ANDERSONVILLE — Construction crews are at work transforming the former T's Bar into modern Mexican restaurant Cantina De La Granja, which is now slated to open in early June.
The Andersonville farm-to-table restaurant, 5025 N. Clark St., was originally supposed to open in March, but the opening date was pushed back due to the weather.
Rendering of the two-level restaurant, including the sidewalk cafe. (Provided)
The restaurant, 5025 N. Clark St., is currently under construction. (DNAinfo/Mina Bloom)
When it opens, the restaurant will have a sidewalk cafe, a 1,400-square-foot rooftop garden used to grow prototype vegetables and a "preservation" kitchen design to grow local food.
Leading up to the opening, Chef Diana Dávila and the owners, including Crew Bar and Grill co-owner Mark Robertson and his team, have been busy visiting farms within 200 miles of the city, where most of the restaurant's ingredients will come from.
"We're particularly excited about being able to prototype unique varietals of produce such as peppers, tomatoes and beans that will continue to be harvested with our local farm partners," Dávila said.
She has also said that she "really can't stop menu writing," and that she's particularly excited about the ceviches she's creating — one has perch, pear, brown butter and radish.
Cantina De La Granja is replacing T's Bar, a 12-year nightlife staple popular among Chicago lesbians that closed abruptly in March 2013 when the owner failed to pay the rent for several months.
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