Welcome to Ole Hardwood, a glitzy smokehouse opening tonight in the South Loop, ready to meet your oak-, apple-, cherry-, mesquite-, cedar- and/or hickory-smoked meat needs.Yes, there’s formality in the form of grand chandeliers and black tablecloths.
But it’s not so stuffy that you'll have to shy away from licking your fingers—or anyone else’s. But first let’s start with a drink.
Very interested and we're salivating just thinking about it. Also of interest are some great pictures of the recently remodeled inside if you click here.
(Hat Tip: SG!)
14 comments:
Yuck!! Looked that pictures and the concepts and this is exactly what I was afraid of. "Fine dining" related to cuisines that are not intended to be expensive.
Case in point. This place screwed up Tapas (exposure) and intended to re concept with a more casual concept of Jamaican food (utopia). The inside of this restaurant simply looks like they changed a few of the colors and put a new awning out.
Same people and same concept of trying to glitz out food. These people are doing the exact same thing they have done in the pass. I really want to know how the hell this place has the capital to have two failed businesses. Mark my words this place will fold in less than a year. Who knows then maybe they will become a glitzy dry cleaners or a day care where every stroller is lined in crushed black velvet.
You know, I am a big fan of independent small businesses and Restaurants that want to go it alone. By some luck, I hope that Ole Hardwood does well.
And while I wish not ill will on the owners and hope they succeed, my experiences at Tapas was not that great.
I would love to have some of the commercial real estate and Restaurant experts here explain just what is going in the South Loop and Near South and Restaurant scene. Give us the analysis of costs compared to areas, issues, etc.
That being said I have a few observations about this space and the Restaurant in general.
1. South Loop Residents are an odd bunch – We learned to do without, can be Independent, sarcastic, frugal, and untrusting. It might not always the predictable market demographics business want.
At the same time, those groups self-designated in the review process in past were lazy rubes that did not set expectations of quality of operation and building, merely just happy anyone was setting up shop.
2. The places that can have sustained success are the ones who have Cred like Kliner, and even that is no a guarantee. For example his place on 21st and Wabash had all the makings of a great space, outdoor patio, etc. (best in the South Loop I thought)…Location did this place in.
3. Keeping the product simple and good works – for example we go up to Printers Row for SRO, Flacos Tacos, Panozo’s on Michigan Ave, and Café Society in The Prairie District – all affordable, simple, and usually good. Places have some ambiance for the price, and owners are good in community.
It seems these places understand running things for the long haul.
For example the Howies on Wabash; decent food, just not a consistent concept. Something lacking…could be the South Loop mentality of not being trusting of unknown independents.
4. Yoke / Room 12 – Always surprised by how well Yoke did off the bat, especially for what looked like an average space and location. But it goes to show how well the breakfast -type place can do. By the way, if you have not had Gioco’s brunch, it is pretty darn good.
5. Independents vs. Chains – As much as I like some of the ‘upper restaurants’, they are too palette specific, and there is too much room in between the price and cuisine spectrum. That is where the ‘Lettuce Entertain You’ type places fit in…providing the ‘Ole Hardwood’ type ideas, but with a small corporate quality control oversight to focus on quality of food, facility, marketing, and operation.
You can’t tell me that a Café Ba-ba-Rebe would not be a killer. If you place a Houston’s, PF Changs, etc. anywhere on South Michigan Avenue, forget about it; it would knock the ball out of the park.
6. Quality – If there is one simple example, it is that an overpriced place like Whole Foods can succeed, it shows that people are willing to pay and expect quality, sometimes at the ‘liberal curse’ of relaying on a corporate or large chain.
7. CITY & LEADERSHIP SUPPORT – One thing I do not see is the visionary support from those in charge and the city departments. While schools, open space, and infrastructure should be priority, there needs to be a more concerted effort re-directing the plan to build quality infill of commercial and residential space. For example, similar to the full-out professionally facilitated effort to do something about South State street commercial corridor north of Congress; or similar to the restoration of Wabash South of Randolph. Compare and contrast the quality of the spaces, merchants, city beautification and infrastructure with the amateur plan of the Roosevelt Collection (who is now trying to get TIF funds to pay for the failed commercial venture aspect of the project after the fact)
I get the sense that some of these parties are too worried about getting their small inside deals done instead of looking at the opportunity beyond.
You know, I am a big fan of independent small businesses and Restaurants that want to go it alone. By some luck, I hope that Ole Hardwood does well.
And while I wish not ill will on the owners and hope they succeed, my experiences at Tapas was not that great.
I would love to have some of the commercial real estate and Restaurant experts here explain just what is going in the South Loop and Near South and Restaurant scene. Give us the analysis of costs compared to areas, issues, etc.
That being said a few random observations about the area Restaurant status:
1. South Loop Residents are an odd bunch – We learned to do without, are frugal, and untrusting. It might not always the predictable market demographics business want.
At the same time, those groups self-designated in the review process in past were lazy rubes that did not set expectations of quality of operation and building, merely just happy anyone was setting up shop.
2. The places that can have sustained success are the ones who have 'cred' like Kliner, and even that is no a guarantee. For example his place on 21st and Wabash had all the makings of a great space, outdoor patio, etc. Location did this place in.
3. Keeping the product simple and good works – for example we frequent Printers Row for SRO, Flacos Tacos, Panozo’s on Michigan Ave, and Café Society in The Prairie District – all affordable, simple, and usually decent. These places have some ambiance for the price, and owners are good in community, and it seems they understand running things for the long haul.
