AVONDALE — The owner of Logan Square’s popular Azucar Tapas Restaurant and Cocktail Bar is at it again, but this time with something very different.
Owner Robert Rosado has switched gears with his new eatery, State Fair, which offers up well, state fair fare.
“It’s state fair gourmet food — of course, that's a little oxymoronish — all deep fried,” Rosado said.
Indeed, all of State Fair’s offerings would not be out of place at its namesake event. There are hot dogs — both Chicago- and Coney Island-style with a veggie dog option — corn dogs, sliders, skewered chicken spiedies, fried green tomato sandwiches, deep-fried cheese curds, funnel cakes, and yes, even deep-fried Twinkies (with a strawberry drizzle).
State Fair opened quietly off the corner of Kedzie and Diversey avenues last week, but Rosado is really looking to the next part of the project, the bar he's opening next door, a politically themed bar called The Previous Administration.
“We're trying to get the glitches out for State Fair first, then we're hoping to open up in a few weeks for it all,” he said.
A sneak peek inside The Previous Administration shows a finished bar and tables waiting for a few finishing touches.
Just to the right of the bar is the beginning of the phrase “We the people” being stenciled onto the wall.
“There’s going to be a big picture of Obama over here, and Rahm Emanuel over here,” Rosado said, gesturing toward the wall opposite the bar. “It’s not really about the previous administration like, Bush or Daley. People are all like, ‘Oh are you bashing Bush?’ and I’m like, ‘No I’m going to stay politically neutral — like a good owner should.’”
Rosado hopes The Previous Administration will be a political bar both in theme and in reality — something like Manny’s, the South Loop deli popular with Chicago politicians.
“We're looking for something of the nature of when politicians will go to the local Jewish deli and do a meet-and-greet, or go to a state fair and eat a corn dog and do a meet-and-greet,” he said.
When asked how he hoped to attract politicians to the new place, he joked, “Just solely by the name, of course!” Then he added, “I mean, it’s not only a political bar. It’s just a bar, you know, with food.”
State Fair is at 3152 W. Diversey Ave. and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. After The Previous Administration opens, State Fair will be open until 4 a.m. while The Previous Administration will be open until 2 a.m.
