Tour 1970s-Inspired Rhyme Or Reason, Now Open In Wicker Park

The funky replacement for Jerry’s Sandwiches

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Feb 16, 2017, 11:53am CST

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Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

The room flows much differently at Rhyme or Reason, the replacement for Jerry’s Sandwiches in Wicker Park. The new restaurant and bar quietly opened on Wednesday, as the public for the first time walked around the remodeled space. Designers were inspired by 1970s-era street decor, and like Jerry’s, Rhyme or Reason will host live music.

The buildout features a new bar on the left of the entrance and the base is covered with graffiti-style art from Jas Petersen, a Chicago-based artist. The narrow hallways to the entrance at Jerry’s are gone, and they’ve added leather booths on the right. There’a also a rec room-style lounge area where patrons can watch passersby on Division Street through the windows. Seamless Designs handled the new interiors.

There’s also a chef’s table overlooking the kitchen. Overall there’s 174 seats, and they’ll also have sidewalk seating. Rhyme or Reason’s deviates from just sandwiches. Duck pot pie, crab rangoon dip, and pan-roasted butternut squash are part of the menu.

Rhyme Or Reason is now open. Check out the photos and menu below before visiting.

Rhyme or Reason, 1938 W. Division St., (773) 687-8240, open 4 p.m. to midnight on Monday and Tuesday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday; 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Rhyme or Reason Food Menu-2 by Ashok Selvam on Scribd