Michael Simon is Your New Charcoal Bar Barman

Michael Simon is back behind a Chicago bar. The critically-acclaimed, oft-traveled, and now-bald barman is Gene Kato's "mystery mixologist" at Charcoal Bar, which reopens tonight under Sumi Robata Bar after Kato shut the bar down for the last seven months.

Simon (Carriage House, Acadia, Graham Elliot) returned to Chicago in November after leaving Austin, where was Paul Qui's opening bar manager at Qui. He is launching a new five-cocktail winter menu in the intimate Japanese drinking den, including the "Mother of Dragons" (17-year whiskey, shochu, togarashi spice, sculpted ice; $20).

The 11-seat lounge is first-come-first serve.
· All Michael Simon Coverage [-ECHI-]
· Charcoal Bar Reopening Friday With Mystery Mixologist [-ECHI-]