Restaurant with ‘fun vibe,’ ‘whimsy and warmth’ coming to Ravinia district in Highland Park

Fresh plans from a budding restaurant group for a signature neighborhood in Highland Park are beginning to simmer.

Project plans from Community Restaurant Group are calling for a new restaurant at 565 Roger Williams Ave. in the city’s Ravinia Business District.

Highland Park’s Plan and Design Commission during its Tuesday, Jan. 7 meeting unanimously voted to recommend approval of the group’s request to remove seven existing parking spaces to accommodate outdoor dining seating for the proposed restaurant use.

The existing space on Roger Williams Avenue is just over 4,100 square feet and is currently vacant, according to city documents. The site used to house a dry cleaning business. A one-story structure presently exists on the property, per the city.

According to a memo from Community Restaurant Group to the city, the proposed restaurant is planned to be a “full-service, upscale restaurant specializing in American cuisine cooked on open flames.”

The proposal calls for 130 indoor dining seats and 100 outdoor dining seats, per city documents.

Right now, according to city officials, the restaurant is planning to be open for dinner seven nights per week and for brunch on the weekends as well. Plans submitted to the city also say the restaurant’s ownership is considering opening on weekdays as well as being available for private events.

Current plans indicate that the outdoor seating area will be open anywhere from eight-10 months per year, depending on weather. The outdoor area will not feature live music or entertainments, officials say in city documents.

Limited details about the incoming restaurant have been made public. Representatives from the restaurant group did not present to the city or offer new information about the proposed eatery during the Jan. 7 meeting.

In materials detailing the request, City officials said the name of the restaurant “is currently being considered by the company’s branding team.”

Karl Burhop, senior planner for the City of Highland Park, said during a brief presentation at the meeting that the applicant team has not yet requested a design review for their plans. Previous information from the city does state the group plans to submit a design review application.

According to information posted on Community Restaurant Group’s website, the new Highland Park dining establishment will be led by “an innovative James Beard Award-winning chef” while noting that the interior of the building will feature vaulted 16-foot-high ceilings.

“The Design will mirror the qualities of the menu,” the company’s website reads. “It will be a balance of whimsy and warmth, comfortable and friendly but with a slight edge. More vibrant than a typical North Shore restaurant, but family friendly of course, our Ravinia restaurant will have a fun vibe grounded by creative dining and great service.”

The recommendation of approval from the commission will now head to the City Council for final approval. It is not clear as of publication time what date the council is slated to review the request.

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