RIVER NORTH — New River North restaurant Bernie's Lunch & Supper opens its doors Monday evening, with plans for a big rooftop deck not far behind.
The eatery at 660 N. Orleans St. is the first restaurant here by Detroit chef Zack Sklar, whose menu features Ricotta Gnocchi ($23), a $15 house cheeseburger, and wood-fired fare including roasted oysters with chorizo ($16).
Sklar — who also plans to open a Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken franchise this fall in the Fulton Market — said he still lives in Michigan and chose Chicago for his next ventures because of the city's proximity to his home. Bernie's, a converted office space at Orleans and Erie streets, takes its name from Sklar's grandfather.
"He loves food. He's a big old guy," Sklar said.
The restaurant's namesake. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
Cocktails include "bespoke" drinks that customers can somewhat customize. This means, for example, choosing the bourbon, rum, or brandy that goes in an old fashioned ($12).
The dining room seats about 90, but the restaurant's best feature could be its rooftop deck that is expected to open next Monday, Sklar said. The deck seats about 80.
The rooftop deck shown under construction Monday. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
For now Bernie's will be open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday, with the bar opening and closing an hour later each day. Sklar hopes to open for lunch soon, too.
Scroll down for more photos of Bernie's before it opens today at 5 p.m..
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