Beatnik, West Town’s Lush, New Restaurant/Cocktail Lounge, Opens Wednesday

Beatnik, the promising new restaurant and cocktail lounge from the owners of Fulton Market Kitchen, Black Bull, and Celeste, should open on Wednesday at 1604 W. Chicago Ave. Early Friday morning, crews were applying finishing touches on the space, including at the enclosed courtyard that will stay open even during winters. The food will feature flavors from across the globe including Eastern Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American influences, according to a news release.

Executive chef Marcos Campos isn’t worried about authenticity, he told the Tribune. Instead, he wants to give diners small plates or entrees that represent a bold variety of tastes. He’s also fusing techniques — he mentioned melding Korean barbecue with a Lebanese dish.

Kailley Lindman

Cocktails come courtesy of bartender extraordinaire Liz Pearce, who also co-owns The Drifter, the speakeasy underneath the Green Door Tavern in River North. As beverage director, Pearce will form a formidable team with bar manager Jacyara de Oliveira, the former bar manager at Sportsman’s Club in Ukrainian Village. Sustainability is an emerging practice in the cocktail industry, as bars figure out they should treat the environment better. Last weekend, Trash Tiki, a nation-wide bar pop-up that focuses on using would-be restaurant waste in drinks, stopped at Lost Lake and Sportsman’s Club. Beatnik will also employ low-waste best practices, showing the trend has made it to Chicago.

Kailley Lindman

Bonhomme Hospitality Group gutted the former clothing store they took over, only keeping four walls. It’s a colorful and beautiful space with room for 200. Bonhomme’s team picked out pieces from Bali, Egypt, Argentina, Italy, and Spain to decorate the space. There are huge chandeliers that don’t really scream beat poetry, but it makes the room look beautiful. Check out more on this lovely addition to West Town after Labor Day weekend.

Kailley Lindman