[ad_1]
The Chicago River is a block away, but you’d never know it’s there. To be fair, you can’t see anything of the outside world inside Caché 310, an intimate, new cocktail lounge in the West Loop — and that’s the point.
Located behind the BMO Tower, the 50-story building just south of Union Station, Caché 310’s name means “hidden” in French and references its off-the-beaten-path location alongside the expansive park behind the building and its address on Canal Street. (Tip: To find the bar, head up the short flight of stairs off Van Buren Street on the south side of the building or walk along the path on the building’s north end.)
Caché 310 replaces Afterbar, which served drinks out of the space from 2022 up until this past December. Santiago Leon is the operating partner at Chicago-based group Spearhead Hospitality, the behind the Robey Hotel, the Up Room, Valedor, Canal Street Eatery & Market inside the BMO Tower, and now, Caché 310. The group also oversees. Leon says that with his newest bar opening, he’s hoping to bring something “special” to the neighborhood that appeals to both residents in the building and everyday customers looking for a good drink.
For inspiration, Leon looked to the annual trips he and his wife take to Paris as well as his love for French culture and history, especially the small bars in Montmartre where artists used to gather in the 1920s. Growing up with a painter father furthered Leon’s attachment to that ethos (one of his paintings can be found in Canal Street Eatery). While inspired by France, Caché 310 isn’t a French bar, Leon says. “It has a French spirit behind it starting with its name.”
The dozen cocktails, all priced at $16, embrace that Gallic spirit, in name or alcohol selection or sometimes both. “We want each cocktail to tell a story,” says Leon. “We want you to leave here knowing more than when you came in.” Rather than use syrups, sweetness comes via fresh ingredients like house shrubs.
The Popcorn Au Beurre features vodka, a buttery chardonnay, butterscotch, and sage. Truffled popcorn is served on the side. Meanwhile, in Normandy (vodka, calvados, apple shrub, apple jam, and apple cinnamon) references a tale of a Spaniard lost in Normandy who had to make do with only apples. Then there’s Caché 310’s version of the popular espresso martini. Dubbed the French Press, the cocktail includes vanilla vodka, Patron XO Café, and cafe amaro. Cold brew is served in a French press tableside along with whipped cream. The New Orleans is a hybrid between an Old Fashioned and a Sazerac. A spritz of absinthe “perfume” finishes the drink.
Like at Valedor, cocktails at Caché 310 will more or less stay the same, the addition of a special here and there notwithstanding. “I’ve always thought things should be changed only if you have something better,” says Leon. “Sometimes things don’t need to be changed. There are some clients that want to explore new things, but in my experience, a majority of them go back to a place expecting to have what they had the last time they were there.”
A tight wine list features almost all French producers, while beers include one from France (Brasserie Meteor), Italy (Peroni), and Chicago (Revolution Brewing). There are a handful of nonalcoholic drinks as well.
Unlike its predecessor, Caché 310 has a separate food menu from neighboring Canal Street Eatery. “I really wanted it to have its own thing,” says Leon, acknowledging that the distance between the restaurant and the lounge, short as it is, sometimes caused delays. “It was also born out of necessity because the space we have here for the kitchen is quite small.”
Canal Street Eatery’s bread accompanies many items on Caché 310’s menu, such as sourdough bread and Brie paired with a cranberry mostarda. It also comes alongside house ricotta with toasted pistachios, crab salad, and the half dozen tinned seafood options — ranging from spicy octopus and sardines in lemon to mussels with fennel and dill — served with egg jam, cherry bomb pepper jam, and pickled onions. Caviar comes with creme fraiche and a choice of gourmet potato chips. For dessert, there’s a large seasonal cookie served warm.
The “hidden” part of Caché 310’s name also refers to the feeling once inside the 1,000-square-foot space. Lush floor-to-ceiling drapes cover the wall of glass doors that previously dominated the design of Afterbar. The cocoon-like setting makes it feel like time is standing still. The deep burgundy color of the drapes is echoed throughout the room, including in the walls, ceiling, and carpet.
Shelves on either side of the 15-seat half-circle bar hold a mixture of knickknacks that encourage you to get closer. Caché 310’s additional 42 seats include cozy barrel chairs paired with round tables, mini couches, and a long high-top table that can accommodate small groups. Vertical ribbed wood paneling on the outside of the bar mimics panels on some of the walls creating a soothing synergy with the long folds of the drapes. Wraparound recessed ceiling lighting, low light fixtures, and an abundance of candles add to the intimate ambiance.
Caché 310’s interior design, however, is as much about the acoustics as it is aesthetics. The thick drapes, carpets, ceiling panels, and even the leather topping the bar serve to soften sound. “I wanted a place where you could have a conversation without having to raise your voice,” says Leon. “A lot of places don’t pay enough attention to acoustics.”
Leon is still deciding how best to use the expansive patio of Caché 310 that offers views of the abundant greenery in the park. A European-style satellite spritz bar is a possibility, although unlike at Afterbar, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors will be kept closed keeping the vibe at Caché 310 the same year-round.
Caché 310 is located at 310 South Canal Street; open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday, closed Sundays.
[ad_2]
Lisa Shames
Source link
