Bless Your Heart, a soon-to-open southern kitchen and bar, announced its plans to open in Chicago’s River North neighborhood June 8, bringing a sassy Southern charm to the city at 601 N. Wells St. The menu will feature a ‘Honky Tonk Disco Brunch,’ frozen cocktails and happy hour options alongside an elevated smokehouse menu of meats, veggies and shareable platters, which will be enjoyed within the lively Southern-inspired space.
The Bless Your Heart kitchen will feature Texas-style smokehouse barbeque and a long menu of mason jar and frozen cocktails, which can be enjoyed within a stylish “Dolly meets disco”-inspired environment, creating a fun and lively bar experience for Chicagoans and visitors alike.
The concept was created by owner, restaurateur Adolfo Garcia and Chef Jose Malo. Garcia is the brains behind other recent concepts including Dear Madison, Yours Truly and The Handsome.
“With Bless Your Heart, we definitely wanted to bring some Southern charm to Chicago. We love the double meaning of the term ‘Bless Your Heart’, and the space was heavily inspired by country music, with a modern flare that’s reflected in the interior design style of the bar,” said Garcia in a statement.
The two level indoor and outdoor space will fit up to 170 guests and will offer a stylish take on traditional Southern design, featuring a mural painted by local artist, JC Rivera. Interior aesthetics include a flamingo wall, mural creations, cowboy boots and cowboy hats suspended from the ceilings, and many other trendy interior design aspects. In addition to inside seating, Bless Your Heart will boast two patios. The front patio will open along with the bar, and the back patio, which will be underneath a glass enclosure, will open later in the summer.
Bless Your Heart will host a $35 bottomless ‘Honky Tonk Disco Brunch” each weekend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 90-minute bottomless brunch will include options for both mason jar cocktails and frozen drinks, such as rose water, a specialty peach and mint frosé, frozen old fashioneds and frozen palomas. The brunch menu will include Southern staples like Texas sausage, brisket and cornbread. Bless Your Heart will also offer a happy hour deal from 4-7 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, featuring $8 craft frozen cocktails, $5 drafts, $2 smoked wings, rib tips and vegan corn ribs.
“When designing the menu, we wanted to stay authentic to the Southern roots of the bar,” says Chef Malo. “But we also wanted to make sure there’s something for everyone, so the menu also features some vegan and vegetarian options.”
To create a fun and energetic environment for patrons, Bless Your Heart will host top Chicago DJs to play music during brunch, as well as other special occasions. Music will include both old school and new school country, vintage rock and hints of disco.
“With Bless Your Heart, we definitely wanted to bring some Southern charm to Chicago. The space was heavily inspired by country music, with a modern flare that’s reflected in the interior design style of the bar,” said Garcia.
