Opened on Saturday, Rodney Staton and Jason Balutan's European-inspired Haywood Tavern, occupies the corner of Augusta and California in the area of Humboldt Park the duo call home. Staton's menu, which you can see below, draws from Italian, French and Spanish influences and differs greatly from your typical corner tavern's.
Tight and concise, the menu features five starters, eight entrees and a few sides. From smoked trout and crème fraiche toast to griddled provoletta (a dish rooted in South America) to more standard fare such as a half-roasted chicken and a cheeseburger with fries, Staton's mission is to elevate the idea of what a modern tavern is. The restaurant's website states that the menu will have "always-changing food items" along with favorites.
The drinks at Haywood Tavern include 10 wine options, four cocktails (including "the sneeze guard" featuring whiskey, lemon, maple, cayenne and ginger beer), a large number of beer in bottles and cans, along with 12 draft options.
The space features seating for nearly 55 guests at the bar as well as at tables in the front and back as well as booths along the side wall. It's small, but evocative of the casual, neighborhood feel that Staton and Balutan are after. Expect a 20-seat enclosed back patio to open down the line.
Haywood Tavern is open daily from 4:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. (food is served until 1:00 a.m.)
