Rick Bayless Expanding Empire to West Loop

You can soon add Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, XOCO, Topolobampo) to the list of celebrated chefs with a restaurant in the West Loop. Chicago Real Estate Daily reports that Bayless, the iconic chef who has made it his passion to bring the soul and flavors of Mexico to fine dining, is negotiating to lease a 8,000 square-foot space at 900 W. Randolph Street. Bayless' probable restaurant location sits just blocks away from establishments by other culinary titans like Brendan Sodikoff, Stephanie Izard, Graham Elliot and Jared Van Camp.

This would be Bayless' first major restaurant since 2009, when he opened XOCO, the tortas and caldos shop adjacent to his two other brick and mortar restaurants in River North. Bayless also has eight casual gourmet spots, four of which are Frontera Frescos, the other four being Tortas Fronteras. It will be interesting to see what the Top Chef Master will do with the space once more details emerge.
· Rick Bayless plans West Loop restaurant [CRED]
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—Brett Hickman