HUMBOLDT PARK — A chef who helped create and launch some of Brendan Sodikoff's top restaurants opened his own Humboldt Park restaurant this week.
Austin Baker and a crew of former Hogsalt (Sodikoff's restaurant group) friends opened Bar Marta Tuesday in the former Hunter and Tails location.
Baker, who is a partner in Hogsalt and the group's former director, said the new venture is completely separate from the prolific Chicago restaurant group.
"We got to learn a lot from Brendan, but it was time to do our own thing," said Baker, 31.
Things came together quickly for Baker, who is the sole proprietor of Bar Marta, his first restaurant. He closed on the building, 2700 W. Chicago Ave., about two months ago and did a quick flip before opening this week.
"We did it sneaky and quickly," he said.
Another former Hogsalt team member, Jeff Pikus, is heading the kitchen.
"[Baker] mentioned this project to me a few months back and I decided to be a part of it," Pikus said.
Bar Marta's menu is simple and to the point with food Baker said he and his team know they do well: roasted chicken, pork chops, mussels & clams, three pastas and three sides. The chefs are making everything in house, including bread and cheeses.
There's an extensive cocktail, beer and wine list as well a selection of whiskeys, bourbons and gins.
"It's not a burger place or a Chinese place. It's just a good restaurant," Baker said. "It's supposed to be a comfortable neighborhood place."
The opening was first reported by Eater Chicago.
Baker worked with Sodikoff at Frasca in Boulder, Colo., and moved to Chicago to help build what has become a restaurant empire. He most recently worked at the Aviary and was previously executive chef at Maude's Liquor Bar.
"I came to Chicago and opened seven restaurants," Baker said. "I didn't realize [Sodifkoff] was going to go that crazy."
The first floor has 65 seats, and Baker eventually hopes to open a basement level with an additional 35 seats.
The restaurant is open 5-11 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Hunter and Tails, the former gastropub at that location, closed last November after just a year in business.
The upscale restaurant was run by the owner of Bullhead Cantina.
• An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Jeff Pikus was the owner of Bar Marta.
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