Gingie Returns to River North Gingie, Chef-Partner Brian Lockwood's anticipated debut restaurant from Boka Restaurant Group, will reopen August 29 at 707 N Wells Street in Chicago's River North neighborhood. The contemporary American restaurant had shuttered just three days after its initial opening earlier this year following a small kitchen fire that caused no injuries. "Rob, Brian and I extend our sincerest gratitude to the Chicago Fire Department, our neighbors and our community all across Chicago for the tremendous outpouring of love and support over these past months," said Kevin Boehm, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Boka Restaurant Group. "We could not be more excited for Gingie's newest chapter and to reopen our doors in the greatest city in the world."
Menu and Operations The restaurant's menu channels Lockwood's fine dining background into an approachable à la carte format rooted in contemporary American cooking. Returning favorites include the Spicy Tuna Dip with sesame and avocado served with nori tapioca chips and Heritage Half Chicken with sansho pepper, pickled daikon and shiso. New additions celebrate late-summer ingredients, including Tortelloni with delice de Bourgogne cheese, corn and black truffle, and Lobster-Stuffed Tomato with Calabrian chili and summer blossoms. "Over the course of my career, I've had the privilege of working under and learning from the industry's most remarkable culinary talent, and Gingie is a culmination of the culinary techniques and traditions I've had the honor to hone along the way," Lockwood said. "The privilege to bring something this personal to life isn't lost on me, and I can't wait for Chicago to experience what we've been cooking up!" Gingie operates daily for dinner service from 5–10 p.m., extending to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The bar program, led by beverage director Ashley Santoro, emphasizes savory stirred cocktails and old-world wines from small, sustainable producers.
Design Elements Most of the restaurant's interiors, designed by Anna Filatov, were preserved through the renovation, including a custom mural by illustrator Emily Parkinson that references Chicago's most influential restaurants—Alinea, Charlie Trotter's, Blackbird, Kasama, Lula Cafe, Oriole, Parachute, Schwa, Smyth, Spiaggia, and Virtue. Parkinson has added a phoenix to the mural as part of the reopening celebration. The restaurant also added 24 outdoor seats to take advantage of the late-summer timing. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
Why It Matters
Gingie's reopening marks a significant moment for Chicago's fine-dining scene, particularly for Boka Restaurant Group's continued expansion of chef-driven concepts. The kitchen fire and three-month closure underscore the operational resilience required in high-profile restaurant launches, while the preserved design and updated menu demonstrate how establishments balance recovery with evolution.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
