Mastro’s Steakhouse Set To Make Chicago Debut

Posted on September 22nd, 2010 by Amber Holst

Chicago welcomes Mastro’s Steakhouse, which is scheduled to open on October 22 at the corner of Dearborn and Grand in the River North neighborhood. Sibling to the celebrity-frequented Mastro’s Beverly Hills, Mastro’s Chicago promises to combine award-winning cuisine and live entertainment with world-class service.

Chicago restaurant entrepreneurs and former Chicago residents Mark Levy and Tom Heymann are excited to open the steakhouse in their hometown: “Many steakhouse-savvy Chicagoans that travel the southwest have experienced our great steaks, exceptional service and fun atmosphere,” says CEO Tom Heymann.

The two-story restaurant presents a myriad of options, including the centerpiece of the restaurant – the M Bar, showcasing an extraordinary reflective bottle display. Guests can enjoy a lively atmosphere in cozy tufted leather banquettes or, for a romantic evening or business dinner, Mastro’s offers two dining rooms with intimate table and booth seating.

Recognized as one of the “Best Steakhouses” in the country, Mastro’s menu is famous for its prime hand-cut steaks, seasoned with a secret 15-ingredient dry rub and served on sizzling 400-degree plates. Also on the menu is a selection of fresh seafood. The signature Mastro’s meal includes the three-tiered iced Seafood Tower appetizer, the most popular of their steaks, the Bone-In Filet, served with family-style Lobster Mashed Potatoes, and to finish the meal off, their house specialty Warm Butter Cake for dessert.

Their award-winning wine list boasts a selection of more than 500 wines from around the world, and more than 50 by the glass.

Mastro’s will be open for dinner only, seven nights a week, from 5 p.m. to Midnight. The M Bar will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Reservations are recommended and will be available September 29 at 312-521-5100 or online after October 22 via mastrosrestaurants.com or opentable.com.

Tags: m bar, mark levy, mastro's, river north, river north restaurants, river north steakhouse, steakhouse, tom heymann, wine

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Sepia Welcomes Arthur Hon As New Wine Director

Posted on September 21st, 2010 by Amber Holst

Sepia has appointed a new wine director, Arthur Hon. An original member of the Sepia team (as a wine captain and server) since the West Loop restaurant’s 2007 opening, Hon will be working closely with Executive Chef Andrew Zimmerman to introduce food-friendly wines that complement the kitchen’s inventive American fare.

Overseeing Sepia’s 300-bottle wine list, Hon will continue to showcase lesser-known grapes, wine regions and boutique winemakers, in addition to discovering new finds and facilitating wine pairing events and dinners throughout the year. He will also be hosting weekly staff training events to foster conversation, knowledge and passion for wine amongst the entire Sepia team.

“He has always been our wine program’s biggest champion,” said Sepia owner Emmanuel Nony. “And we are excited about his vision for continuing its development alongside Chef Andrew’s cuisine.”

Hon believes in removing the pretension and intimidation that often go along with wine lists. His own curiosity for wine was initially piqued by his intimidation by it.

“Creativity and passion don’t always have to be complex or come from afar,” Hon says. “Simpler is always better.”

He began his pursuit of wine and work in restaurants while earning his undergraduate and advanced degrees in visual art from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. When Sepia opened, he explored wine under Sepia’s then-sommelier, Scott Tyree, whom he credits for supporting his wine education and providing him with the training and encouragement to translate his interest into something much more.

Hon is certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers and is currently studying for the Advanced Level exam in 2011.

Tags: arthur hon, sepia, west loop, wine

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