Inside Cafe Cancale, the Publican Group’s Highly Anticipated Wicker Park French Restaurant

After taking home two more James Beard Awards on Monday, Chicago’s legendary One Off Hospitality Group will next unveil their newest restaurant on May 13. The group transformed the Publican Anker space in the heart of Wicker Park into the new French restaurant Cafe Cancale, and while the overall layout remains similar, the aesthetics are brand new after an overhaul that begun following Anker’s March closing.

Gone are the darker tones and harder surfaces that gave Anker more of pub feel. Blues and creams, cushy banquettes, booths, and bar stools, plus marble inlay floors, soft curtains, and striped awnings replace them to make the space feel more open and bright. A main marble bar, high tops, and window-lining tables fill the front of the space, while the cozy banquettes, booths, and marble floors underneath circular light fixtures and mirrors now fill the rear. Design Bureaux — who helped put together Blackbird, Avec, and the original Publican — also designed Cafe Cancale, implementing One Off’s French seaside theme through colors and fixtures.

Reservations are now live for the Monday opening and beyond. In the meantime, take a virtual tour of the new restaurant below.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago