Chef Chris Curren Out at Alpana Singh's Seven Lions

A chef change has come to Alpana Singh's big-and-bustling Michigan Avenue restaurant Seven Lions. After just less than a year in business, opening executive chef Chris Curren is out. Opening chef de cuisine Patrick Russ is in.

"Chef Curren has been a terrific asset to our team, and we are incredibly grateful for his culinary contributions to Seven Lions," Singh says. "We have every confidence that a chef of his talents will continue to find much success in the future and wish him nothing but the best."

Russ' promotion to executive chef, who has previous experience running a massive operation with Billy Lawless' The Dawson, will mean new dishes for the restaurant's diners. While the overall "refined American" concept won't change, Russ will launch all new dinner, lunch and brunch menus soon.

Seven Lions [Marc Much]

The switch may be for the better, as many will recall the early chef change at Singh's first restaurant The Boarding House. That big-and-bustling spot, following Singh's decree that she would "make things right," came out of it with a chef, Tanya Baker, who became a James Beard Award finalist. "I'm absolutely thrilled and excited with the fresh direction (Russ) is taking us in," Singh says.

Meanwhile, what the move means for Curren is unknown at this time. The longtime Chicago chef (Fifty/50 Group, Stout Barrel House & Galley, Blue 13) couldn't be reached for comment.