Fancy Flambeed Flatbreads and Ice Cream Sub Sandwiches Arrive in River North

When Joy District opened in 2016, owner Carmen Rossi compared the nighttime shenanigans along Hubbard Street to Las Vegas. River North nightlife calls for a dose of theatrics, as he described the neighborhood as an entertainment district. Well, when Rossi on opens Parlay at Joy District today, its new first-floor dining area and sports bar, it’ll provide diners with a little bit of a show thanks to antics including a flatbread “tart flambee” that’s fired table side.

Parlay is meant to complement the rooftop space and second-floor dance space. The menu (see below) from executive chef Jason Hedin — who’s worked at L20, Nellcôte, and The Lobby in The Peninsula — will serve eccentric items including a $35 lobster and caviar pizza. Oxtail “beer” mac and cheese, plus “Octo Poppers” (red curry tempura octopus, Thai-infused “fluffy” coconut), and foie gras french fries (rutabaga, daikon) distinguish the menu from typical bars. There’s also a 24-ounce dry-aged bone-in beef ribeye. Customers can also add truffles or lobster to burgers, sliders, and other sandwiches. The decadence extends to dessert where $25 pays for an ice cream submarine sandwich. That’s a giant eclair with six ice creams, whip, cherries, nuts, chocolate espresso beans, chocolate chips, banana chips, drizzled chocolate sauce, fresh bananas and strawberries.

Read the menus below. Parlay at Joy District opens to the public tonight at 7 p.m. College basketball fans take note: It’ll open at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday so customers can watch the NCAA tournament, and at 3 p.m. the rest of the tournament days as well as during the summer.

Parlay at Joy District, 112 W. Hubbard Street, (312) 955-0339, regular hours are open 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends (hours depend on the weather for the rooftop) and close at 2 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 3 a.m. on Saturday.