WICKER PARK — Forget chicken and waffles — at The Riot Feast, hungry masses can indulge in fried chicken and funnel cake in a carnival-themed setting with communal tables and a menu inspired by rock 'n roll and September's Riot Fest.
Set to open on Saturday and lasting for three months at 1941 W. North Ave., the Riot Feast pop-up offers a family-style dining experience in a turn-of-the-century carnival environment, with vintage fabric posters on deep red walls that are reminiscent of Wicker Park's long-closed Earwax Cafe.
View Riot Feast's full food and drink menu here, or below.
Menu highlights from chef Brian Fisher's meu include creamy cheese curds, or CREAM (Curds Rule Everything Around Me), a play on the classic London rock band Cream, and "Have Mercy! corn bread" with a pat of butter in the shape of John Stamos.
Tickets for 6 or 8 p.m. communal dining (GA) or reserved elevated tables (VIP) can be bought on the restaurant's website, theriotfeast.tocktix.com. Riot Feast charges $30 per person for eight shared dishes and $35 per person for those who do not want to sit at a communal table.
Riot Fest artists Sleep on It and Adam Siska from Academy are serving as DJs during the opening weekend after hours, starting at 10 p.m.
A spokesman said on Thursday that dinner tickets are sold out and walk-ins will be limited but still available this weekend.
The Riot Feast is the brainchild of the folks who bought the Saved by the Max diner to the same storefront. Derek Berry, Zack Eastman and Steve Harris, the self-described "fan boy creators" of Saved by The Max, said in a news release that they wanted to find a new innovative project that they could bring into the storefront in Wicker Park's Flat Iron Arts building.
Saved By the Max closed May 31 and relocated Los Angeles.
The men connected with Riot Fest’s Michael “Riot Mike” Petryshyn to create The Riot Feast restaurant and bar. Founded in 2005, Riot Fest is a three-day punk-rock music festival and carnival in Douglas Park.
The Riot Feast, 1941 W. North Ave. Hours are 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Wed; 6 p.m - 2 a.m. Thurs-Friday; 6 p.m. - 2:30 a.m. Saturday; and Sunday and. Ph: 773-687-9824. For more updates, follow Riot Feast on Facebook.com/TheRiotFeast, Twitter @TheRiotFeast or Instagram, @TheRiotFeast.
