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Andersonville Residents Give DMK Some Ideas For New Restaurant

 A "well-known restaurateur" has signed a lease to fill a vacancy left by  Kingfisher Restaurant , which closed in fall 2011, according to officials.
Kingfisher Restaurant
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UPTOWN — DMK Restaurants has yet to reveal what kind of joint it will open in the old Kingfisher Restaurant space in Andersonville, but the community has a few suggestions.

Here's a hint: Burgers don't top the wish list.

Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) announced in April that DMK Restaurants was the tenant rumored for weeks to be moving into the vacant space at 5721 N. Clark St.

DMK was founded in 2009 by David Morton and Michael Kornick, the team behind the popular DMK Burger Bar in Lakeview, Fish Bar next door to the burger joint, and a cocktail bar/restaurant in West Town, Ada Street Restaurant. The company also has a Burger Bar in west suburban Lombard.

Andersonville Development Corp. Managing Director Colleen O'Toole said, "There is a general hope that they will bring a more elaborate or new concept to Andersonville.

"Diners in this neighborhood have a lot of great food options to choose from already, seeing a fresh idea presented would likely yield more excitement than another burger or sandwich concept," O'Toole said. "A concept closer to their existing Fish Bar on Sheffield would certainly offer residents a taste of something that is not currently being offered elsewhere in the neighborhood."

Andersonville resident Jason Maslanka said "meh," to a burger joint, but thought "a fish bar would be great, so would tacos."

Other neighbors also suggested there were enough places to get a good burger in the area and hoped for a restaurant more like Fish Bar, or Big Star, the popular taco and whiskey spot in Wicker Park.

Andersonville resident Chip Allman-Burgard said in a Facebook post, "I hope they do the Fish Bar concept! We have more than enough burger joints on the strip!"

DMK did not return calls for comment.

Osterman chief of staff Dan Luna said he spoke with DMK co-owner Morton on Wednesday.

Part of the reason that the "well-known restaurateur" has yet to decide on a concept is because DMK has its hands full, according to Luna.

"They are currently focusing their energy on two restaurants that will be opening soon ... a BBQ joint here in the city and a new restaurant in Evanston," Luna said in a statement.

DMK is still working on a concept, "and should be coming back to [Osterman's] office within the next four to six weeks with a business plan," Luna said.