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Fountainhead’s closure during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic deprived Ravenswood of one of the few rooftop bars outside the downtown area. But after sitting vacant for nearly two years, the space is once again open for alfresco dining and drinking, thanks to the arrival of LM Restaurant Group's third Land & Lake location earlier this month.
“When we saw that this space was available, the owners came and checked it out and saw a lot of potential, especially with the rooftop, for doing something really cool,” says LM communications director Lauren Hammond. “They thought that Land & Lake, given its commitment to being very neighborhood centric, would do really well here.”
The renovated rooftop has a huge covered bar with ceiling fans and umbrellas that provides space for 30 people, plus open seating for another 50 at banquettes and high top tables. The rooftop nearly doubles the restaurant’s interior space, which features an open kitchen best viewed from the 15-seat bar. The new owners also installed a dumbwaiter to make it easier to bring food and drinks to the roof.
“The rooftop has been a big hit,” Hammond says. “Everyone is really excited about it. To have that in the neighborhood with a very family friendly vibe really appeals to people.”
The restaurant will largely have the same menu as Land & Lake’s locations in Andersonville and the Loop, serving classic American fare along with cocktails made with local spirits such as a Bourbon Mule with Jeppson’s bourbon and Strawberry Fields, which pairs rum and amaro from CH Distillery with lime juice and strawberry simple syrup. This location will also tap into its proximity to “Malt Row,” an area in the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor packed with breweries.
“We are looking to stay incredibly local with our draft program,” says general manager Sara Lindsay. “Our goal is to only feature Malt Row breweries. We're going to be featuring Dovetail for our first beer of the month program and then we're looking at working with Begyle, Forbidden Root, Spiteful and Urban Brew Labs.”
The initial draft list will be focused on approachable, low ABV beers well suited for rooftop drinking. Lindsay says she expects some brews from Half Acre and Dovetail will stay on the menu year-round, but the rest of the selection will change seasonally to take advantage of what’s brewing nearby.
Land & Lake is currently open for dinner Thursday through Sunday, but plans to expand to daily service and roll out weekend brunch, where diners will be able to add on an hour and a half of bottomless mimosas for $18.
“Like everybody else, we're trying to make sure that we have enough staff to cover everything,” Hammond says. “Wednesday service is probably coming in the next two weeks, and then every week or so they're looking to add an additional evening of service. The demand has been great, which is a really wonderful thing, so we're just trying to make sure that we keep service consistent across the board.”
Land & Lake Ravenswood is open from 4-11pm Thursday through Saturday and 4-9pm Sunday. Space is currently first come, first served, with reservations launching on Tock in early August.