Opposite - Howies on Wabash; decent food, to much of a grab-bag menu plan. Something lacking…
4. Yoke / Room 12 – Always surprised by how well Yoke did off the bat, especially for what looked like an average space and location. But it goes to show how well the breakfast-type place can do.
5. Independents vs. Chains – As much as I like some of the ‘upper restaurants’, they are too palette specific, and there is too much room in between the price and cuisine spectrum. That is where the ‘Lettuce Entertain You’ type places fit in…providing the ‘Ole Hardwood’ type ideas, but with a small corporate quality control oversight to focus on quality of food, facility, marketing, and operation.
You can’t tell me that a Café Ba-ba-Rebe would not be killer. Build a Houston’s or PF Changs, Original Pancake House, etc. anywhere on South Michigan Avenue, they all would do well as would existing places around them.
6. Quality – If there is one example that people are willing to pay for and expect quality, it is that an overpriced place like Whole Foods can succeed.
It also defies the ‘liberal curse’ of relaying on a corporate chain.
7. CITY & LEADERSHIP SUPPORT – One thing missing here is the visionary support from those in charge. While schools, open space, and infrastructure should be priority, there needs to be a more concerted effort re-directing the plan to build quality infill of commercial and residential space.
A sound example is the full-out, professionally facilitated effort being executed on South State street commercial corridor north of Congress; or the restoration of Wabash south of Randolph. Compare and contrast the quality of the spaces, merchants, city beautification and infrastructure with the amateur plan of say, the Roosevelt Collection (who is now trying to get TIF funds to pay for the failed commercial venture aspect of the project after the fact)
I get the sense that some of these parties are too worried about getting their small inside deals done instead of looking at the opportunity beyond.
Hmm, more South Loop skepticism from the previous posters. For me I am very excited about the new concept. Its great to see an original idea.
I am in the Restaurant business and South Loopers are a funny bunch. Having done market research on the area. This area spends the least amount per resident than any other area of the city dining out. So a PF Changs etc. would never ever come to this side of town. This area needs destination restaurants, unique concepts that attract people from other parts of the city. Because, the residents in this area dont spend enough money to make any restaurant a success.
Our destination restaurants... Firehouse, Gioco, Opera(eh not so much anymore)Tapas Valencia. I worry greatly for all these restaurants because we(south loopers) cannot support our own businesses.
This spot has "glitzy" chandeliers and formal black tablecloths because the lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy owners didn't take the time to change ANYTHING from their two previous trainwrecks in this spot. I would not trust that anything coming out of the kitchen isn't "leftovers" from utopia/exposure as well. I guarantee that all the "ingrediants" going into this "new" concept have been sitting in that unused "kitchen" for months!
Wow - more negativity on this blog. I'm so surprised. Not.
Unlike the folks that have posted here, I went to check it out tonight and had a great meal. The service was top notch and the menu has something for everyone. I hope residents will support them and see that we have a completely unique concept right here in the South Loop. The owner has plans to expand and I think this will become an attraction for years to come.
"The owner has plans to expand.". ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
How can the owner have plans to expand when this is his third concept at that location in less than one year?!?!
Seriously.
This ownership/management group should relocate this business to Bronzeville or Englewood where it would be better received since the only people I have ever seen "flock" to this place are from spots south and east of the sloop.
I'm pretty sure the 3 restaurants did not all happen in the past year. You negative people need to give them a chance. First concept was tapas. Okay so that didn't work - maybe they got beat out by Tapas Valencia down the street. Second concept was a restaurant nightclub type thing. Okay that didn't work either - I don't think it worked well for Cuatro either. Third is a BBQ gastropub.
This one I can see has the potential of working if the food is good. BBQ has a much more diverse appeal, there are many more people living in the area now, and they're actually marketing this time. I don't remember the past restaurants having a website.
I for one wish them good luck, and based on many of the comments on this board, which hopefully isn't the norm of the community, they're going to need it. I will be checking it out though because I think their menu looks really interesting.
"the only people I have ever seen "flock" to this place are from spots south and east of the sloop."
I'm curious how you collect this data? Why so negative? If you don't like it, don't eat there. In the current economic climate, any new restaurants are good news for the sloop...including Subway. ;-)
Is anyone in the south loop nice? or do you all just complain about everything, rant about whatever has your goat for the minute, and make thinly-veiled racist comments about a restaurant somewhere in your neighborhood that never did anything to you? How come so many people are so upset about this? would they prefer an empty building? mind boggling.
I'd like to hope that the negative comments are all from the same person (or at least a just a few people), but it's hard to tell because most of them post anonymously.
I have posted negative comments in the past about this place and read the thread and did feel bad that I trashed the place without giving it another chance. I have had horrible experiences with Exposure and Utopia. I unfortunately had the same experience at Ole Hardwood this past weekend. The service was really slow and the food was very over cooked and incredibly overpriced. Similar to the other restaurant. I think this blog wouldn't be so negative if the place was better. Post a blog on better restaurants in our neighborhood and I'm sure most of us would be singing their praises.
Gave it a shot. HORRIBLE! Food, service, and prices all are a huge disappointment (but not a surprise considering this is the same group behind all the past "efforts" in this locale).
This hood deserves far better.
It's sad that residents of the sloop are forced to leave this neighborhood for shopping, dining, and grocery.
Check out this story update on Ole' Hardwood by Carson Krislov:
http://chicagojournal.com/News/02-03-2011/Police_investigating_burned-down,_short-lived_South_Loop_BBQ
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