Misery Loves Co. Restaurant Group, which owns Proof + Pantry at One Arts Plaza, is opening a new concept that'll reside at the foot of Highland Park. Called Madrina ("godmother" in Spanish), it will be a fine-dining Mexican restaurant, and it is slated to open this summer at the Shops of Highland Park on Oak Lawn Avenue.
Chef Kyle McClelland will source ingredients from the best purveyors of Mexico and France for his version of "modern, authentic Mexican cuisine with a French twist." Some typical menu items:
- Hay smoked foie gras made with jaggery, plantains, pepita and coconut
- Steak tartare with pickled papayas, dried jicama, capers, shallots and egg yolk
- Okra-bell pepper ratatouille with masa crepe
A nightly chef tasting seating option will allow guests to interact with McClelland directly. A wine cellar room will also be available for small, private parties of eight.
Cocktails by Michael Martensen will be inspired by French and Mexican classics. The wine selection will be mostly French, with special attention to Bordeaux, Burgundy and Loire Valley regions.
A cantina-style bar area will be an intimate, lively and more casual space, with a menu featuring agave-distilled spirits such as mezcal; tequila from Mexico; and Armagnacs, eau de vies and aperitifs from France.
The restaurant will go into the old Nosh space. The Shops has had some turnover in the past year that includes the departure of La Duni.
Design by Breckinridge Taylor draws inspiration from Mexico City and Paris. A combination of simple and bold design elements will transport guests to old Mexico. The question is, will there be sombreros?
Shops at Highland Park, you are about to receive a Mexican restaurant.
