Dusek's Appoints Chef Ryan Pfeiffer as Culinary Director and Debuts New Menus

Dusek’s (1227 W 18th St., Pilsen), has appointed Chicago native chef Ryan Pfeiffer as Culinary Director. Chef Ryan will serve as Culinary Director for 16” on Center with Dusek’s as his first endeavor. Dusek’s will now offer two dining experiences under one roof with the Tavern menu serving Tavern fare and a cocktail and beer and wine list, and the Dining Room centered around the wood-fire oven with a rotating, curated menu focused on seasonality. The Dining Room will also offer a Dinner & A Show experience with the four courses served before attending a show upstairs at the music venue Thalia Hall.  

“Ryan is an incredibly thoughtful human with an incredibly playful palette,” said Bruce Finkelman, Managing Partner of 16” on Center. “He cooks truly wonderful, engaging food, while reminding us that dining should be fun. We are excited to introduce these new menus and evening experience to the Dining Room all about slow food enjoyed with people you love, filled with great entertainment.”

With a nod to the building's history dating back to 1892, Dusek’s Tavern offers a homey food experience and serves up classic cocktails, curated liquor beverages, cold beer and natural wine to pair with the new menu. Available now, Chef Ryan’s take on original Dusek’s items with Cast-Iron Mussels and rotating options of Oysters among other starters including Sticky Wings and the Smoked Trout Caesar. Chef Ryan will be serving up a Tavern Smash Burger alongside other sandwiches including Punch House Filet O Fish and Tack Room Cowboy Sando with griddled flank steak. Entrees include a Vegetable Lasagna with herbed bechamel and arugula pesto, Glazed Meatloaf with pimento cheese potatoes, and Crispy Chicken. Dusek’s Tavern menu items will also be available in the basement bar, Punch House, and the corner bar with live music, Tack Room.

The Dining Room, centered around a crackling wood-fired oven, will feature a curated, rotating menu over four courses. First course items may include Ahi Tuna Carpaccio, Beef Tartare and Endive salad; a second course of caramelized Mussels, Albondigas, and Fregola Sarda; third course dishes such as Lake Trout, Wood Roasted chicken, Striplion with crispy potato and unami cream, and pan fried Celeriac Schnitzel; rounded out with a sweet bite of Banoffee Pie or Ice Cream Sandwich with butterscotch ice cream between oat cookies. The Dusek’s Dining Room menu is priced at $70 per person.

Dusek’s Dining Room offers entertainment experiences following dinner. After the four coursed menu at Dusek’s Dining Room or a quicker bite at Dusek’s Tavern, guest can attend a show upstairs at Thalia Hall. Dinner & A Show tickets are available for purchase when booking a show at Thalia Hall's website.