Cherry Circle Room Reopening Friday, September 24

Cherry Circle Room, the James Beard award-winning concept from Land and Sea Dept. inside the Chicago Athletic Association, will reopen after 18 months on Friday, September 24th. The reopening team is a mix of veterans and new faces, all working collaboratively across roles and departments. 

The food menu, a collaboration by the culinary team, features old favorites from Cherry Circle Room's previous menu like the steak tartare, shrimp cocktail, and butcher block selections, as well as new dishes that embody the restaurant's commitment to refined, seasonal takes on classic, regional dishes using Midwest ingredients.

The culinary team is comprised of Executive Pastry Chef Rosie Estrada (previously pastry sous chef at Cherry Circle Room), Chef de Cuisine Jacob Sloan (W, Soho House), and Executive Sous Chef Alisha Elenz (MFK. & Bar Biscay, James Beard Rising Star Semifinalist 2019) — all working with Land and Sea Dept. Director of Culinary Operations, Max Robbins (Executive Chef of Longman & Eagle). 

Cherry Circle Room has brought on Anika Ellison as sommelier. Anika holds a level 2 sommelier degree from the Court of Master Sommeliers, and was formerly sommelier at Spiaggia. Anika has curated a global wine list for Cherry Circle Room, with an emphasis on sustainable and organic wine, both by the glass and by the bottle.

The bar team, a mix of CCR veterans and new faces, has created a cocktail menu, which continues to feature both house cocktails and classics inspired by a rotating selection of historic cocktail books. This season's historic menu features drinks from The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book with Amendments Due to Repeal of the XVIIIth, by Albert Stevens Crocket. The Cherry Circle Room bar cart will also be back, making variations on Wisconsin-style Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and martinis. The after-dinner drinks are also making a return, including boozy adult milkshakes, like the Pink Squirrel and the Awful Awful.

The Cherry Circle Room will also feature a curated beer list, on draft and in bottles. Service Director / Assistant General Manager Aleya Broadway is also returning, having served in various roles since the restaurant's original 2015 opening. 

Cherry Circle Room will be open for dinner five days a week to start, from 5-11pm, Wednesday - Sunday. Brunch service will return later in the fall. Reservations are available on Resy.