Chef's Special Cocktail Bar to Open January 22 in Bucktown

Chef's Special Cocktail Bar, the second establishment from the Giant team, opens on Wednesday, January 22 at 2165 N. Western Ave.

Giant partners Jason Vincent, Ben Lustbader and Josh Perlman will be joined by Chase Bracamontes as general manager and Aaron Kabot and Tom Scodari as chefs to the Chef’s Special team. 

The beverage program, created by Perlman and Bracamontes, aims to offer approachable drinks in a laid-back environment. Bracamontes’s cocktails, anchored on classic builds, incorporate tropical flavors and botanical accents like amaro and Chinese tea tinctures. The list is broken up into 3 sections - Spritz (effervescent and easy drinking), Mixed (drinks that are refreshing with fresh juice) and Stirred (strong cocktails that highlight the spirits themselves) with ingredient highlights including lychee, lemongrass, chrysanthemum, lapsang souchong, jasmine pearls and orange blossom.

The kitchen team, helmed by Chefs Kabot and Scodari, looked to their favorite food memories for inspiration. The menu focuses on American-Chinese food, with a variety of vegetables, fried rice, noodle dishes, and more. Rooted in the same mission as Giant, the food will highlight quality ingredients and approachable dishes. Guests will find familiar favorites and a “Chef’s Special” section of the menu with a rotating list of more experimental dishes.

Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar will be open daily from 5pm - 2am. The restaurant will offer delivery and take-out options and will always be accessible for walk-ins.