Boystown Shuffle: mEAT to Return as Dive Bar Closes on Halsted

The owners of mEAT are bringing their skewers back to Boystown at Dive Bar’s expense. John Dalton and his team, which own both concepts, closed Dive Bar on Tuesday at 3445 N. Halsted St. This paves the way for mEAT to take over the space.

The new mEAT should open in about three months, just after Northalsted Market Days, the well-attended Boystown street festival which is Aug. 12 and 13. The Dive Bar space has a larger kitchen than the original mEAT, and they’ll be able to add menu items.

“We want to add a little bit more Sunday through Thursday items,” Dalton said. “In terms of dining time we want [more] quicker options, not a full-blown mEAT experience.”

Dalton closed mEAT and neighboring lounge Minibar about a year ago. The only reason mEAT closed was because it shared a liquor license with Minibar, Dalton said; it was a package deal. Dalton said he’s wanted to bring back mEAT for months, as he closed a second location last year off Michigan Avenue. Dive Bar opened in January 2015, but the check averages weren’t bringing enough money to justify the space. MEAT features skewered meats, and Dalton said locals frequently have asked him about a return.

“We figure [mEAT] is something you wake up in the morning and have a craving for,” Dalton said.

Before it reopens, they’ll be out at the Chicago Pride Fest on June 17 hoping to reacquaint the neighborhood with their brand. Dalton said he’s a fan of molecular gastronomy, and mEAT tries to do that on a neighborhood level. There’s no need to make a reservation or commute downtown to experience that.

Keep it here for more details on mEAT’s return.