Springtime is HERE Chicago! And that means we can finally start preparing for Chicago’s best season: patio season. The city has plenty of patios, but we are especially excited for a certain new one to join the fold. The Lunchroom at SPACE 519 {200 East Chestnut, Chicago; 312.600.9824} will introduce a 24-seater, dog-friendly sidewalk patio in late May.
Located on a tree-lined street, just two blocks from Lake Michigan, it’s the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon or lazy weekend morning. You can stop in starting at 7am, and it’s open until 6pm during the week, with weekend brunch also being offered from 7am-3pm.
The Lunchroom is located inside one of Chicago’s top lifestyle retail destinations, SPACE 519, which means you can get your shopping in while you enjoy California-inspired cuisine with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients. Along with The Lunchroom’s daily breakfast and lunch menu, they also offer a full weekend brunch menu, plus a beverage and breakfast to-go counter and a light bites afternoon menu. And now you can enjoy all of this on their patio under the Chicago sun!
Lance Lawson, co-owner of SPACE 519, is giving us a preview of just what to expect of the upcoming sunshiney days with The Lunchroom…
DiningOut: SPACE 519 is such a unique concept. Tell us how you came up with this idea originally.
Lawson: My partner Jim and I have been traveling as buyers for almost 20 years. With our previous store we focused only on clothing. However, we would also see such great home and apothecary items while buying. And during our European trips we were introduced to “The Concept Store”—a place where many different items across many categories came together in one place with one perspective. So when we had the chance to open a new store we decided to bring this concept to Chicago with SPACE 519. The store flourished in our previous location. But we really, really wanted to add a food component to fully realize our vision. So when the our current space became available we jumped at the opportunity.
Why do you believe the intersections of art, commerce, and food make for such a great combination?
I think it is the curation and the fact that everything comes together under one vision. We literally have picked our every item in the shop together, be it a dress or a greeting card. And with the food it is the same thing. We traveled extensively—especially in California—to try new restaurants which featured a whole food, organic menu. So just like the store, the sandwich or salad you are eating was also created by us. Hopefully this helps provide a total experience.
Tell us about The Lunchroom. What makes it standout among Chicago’s other dining options?
We are not the first people to put a restaurant in a retail setting. That honor falls to fellow Chicagoan Marshal Field. But I feel that we are the first to do it in this style of setting. There are no walls that separate the dining area from the shopping area, and that adds a wonderfully unique energy to the space. And our menu is very unique. We go beyond the caesar salads and grilled chicken sandwiches that would be expected for our clientele. Everything on the menu is creative, but nothing is fussy, and every dish is made from from scratch with farm-fresh ingredients.
You are now serving breakfast. Why was this a natural menu extension?
Our clients called for it. And with The Lunchroom we are trying to replicate the European cafe culture. So, we love having the restaurant active from the moment we open the doors. And so many things in our area are chains. We offer a great alternative to that. We are locally-owned and created for this one spot in Chicago.
What are some of your favorite morning menu items right now?
The Soft Scrambled Eggs with Goat Cheese and Chives is my personal favorite. And they are our most popular item! There is something so simple about them. But there is nothing easy about making them. They truly highlight our chefs’ culinary training. I also love The Breakfast Tacos. I am a sucker for any Mexican fare for breakfast or brunch. So we had to make sure we checked that box with the menu. And we import all of our red and green chilies from New Mexico. So there is an authenticity to the flavors.
How can people make use of the space all day long?
We are a cafe at heart. So, except during our busy lunch and brunch rushes, we encourage people to linger and work on their laptops or just enjoy a glass of wine and one of our house-made pastries. They can grab a magazine or book from our assortment and enjoy a moment for themselves.
What do you want people to feel when they dine with you?
We want them to feel that they are well taken care of. We also want them to feel like they are having a unique experience. And of course the food has to be exceptional and consistent.
You also have a patio opening coming up. What can people expect from that?
It’s going to be very chic. The furniture is coming from Italy and we will have large black and white umbrellas. We will be open from 8am to 8pm daily. And again, we hope people will find the cafe a place to linger at the beginning or end the day. Our quiet tree-lined setting one block off Michigan Avenue is sublime.
How is else is SPACE 519 gearing up for the warmer weather?
While food is important, fashion is also at the core of our DNA. So to that end we have spring fashions arriving from across the globe. And by May it just might be warm enough to wear them! (We hope!)
What is your favorite thing about spring in Chicago?
I think it is the collective joy and energy you can feel across the city as we put away winter boots and coats. We know how to appreciate sunny weather. Especially coming off a winter as cold as the most recent one.
Interview by Kaleigh Glaza | Online Editor
The post In the Kitchen at The Lunchroom at SPACE 519 appeared first on DiningOut Chicago.