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First Look: The Duck Inn Is Open for Business

By Casey Cora | December 9, 2014 5:19am
 Bridgeport native son Kevin Hickey's highly anticipated "gastrotavern" has opened its doors.
Bridgeport native son Kevin Hickey's highly anticipated "gastrotavern" has opened its doors.
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Rockit Ranch Productions

BRIDGEPORT — The Duck Inn is open for business.

A project of chef Kevin Hickey and Billy Dec's Rockit Ranch restaurant group, the "gastrotavern" is located at 2701 S. Eleanor St. in Bridgeport, about a block away from the former Four Seasons chef's boyhood home. 

The menu, a mix of upscale bar snacks, finer dining options and desserts, is now posted online.

Hickey told DNAinfo Chicago he's aiming for a mix of fun foods in the upfront tavern — chili cheese fries, duck fat hot dogs — along with an approachable, but higher-end service in the back. 

In addition to the seafood and meat options, the dining room's seasonal choices include rotisserie duck for two and a four-course tasting menu — clam stew, lamb shoulder, cheese and toffee — that can be paired with wine or beer. 

The draft beer choices include Chicago-made beers, including brews from Marz, Begyle, Goose Island, Une Anee, Metropolitan, Ale Syndicate, Moody Tongue and Lagunitas. The bar features about a dozen more bottles and cans, including a $5 Schlitz tallboy. 

(Hey, it's still Bridgeport.)

With only eight choices, the wine list is small by comparison, with all selections available by the glass and no bottle priced more than $46.

The cocktail menu includes highball concoctions dreamt up by Brandon Phillips, mixologist for Bottlefork, another Rockit Ranch bar that Hickey helped launch. 

The Duck Inn is open 3:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 3:30 p.m.- 3 a.m. on Saturday. Reservations can be made online or by calling the restaurant, 312-724-8811.

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