Right at the corner of Roscoe and Damen, Commonwealth Tavern (2000 W. Roscoe St., Roscoe Village, 773-697-7965) plans to open for dinner at 4 p.m. on Thursday in the space that housed the darts haven Mulligan’s Public House.
Commonwealth’s owner and managing partner, Matt Baldino, formerly of Four Shadows Tavern & Grill, says the concept merges local-sustainable, sophisticated food with the sports bar. “Roscoe Village is in need of a place like this,” he says.
Executive chef Kevin Church narrated the menu for us, which sources from River Valley Ranch for greens and mushrooms, Ellis Family Farms for fruit, and Slagel Family Farm for pork:
• Meatball sub on a homemade baguette
• Buttermilk-marinated fried chicken
• Homemade sausage
• Pretzel with Virtue Cider mustard
• Apple turnover with homemade gelato
• Brownie trifle
Commonwealth will also offer counter-service Sparrow Coffee and pastries in the morning, and weekend brunch should follow soon. Amazing that even in a sports bar, normally the province of frozen burger patties and bagged, precut french fries, restaurateurs can go local, with local limited only by what the Midwest can produce. Now if only someone could figure out how to grow avocados here.