The Saved By The Max Crew’s Opening a New Wicker Park Restaurant/Bar

The founders of the Saved By The Bell pop-up are getting the band back together inside the same Wicker Park space where The Max served ‘90s nostalgia. A new restaurant, Dorian’s, will open in the fall and chef Brian Fisher of Michelin-starred Entente will once more create the menu for the operation. Saved By The Max’s Derek Berry, Zack Eastman, and Steve Harris are all back on board.

It’s not exactly The College Years, but the space at 1939 W. North Avenue has lacked a regular tenant for months. After the Max moved to LA, the team collaborated on a Riot Fest pop-up mixing punk rock and emo with Fisher again creating the menu. The space has hosted a few pop-ups, including Fake Shore Drive, but the space has been vacant since last fall. There have been rumblings as Berry has moved to LA full time to work with the Max; Harris owns Debonair Social Club around the corner and Eastman’s got The East Room down in Logan Square.

A spokesperson won’t divulge much as they’re waiting until September to make an official announcement. While Fisher has made a few trips west to help out with the The Max pop-up, Dorian’s won’t take too much time from Entente as he hopes to retain the star Michelin inspectors bestowed on the Lakeview fine dining restaurant last year.

But there’s much that needs clarification. The spokesperson wouldn’t say if Dorian’s is a permanent restaurant or another pop-up. Nor would he divulge anything about Fisher’s menu which he’s still developing. Fisher would only say: “I’ll be making some food there.”

Eastman may have teased the space via an Instagram post published last month. He would not confirm if the photos had anything to do with Dorian’s.

The Max and Riot Fest pop-ups had room for live music, so it’s a good bet that will be part of the package at Dorian’s. The spokesperson did divulge one nugget: the restaurant’s name is meant to be personal. They’ll share more next month. Maybe they could get Mr. Belding to do another video announcement?

Block Club Chicago first noticed the permits that revealed the restaurant’s name.