HUMBOLDT PARK — Chicago's first caviar-focused bar/restaurant is coming to Humboldt Park.
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar is taking over the former Bar Marta at 2700 W. Chicago Ave. this summer, it was announced late Tuesday.
Behind the restaurant is chef Guy Meikle, who ran the kitchen at Nana Organic in Bridgeport. His menu will run the gamut from fresh oysters and smoked fish to dumplings and, of course, a variety of caviar at a range of prices.
There will also be daily seasonal specials. Plus, fresh baked goods like doughnuts and house-baked bread from pastry chef Alan Krueger, also from Nana Organic.
"When we were designing the menu, we wanted to honor parts of mine and my staff's past," said Meikle, who grew up on the South Side at 55th Street and Kedzie Avenue which was primarily Polish and Czech at the time.
Drink-wise, patrons can expect craft cocktails galore. Jan Henrichsen from Fat Rice and Pastoral will serve as beverage director.
Described as "equal parts punk rock and classic art-deco elegance, with an attitude to match," Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar will debut to the public in early August. An exact opening date will be released in the coming weeks.
The caviar-focused bar/restaurant is replacing Bar Marta, which closed earlier this month.
Austin Baker, a chef who helped create and launch some of Brendan Sodikoff's top restaurants quietly opened Bar Marta in November of 2015, serving a small selection of American fare for dinner five nights a week.
Baker told Eater that the sleepy location likely contributed to the closure, but Meikle blamed the hours of operation.
"I thought Austin had a great concept. I think [it closed] because it was dinner and it was five nights a week," he said.
Heritage will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
"We plan on being here a really long time," Meikle said.
"When I was growing up, there were restaurants that were known for specific things. I feel like that's been kind of lost. I think there's a real need to bring that fun, fine dining action to the neighborhood."
Eater was first to report on the opening of Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar.
