Pompette, Bucktown’s New All-Day Cafe & Wine Bar, Opens Doors

Chicago Industry Vets Join Forces For First Solo Venture, Bringing Old World Natural Wines, Wine-Friendly Food & More to New All-Day Concept
POMPETTE OPENS DOORS IN BUCKTOWN ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7TH
Photo: Official

Pompette opened its doors to its 1,800-square-foot space on Friday, October 7th at 10 am in the former Izakaya Mita location (1960 N Damen Ave).

Sign up now to get our Daily Breaking News Alerts

Opt out at anytime

Pompette is helmed by Ashlee Aubin–whose experience includes a stint at three MICHELIN-starred Alinea, seven Bib Gourmands while executive chef at Wood and partners Katie Wasielewski, former executive chef of Heisler Hospitality’s British-Indian concept Pub Royale, and Aaron Patten, from the kitchens of two MICHELIN-starred Acadia and Moody Tongue. The community-forward gathering spot focuses on a curated Old World wine list, low ABV sippers, and an easygoing menu of wine-friendly food and shareable plates.

Wasielewski and Patten take the lead on the food program, which is centered around a European-influenced menu of simple ingredient-driven dishes served from morning until the evening hours. Whether popping in for a morning pastry, bellying up to the bar for a nightcap, or settling in more comfortably in the dining room for a sit-down meal and a glass of wine, the team makes use of its relationships with area farmers to present the neighborhood with familiar, classics with a seasonal twist. In the daytime, look for dishes such as the hearty Farro and Swiss Chard Salad with an herb vinaigrette, candied walnuts, crisp apple and blue cheese; or a rotating Quiche loaded up with seasonal, farm-fresh vegetables like rapini and heirloom squash. In the dinner hours, look for offerings like the Buttermilk Fried Quail, served with Calabrian Chili sauce, turmeric, honey and corn salsa; Beet Falafel with garlic tahini vinaigrette, arugula and shaved beets; or Smoked Salmon Blinis topped with creme fraiche, giardiniera, everything spice and trout roe. Pompette will also prepare fresh pastries in house daily like the brown butter streusel coffee cake, and will also feature offerings from West Town’s Aya Pastry and James Beard Nominated Pastry Chef Aya Fukai.

Taking its name from a French slang term for ‘just a little tipsy,’ Pompette’s cocktail program leans into easy-sipping low ABV cocktails and classics. The all-female bar team is helmed by Detroit industry veteran, Margaret Warren, who was most recently the lead bartender of spot Table, Donkey and Stick. Now at Pompette, Warren puts an emphasis on creating sustainable drinks making use of ingredients from the kitchen, like seasonal pickles for their house Bloody Mary and a tahini-washed amaro. Look for drinks like the classic Spritz, made with Bianco Vermouth, Bergamot Liqueur, Green Tea Soda, Sparkling Wine and Grapefruit, as well as the Spaggliato Blanco, made with grapefruit butter Aveze, Bordiga Vurmut, and Cava. The drink menu will also showcase a selection of fortified wines, brandies, vermouths and amaros.

On the wine side, Aubin takes on an entirely new role as general manager, stepping out of the kitchen for the first time in 25 years to dive into what’s taken a back seat until now. Toying with the way wine interacts with the dining experience, Aubin has handpicked a list stemming from personal discoveries that play up Old World styles and low-intervention, natural productions rooted in location and history. Throughout the menu, Aubin highlights small producers from across France, Italy, Spain, Germany and America, including selections from Véronique Cochran of Château Falfas, whose tiny biodynamic winery balks at expectations of Bordeaux production, and Maxime-François Laurent, whose organic winery in the Côtes du Rhône region embodies the sunny terroir of the clay-limestone rich area.

Pompette is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located at 1960 N Damen Ave. Seating will be first come, first served.

Lisa Hay

Lisa Hay

Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.
Lisa Hay

Lisa Hay

Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.

Pin It on Pinterest

Search