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Random Thu Dec 09 2010
The Gastropub Revolution Will Not Be Televised
The Chicago Bar Project has a nice write-up this month on the rise of the gastropub in Chicago. You know -- it's that place a few blocks walk from you that serves incredible food, has an unbeatable craft beer selection, and is steeped in classic, English-style pub charm. CBP points to Hopleaf as being the first of its kind in Chicago in 2003, beating even The Spotted Pig to the punch, widely considered to be the first gastropub in America. (Take that, West Village!). Sean Parnell writes:
Gastropubs dovetail perfectly with our changing tastes and demographics, operating in that gray area between restaurant and bar. And by offering the best of both worlds, gastropubs have quickly gone from concept to mainstream, changing the entire bar scene for the better.
In many ways, the gastropub defines the modern Chicagoan: We like to eat well and drink better -- and we're not going to pay out the ear for it.
Lee / December 12, 2010 1:55 PM
What's the difference really between a gastropub and a simple good pub? Duke of Perth has been around since 1989, and they have a great beer and whiskey selection as well as a great menu. It's not a new concept, so is "gastropub" just when the American food establishment finally embraced that concept?