LINCOLN PARK — A new restaurant on Webster Street will challenge the concept of the neighborhood bar by offering overnight lodging above the tavern when it opens in Lincoln Park late this summer.
Lynn and John Manilow, owners of the White Oak Tavern & Inn, developed the concept after a family trip to Rome, where they roomed at a neighborhood tavern and experienced the city from a different vantage point.
"We were really into showing our kids Rome from outside the hotel. Going through the neighborhood, we visited coffee shops, got to know the locals and developed a routine," Lynn Manilow said. "We were really looking to repeat that magic with our own place."
Describing Lincoln Park as "awesome," she said, "There's so many wonderful things to take advantage of."
Tourists are missing some of the culture of the city by viewing it from the vantage point of the Downtown area, she said, so "what better way to get that [Chicago] vibe then having them eat, sleep and live here?"
The White Oak Tavern & Inn, replacing family-friendly neighborhood staple John's Place, will offer a unique view of the neighborhood by offering two apartment units above the bar at 1200 W. Webster St. The largest of the two features a skyline view, four bedrooms and more than 3,000 total feet.
The floor plan will allow the area to be used for lodging and business meetings, she said.
The cost has yet to be determined, the Manilows said, but the plan is to open the inn with a minimum stay policy of three to four days. The aim for longer stays will allow families to immerse themselves in the community by visiting some of the other local establishments.
Closing John's Place, which was rooted in the community for 20 years, was tough on the couple, who met there, she said.
"I was [John's] favorite customer," Lynn Manilow joked, adding that a foundation that raised thousands of dollars for the community will still be present at the White Oak Tavern & Inn. "[It's] who we are, and some of that will transcend... [White Oak] is just a more grown-up version."
The new tavern will serve "Midwestern-sourced, farm-driven food and drink," bringing to Lincoln Park a "refined, yet approachable dinner, brunch and lodging option where the emphasis is on local — from the ingredients, to the decor, to the name."
The menu will focus on a mix of modern and slow-cooking techniques and concentrate on local vegetables and meats, as well as house-made breads and desserts.
Highlights of the dinner menu include:
• Malted rye brioche with cherries and goat butter;
• Beef belly with broccoli, carrots, potatoes and charred onion-stout glaze;
• Pork collar with farro verde, Spanish chorizo, peaches, yogurt, marinated onions and greens;
• Fried duck leg with creamed corn potato puree, kohlrabi-apple slaw and greens & herbs;
• Beet cake with goat cheese butter cream, pecan brittle and orange-fennel marmalade;
• Duck liver mousse with plum jam, mustard greens, sherry vinegar and grilled bread
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