Boka Restaurant + Lounge: A Perfect Combination

Chicago, IL  The sexy new restaurant and lounge, BOKA, opened October 3rd at 1729 N. Halsted. The 90 seat space, in Lincoln Park is a stylish venue that boasts an exciting menu by one of Chicagos great chefs, a dynamic room and a bustling bar scene. The first collaboration of partners Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, BOKA is the most energetic and inviting opening of this year. BOKA is the perfect location for those just looking for a vibrant atmosphere to enjoy a fresh menu or progressive American cuisine, an innovative wine list, sleek lounge, attentive service and friendly hosts.

The Design
BOKA was designed by renowned restaurant and hotel designers Bogdanow Partners of New York, noted for their work in Manhattan including Union Pacific, Rubicon, Cub Room and Tribeca Grand Hotel. Excited about the opportunity to showcase their work in Chicago, Bogdanow Partners created a fresh and innovative feel for BOKA . Upon entering patrons are greeted with an underlit fountain illuminating a blue wall, a foyer with river rock floors, bamboo walls, and a warm, inviting wide-open room with dynamic colors. At BOKA, disparate elements of texture, color, fabric and light meld together, creating an inviting space, comfortable and understated. Theres even a cell phone booth to offer a quiet space for guests to take their calls.

The dining rooms ethereal fabric art contrasts with the lush textures and colors of the dining chairs and booths, all of which flows easily into the lounge. Comfortable club chairs look out onto the floor-to-ceiling windows with Juliet balconies that overlook Halsted Street. Dinner or small plates are available in the lounge if so preferred.

The Cuisine
Chef Giuseppe Scuarto, whose past kitchen experience include; Postrio in San Francisco, Spago and most recently MK in Chicago, formulated his menu from the time he spent in Northern California. An important element of Chef Scuratos cuisine is working with local farms, where he spends time working each summer, to obtain the finest produce available each season. Quality food is enhanced by using only the freshest ingredients, says Chef Scurato. Our menu is original and simple to explore. Guests will be comfortable ordering any of our dishes.

Small plates include grilled baby octopus, seared main scallops, wild salmon tartar or Hudson Valley foie gras. Large plates feature pan roasted Gulf snapper, Niman Ranch double baby pork chop, grouper or roasted New Zealand venison loin. The raw bar offers several oyster selections, while sides like Italian cous cous and crhme fraiche mashed potatoes are treated with as much care as the entrees.

The Wine
Guests may start by perusing the Battle of the Sexes wine list. Every grape varietal is represented by both a male and female winemaker. Compare and contrast the bold strokes and smooth finishes unique to each craftsman. A scoreboard at the top of the list keeps track of the amount of wines ordered for each gender.

An ongoing debate in the wine world as to who has the more sensitive palate for wines may just be decided by the pairings at Boka. Taste and decide.

The Proprietors
Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm, collectively have ten bar and restaurant credits to their names. We wanted BOKA to be a contemporary space with a fresh menu and a vibrant atmosphere that makes it accessible to a wide audience, Katz says. There arent many venues in Chicago that bring together the elements weve got at Boka.

Boehm echoes those sentiments. Were there for the before- and after-theater crowd, as well as the neighborhood. We want guests to hang out, have a drink and enjoy the city, he says. We want to have the feel of a neighborhood restaurant and lounge, with the downtown energy and excitement.

BOKA
1729 North Halsted
Chicago, IL
312.337.6070
Open seven nights a week