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Etno Quadrupling, Adding 'Brooklyn Inspired' Restaurant/Bar

By Paul Biasco | July 24, 2013 9:36am
 Etno Village Grill is undergoing a massive expansion into a sit-down restaurant and bar that will be open until 2 a.m.
Etno Grill Expansion
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LINCOLN PARK — Etno Village Grill is undergoing a massive expansion project that will transform the corner burger joint into a 178-seat restaurant and bar.

The owners hope to bring a "Brooklyn asthetic" to the corner of Lincoln, Sheffield and Wrightwood with an industrial look and a large outdoor patio.

"It's going to be refined, but not pretentious," owner Mark Kwiatkowski said.

The owners admit they are forging into uncharted territory in Lincoln Park by bringing an industrial-inspired space.

"We are going for the vintage vibe. It's not going to have 100 TVs everywhere," added co-owner Daniel Karatosic.

Etno's current building and counter service will continue to serve grass-fed burgers and specialty sandwiches during the day. But come 5 p.m. each night, service will begin in the newly-expanded full restaurant, according to the owners.

The new restaurant space will serve a full menu of dishes based on international street fare and a variety of craft beers, handmade sodas and carbonated cocktails.

"We aren't going to sell Bud Light or Miller Light," Kwiatkowski said at a meeting Tuesday night to discuss Etno's liquor license. "We aren't going to sell bombs."

The name is still undecided, according to the owners, but could stay Etno Bar and Grill.

The new restaurant will expand into the former Savor the Flavor coffee shop on Sheffield and the former credit union on Lincoln. The expansion will also include building an atrium-type structure that will connect the current Etno with the expansion.

The restaurant and its two bars will be open until 2 a.m. and will open early on the weekends for the brunch crowd. The patio will have seats for about 30 people and will be shut down at midnight on the weekends, according to the owners.

"We are bringing something that's unique," Karatosic said. "Something that's healthy, that's different than everything around the corner."

The statements were made to a small group of residents, some who voiced concerns over the outdoor patio area and brought up complaints that restaurant/bars Barn and Company and Prost are more bar than restaurant.

The owners of Etno distanced themselves from both Prost and Barn and Company, and said they are shooting for an older crowd with beers starting at around $6 or $7 a glass.

Construction is underway and is expected to be complete in August, but the liquor license approval process is still in the works.

"We are a neighborhood spot and we take that very seriously," Karatosic said.