IF YOU GO
CRAFT URBAN 211 James St., Geneva www.crafturban.com 331-248-8161
GENEVA’S NEXT DINING HOT SPOT OFFERS ALL THINGS LOCAL, CRAFT AND TRUE By KELSEY O’CONNOR | Photos by MISSY DONOVAN
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raft Urban, one of the newest restaurants in downtown Geneva, went from concept to completion in a little less than a year. Despite this accelerated timeline, the owners worked hard to ensure that no detail went overlooked – from the menu to the art on the walls (and even in the bathrooms!). “We really pushed ourselves to get this thing done,” says Bernie Laskowski, who owns the
restaurant with Francisco Chavez. “We looked at what was missing in Geneva. We wanted to do something that was true American food and hyper local. It’s a mash up of all different cooking styles.” Craft Urban opened its doors in the former Nosh space in mid-November. The menu showcases a blend of cooking styles from regions throughout the country, with an emphasis on seasonal fare. Dishes on the menu are divided up into bar snacks, appetizers, hot and cold veggie dishes, and entrees – including seafood, meat and sandwiches. “They’re familiar items done with a twist,” says Laskowski. “We don’t want it be fine dining in any way shape or form.” The offerings change frequently, sometimes on a daily basis. Guests might get a taste of tempura-battered cheese curds, shrimp and grits, a fried chicken sandwich with jalapeno honey, or beef short ribs with crispy peppers. The curated drink menu features local-based brews, eclectic wines and craft cocktails.
far, is the Craft Urban burger, made with beef from Fairview-based Slagel Family Farm, and topped with tomato jam and caramelized onions on house-made bread. The focus on staying local extends to the restaurants aesthetic. The walls are adorned with works from area artists. The exterior of the building features a colorful mural by Chicago-native and world-renowned painter Caesar Perez. “We turned the outside of the building into a piece of art,” says Laskowski. “We wanted to draw people in.” And the inside is designed to keep them in. Laskowski describes the interior as shabby chic with a retro vibe and feminine color palette. Much of the furnishings are reclaimed and refurbished, and guests of all ages can play with old-school toys, like Rubik’s Cubes and Etch A Sketches.
While this is Chavez’s first foray into the restaurant industry, Laskowski is no stranger to the trade. He’s been an executive chef in Chicago for 25 years and previously ran the In most dishes, the spotlight is on ingredients kitchen at Park Grill in Millennium Park. from local vendors and producers, which “As a chef, I’m kind of a snob. I thought the must be within an eight-hour-drive of suburbs were where chefs go to die,” says Geneva. One of the most popular dishes so 18 | JANUARY 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE
DINING & ENTERTAINING
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