Castaways Hasn’t Been Forgotten as the North Avenue Beach’s Icon Preps to Reopen | Eater Chicago

"Reopening on Memorial Day Weekend after a $3 million renovation, I see the boat-shaped restaurant and bar on North Avenue Beach reborn as Castaways Beach Club (formerly Castaways Bar & Grill). The freshly revamped two-floor, 22,000-square-foot space includes dining decks, multiple bar sections, patio areas, and cabanas available for rental and private events; new ocean-blue-and-cream paint replaces the old sandy sports-bar look to evoke Miami- or Mediterranean-style beach clubs. A tented North End Club on the north end will be 21-and-older on weekends and host live music and DJ sets, while a new south-end second-floor bar capitalizes on sweeping skyline views for happy hours and corporate events. The family-friendly upstairs restaurant has new tile, paint, and furniture and will reopen with an unreleased menu of “global beach fare” and cocktails for lunch and dinner; downstairs will feature two walk-up concession windows serving nostalgic street-food favorites like burgers, tacos, and wraps. Operated by Stefani Restaurant Group under contract with the Chicago Park District, Castaways—an unmistakable symbol of Chicago summer—aims for a more polished, beach-club vibe after more than two decades on the sand." - Naomi Waxman