WICKER PARK — In a fast turnover, the new Wicker Park Urbanbelly in the former Penny's spot could open its 70-seat Korean fusion eatery as soon as next Wednesday and according to its founder, the experience will be "all communal."
"The whole idea is to be able to meet strangers. Nobody gets their own seats," said chef Bill Kim during a preview party on Monday.
Located at 1542 N. Damen Ave., Urbanbelly offers large communal tables in the center of the restaurant and bar seating along the windows. The opening date target is April 6, though contingent on some final city inspections, Kim said.
The new Urbanbelly replaces Penny's Noodles, which closed its Wicker Park outpost in January.
The venture has brought between 20 and 25 part- and full-time jobs to the area. Some workers from neighboring Big Star have been hired by Kim and plan to work at both restaurants.
Kim said the Wicker Park menu will be almost identical to the other Urbanbelly in the West Loop but specials, such as rice cake stew, will rotate.
Kim, 47, opened his first Urbanbelly in Avondale in 2008 and followed that popular spot with Belly Shack, 1912 N. Western Ave., under the CTA Blue Line Western "L" stop and bellyQ at 1400 W. Randolph in the West Loop. The Avondale Urbanbelly closed in 2013 and moved to the bellyQ building on Randolph Street.
The proximity to transit was intentional for the repeat Michelin award winner.
"We wanted to be in a dense area with residential, retail and things to do other than eat," Kim said.
Many dishes on the lunch and dinner menu — divided into dumplings, noodles, grains and sides — are designed to be shared. Highlights include sweet potato and maple dumplings, pad Thai, made with Korean rice cakes with shrimp and spicy table sides such as bowls of kimchi and marinated eggplant.
Desserts include soft serve ice cream in vanilla and coconut water and peanut butter with Michigan blueberry flavors and "mini Chinese doughnuts," Kim said.
The bar will offer a make-your-own-cocktail option, with a choice of Japanese Soju, tequila and rum as a base. An eight-tap system will stock Revolution and Half Acre beers, as well as two premixed mead cocktails and two wines.
Urbanbelly, 1542 N. Damen Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fri.-Sat.
Urbanbelly, 1542 N. Damen Ave. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
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