Former Young Gun Semifinalist Sieger Bayer to Run New Forest Park Restaurant

Forest Park suburbanites will soon get a restaurant run by a veteran of some of Chicago's top restaurant groups. Sieger Bayer, who was an Eater Young Gun semifinalist in 2014, is working to open The Heritage in Forest Park. He will be the chef and a partner in the under-construction restaurant in the former House Red Vinoteca space at 7403 W. Madison Street, working with first-time restaurant owners.

Bayer, who lives down the road in Berwyn and learned under Jared Van Camp and Chris Pandel at Leghorn and Formento's, says The Heritage will be "new American" with international influences. "(Forest Park) needs a good downtown restaurant with quality food," Bayer says. "I just wanted to do a concept that allowed us to be very open and pull from other cultures to influence our food."

Housemade pastas, steak, a porchetta sandwich, and other "market-driven food" are among the dishes you can expect to see there. The 1400-square-foot space will hold around 50-60 seats and a bar, serving microbrews and craft cocktails.

Will the Oak Park/Forest Park area become the next Evanston? Bayer certainly hopes so, and says the The Heritage is part of local politicians' push to bring more quality restaurants to the near west suburbs. Start looking for the opening in the fall.