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Surf Brings The Beach To Logan Square This Week

By Paul Biasco | July 8, 2016 6:25am
 Surf Bar, a beach-themed bar and restaurant, opens this weekend in Logan Square.
Surf Bar Logan Square
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LOGAN SQUARE — The bars keep rolling in along Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square, but the latest spot set to open this week hopes to transport its customers elsewhere.

Straight to the beach.

Surf, from the same owners behind Emporium, went all-in on the beach vibes, lining its patio with surf boards, building mock beach huts inside and piping in constant reggae from a wall of speakers.

"It was kind of an "'Endless Summer' sort of feeling," said Danny Marks, co-owner, referring to the classic '60s surf documentary. "It's supposed to feel like you are outside when you're inside."

The new bar/restaurant will even have a little beach-style souvenir stand selling cheap sunglasses.

When the weather is warm the bar, 2367 N. Milwaukee Ave., will open a set of French doors that line the streetscape to further the outside-when-you're-inside feel.

In the winter, the bar plants to enclose the front patio.

Surf bought about 30 actual surfboards for the spot.

At the back end is a window promising constant ocean views, with a video on loop of waves crashing and receding on a beach with sound to match.

Surf originally intended to just serve slices of pizza, but has now gone in a more full restaurant direction with a menu of pizza, burritos, salads and wraps.

Jorge Miranda, the former chef and owner of Chilapan in Logan Square, is running the kitchen.

Part of the reason the owners decided to put more focus on food is the huge number of bars that have opened nearby, few of which serve dining options.

Marks stressed that the menu will be affordable.

"OK, 800 new bars opened, but you still can't get a decent lunch for under $10 here," he said.

Surf worked with some "renowned mixologists" from around Chicago, whose names they can't mention because of non-compete clauses, to come up with a handful of cocktails that will be on tap.

Between six and eight tap handles will be keg cocktails made with fresh juices and four will be local beers.

The bar has a 2 a.m. liquor license and will stop serving drinks at that time, but Surf will likely stay open later serving food, according to Marks.

Surf will have a soft opening this weekend and celebrate with a grand opening Thursday.

Marks, acknowledging the influx of bars on the block, said there is still a cool vibe going on.

"It doesn't feel like Wrigleyville," he said. "Everyone who is opening over here is doing creative stuff."

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