A Whimsical Dining Experience: Exciting New Restaurant Bringing Fun and Warmth to Highland Park’s Ravinia District


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Exciting developments from a new restaurant collective for a hallmark location in Highland Park are starting to take shape.

Community Restaurant Group has put forth proposals for a new dining establishment at 565 Roger Williams Ave. within the city’s Ravinia Business District.

During its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Highland Park’s Plan and Design Commission unanimously endorsed the group’s petition to eliminate seven existing parking spots to facilitate outdoor dining for the planned restaurant.

The present space on Roger Williams Avenue measures slightly over 4,100 square feet and is currently unoccupied, as stated in city documents. Previously, the site accommodated a dry cleaning operation. A single-story building is currently on the site, according to city officials.

As outlined in a memo from Community Restaurant Group to the municipality, the envisioned restaurant will be a “full-service, upscale venue focusing on American cuisine prepared over open flames.”

The proposal indicates the establishment will offer 130 seats for indoor dining and 100 seats for outdoor dining, based on city documents.

At this moment, city officials report that the restaurant plans to operate for dinner seven evenings a week and serve brunch on weekends. Further submissions to the city also indicate that the restaurant’s management is contemplating weekday openings and availability for private gatherings.

Current projections suggest that the outdoor dining area will be accessible for eight to ten months annually, contingent on weather conditions. Officials note in city records that the outdoor space will not host live music or entertainment.

Details regarding the upcoming restaurant remain sparse. Representatives of the restaurant group did not address the city or provide updated information about the proposed establishment during the Jan. 7 meeting.

In documentation outlining the request, city officials indicated that the name of the restaurant “is still under consideration by the company’s branding team.”

Karl Burhop, senior planner for Highland Park, remarked during a brief presentation at the meeting that the applicant team has yet to seek a design review for their project. Historical city information clarifies that the group intends to submit a design review application.

According to details available on Community Restaurant Group’s website, the forthcoming Highland Park dining venue will be helmed by “a pioneering James Beard Award-winning chef,” while emphasizing that the building’s interior will boast vaulted ceilings reaching 16 feet high.

“The design will reflect the characteristics of the menu,” the company’s website states. “It will embody a blend of whimsy and warmth, being friendly and welcoming yet with a subtle edge. More vibrant than the average North Shore restaurant yet certainly family-friendly, our Ravinia eatery will radiate a lively atmosphere grounded in innovative dining and excellent service.”

The approval recommendation from the commission will now proceed to the City Council for final validation. As of the time of publication, it remains unclear when the council will review the request.


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This webpage was generated automatically; to view the article at its original site, please follow the link below:
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