Inside Andersonville’s Cozy New Bar for Comfort Foods With Global Twists

Stone Fox owner Cy Oldham likened her chef, Greg Hageli, to a mad scientist. The former baker at Michelin-starred brewpub Band of Bohemia is going the extra mile by making his own sausage for his chewy thin-crust pizzas at the new Andersonville bar and restaurant that opened over the weekend. There’s a lot of international influences on the menu including a puffed pastry crust that reveals little neck clams swimming in a white wine broth accompanied by Spanish chorizo, kale, and fingering potatoes.

The space, the former Pork Shoppe, needed a little TLC, and Oldham’s crews have added new furniture and modernized the space (this is what Pork Shoppe looked like). It’s a cleaner look with big comfy booths and an area that could be reserved for parties wrapping around the bar on the space’s south side. The wall will eventually lead to a patio where there’ll be a second bar outside. Given that it’s 8 degrees in Chicago right now, Stone Fox’s team has a little time before opening the patio to its customers.

Oldham, who owns Fat Cat in Uptown and ran Silver Cloud in Bucktown, hopes her newest project retains a welcoming atmosphere. She also wants to embrace the diversity in the area, which is another reason for the international flavors on Hageli’s menu which include a chickpea fritter (basically an Indian-inspired pakora) and grilled chicken thighs basted with a pomegranate harissa glaze.

Cocktails include frozen Palomas — yes it’s winter but not too early to think about “patio pounders.” There are also classic cocktails with a few modern updates, and plenty of draft beer and wine.

Walk through the space below and check out some of the menu items. Stone Fox is now open for dinner. Weekend brunch is coming this spring.

Stone Fox, 5721 N. Clark Street, (773) 961-7647, open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday through Friday; 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago