Oak Parkers will have a couple of new dining options in the new year – a wine bar and bistro on Lake Street in the Hemingway District and an Irish pub and restaurant on South Boulevard in the Pleasant District.
Connolly’s Public House, an Irish-themed restaurant and pub, will take the place of Szechwan Beijing at 1109 South Blvd., and Novo Restaurant and Wine Bar will be located at 734 Lake St., the former site of Klay Oven.
Connolly’s Public House is Mike and Natalie Connolly’s first run at running a restaurant, and they say they are a few weeks, possibly days, from opening their doors for business.
Mike Connolly said that while the restaurant will offer traditional Irish appetizers and dishes – think fish and chips, bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie – it also will serve a selection of salads, healthy choices and low-fat or vegetarian options.
“Natalie has a gluten allergy, so we’re bringing that into the menu as well,” Mike Connolly said. “It’s a good example of how we’re trying to be conscious of modern needs.”
The Connollys, who have four grown kids of their own, described the 2,500-square-foot restaurant aims to attract families.
“I wanted it to be to be family-oriented and a place where people can come and take their kids for dinner and still be affordable,” she said.
A don’t be surprised if you see a resemblance between Mike and Natalie and the busboy cleaning the table next to you. The Connollys said they’re recruiting their kids help with the restaurant.
Their oldest child Bridget, who has an undergraduate degree from DePaul University in hospitality and event management, will be in charge of group sales and events. Their three college-aged sons also will help “schlepping kegs and cleaning tables,” Natalie Connolly said.
Novo Restaurant and Wine Bar is the newest venture for the owners of Forest Park wine bar House Red Vinoteca.
Neb Mrvaljevic, a Novo co-owner, tells Wednesday Journal that the gastropub and bistro is expected to open sometime in January or February 2016.
“It’s a cross between a restaurant, wine bar and gastropub,” Mrvaljevic said, noting that the menu, aside from a few select items, is expected to change every three or four months.
Novo will offer about 40 different wines by the glass as well as a large variety of bottles for retail sale. It also will have a full bar and a variety of craft beers, he said.
Mrvaljevic said Novo’s chef, who formerly served as chef at House Red Vinoteca, will use as much locally sourced meats and vegetables as possible.
He described the cuisine as American bistro or American cuisine and will serve homemade pastas, steaks and “classic American fare with a twist.”
CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com