPub Coming to River North Late Summer

There will be no shortage of restaurants to choose from around the Clark and Kinzie area with the recent opening of Siena Tavern, the soon-to-arrive Centro, and the under-costruction BlackFinn Ameripub slated to open late summer or early fall. The restaurant will seat over 500 people (400 inside, 100 on the patio) in its expansive 11,000 square-foot space.

The space is designed by the same general contractors as Siena Tavern so the layout may look somewhat similar. The "pub" part of the restaurant will contain high top tables and U-shaped booths and be somewhat segmented from the main dining room. A DJ will spin every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, and they may introduce live music down the line.

The rest of the space can be manipulated to section off private rooms as needed. This will allow the restaurant to cater to customers with different needs at the same time, and according to one of the owners, Michael Schultz, that is a big goal.

"We want to be able to accommodate everyone," Schultz said. "Our goal is to bring substantial value to River North with fun and recognizable food."

The menu is abundant with everything from fish tacos to bacon-wrapped meatloaf to roasted vegetable pizza with goat cheese. There will be 18 different starters, 14 salad options, and over ten burgers available. The bar menu will be just as large with 100 different tap handles filled with many craft beer selections and a few signature cocktails as well. Brunch service will eventually be added as well.

Schultz also plans to have a charity component to the restaurant and is still working out the details. Stay tuned.

· Gaze at Fabio Viviani's Siena Tavern, Opening to the Public Tomorrow [~ECHI~]

· Dillman's Going in Steve's Deli Space, More Updates on Sodikoff Projects [-EChi-]