One Off Unleashes Publican Anker in Wicker Park on Wednesday

Less than a week after removing the plywood, the newest restaurant from Paul Kahan, Donnie Madia and One Off Hospitality Group is two days away from opening. Publican Anker, the highly-anticipated spinoff in of The Publican — one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants — is opening in the nexus of Wicker Park on Wednesday, Nov. 30, the Tribune reports.

The restaurant will give Wicker Parkers a casual and bar-heavy version of the Fulton Market stalwart, focusing on wood-roasted and raw seafood, vegetables, ramped-up coal-fired bar food such as a Publican burger, and craft beer and cocktails. Chef de cuisine AJ Walker will run the kitchen with help from Kahan and Publican exec chef Cosmo Goss. Opening hours will be from 3:30 p.m. until midnight seven days a week, with lunch and brunch coming in early 2017.

Publican Anker has been in the works since October 2015, when One Off took over the Francesca’s Forno space on the corner of Milwaukee and Damen avenues (1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Madia revealed more about the concept in May 2016, which you can read more about here. The plywood came off the space before Thanksgiving, signifying that the opening was approaching fast.

The spinoff is the second new Publican concept to open this year, following Publican Tavern in O’Hare airport; and also adds to a small village of award-winning One Off Hospitality concepts within two blocks, joining Big Star, The Violet Hour, and Dove’s Luncheonette. More to come on one of the Chicago’s top openings of the year.