Packed will serve a dumpling with macerated strawberries packed into a rye wrapper with black grapes, fresh aloe and crema fresca. Photo Nick Murway
HYDE PARK — Dumplings will replace pizza on 57th Street with plans announced Tuesday for Chef Mike Sheerin of Blackbird and Trencherman to move to the neighborhood.
Sheerin and partner Aaron DiMaria are planning Packed, a counter-service dumpling restaurant in the former Edwardo’s Pizza location at 1321 E. 57th St., for the late summer.
Sheerin said restaurants like Mathias Merges’ A10 and Jared Wentworth’s Promontory moving to the neighborhood — and DiMaria’s own relocation to Bronzeville — convinced him it was time to move south.
“There’s definitely a warm, small town charm to the area — but there’s still that big city sophistication and the influences of the University of Chicago,” Sheering said in an announcement of plans for Packed. “Plus, there’s a cool live music scene, and I can ride my bike to work for most of the year.”
Mike Sheerin, left, is planning a new dumpling restaurant called Packed with partner Aaron DiMaria. Photo Nick Murway.
Packed will serve dumplings with ingredients such as aloe, rye and pickled cauliflower, all locally sourced when possible.
The space owned by the University of Chicago has been vacant since Edwardo’s Pizza closed in April 2014 after a 34-year run in the neighborhood.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
