Bluebird, the casual new American restaurant that puts the community first, is opening a new location in Portage Park, located at 3938 N Central Ave.
Owner Zachary Lucchese-Soto tells What Now Chicago he hopes to open the new location by the end of this month, but an early June opening is possible with the permitting process and upcoming inspections. This second location will have a light, naturally-colored interior in what was once the home to The Portage and Cochinita Taco Co. Guests will find a more extensive cocktail program and more draft beers on tap. Lucchese-Soto also hopes to expand the restaurant’s menu, adding more sit-down eating options and a brunch menu.
Lucchese-Soto first opened the original Bluebird in Lake View at 2863 N. Clark St. in 2016 after a handful of successful food trucks. During the winter months, he would provide off-site consumption and catering events through a small kitchen. He initially opened the Lake View restaurant to support the company’s catering with a small counter service and a massive kitchen. After the city declined specific permits, the company was forced to pivot towards a restaurant. This new location is a testament to Lucchese-Soto’s determination to expand and continue the restaurant.
“It’s honestly a dream come true,” Lucchese-Soto tells What Now Chicago. “There were a ton of times it looked like it would never happen, certainly in the last couple of years, but it goes to show that persistence is the key to making things happen. I definitely lost count of how many times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel at this point!”
Lucchese-Soto isn’t a fan of the term gastropub, claiming his restaurant is more of a new American restaurant that takes classic dishes and elevates them to the next level. To increase this authenticity, Bluebird uses some of the freshest ingredients from carefully selected distributors, such as using beef from a small farm in Wisconsin. Additionally, Lucchese-Soto takes pride in making anything possible in-house, such as most of their sauces. Some dishes he has experimented with for this new location include delicious fish & chips and a bangers & mash.
