After spending the last few months on a winter break, Ardent (1751 N. Farwell Ave.) will return to service on May 17 – with some style changes. Think a variety of vibes – elegant tasting menu if you’re looking for that; and casual, approachable lounge, no reservation needed, if that’s more up your alley.
Some of these changes had started back in November – the two sister spaces (Ardent and the former Red Light Ramen next door) responding to the evolving nature of dining these days.
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Not all of the components will open right away. The lounge (inside the existing Ardent space) will be the first – kicking off its first service on May 17. Its hours (in the initial stage) are to be Fri-Sat and Sun 5-10 p.m. There will be Sunday brunch service as well: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. They plan to host live music, pop-up dinners and other events. Check out their Facebook and you’ll see they’ve been offering Friday fish fishes for carryout and hosted a recent sandwich pop-up with Chicago chefs, including Noah Sandoval of 2 star Michelin restaurant Oriole in Chicago.
The lounge specials will incorporate other concepts owner/chef Justin Carlisle has created over the past several years. That means Saturday night ramen, and when they extend the hours, taco specials on Mondays. There will be an a la carte menu, too, offering small plates to burgers and hot dogs.
When the tasting room opens up (in the old Red Light space), the vibe in the room will switch to a more elegant style. It will be open on Friday and Saturday nights and serve a multi-course menu by reservation only. On the other days of the week when the tasting room is not open, the space will operate as a wine bar.
