Fort Willow

"Fort Willow is a “welcomed hideaway with terrific service and crowd-pleasing sips” according to Maggie Hennessy. DMK Restaurants’ new treehouse-style spot certainly draws attention with its centerpiece, an “enormous tree made of reclaimed wood planks.” To drink, the Tree Fort Punch conceals a “hefty pour” of gin with sencha green and mint teas, raw sugar, and lime juice while the Daisy Puncher is a “tropical storm” of jalapeno-infused tequila, mescal, and guava syrup. Food options are more of a “mixed success.” A double dredging of batter “weigh[s] down” delicate cauliflower florets and Korean beef ribs offer “little depth” to counter its sweet notes, but charred and chileld broccoli are a mouthful of delight. Desserts include a “cooling, silky” horchata crème brulee, topped with cinnamon-scented rice noodles, that’s “both delicate and deeply satisfying.”" - Jeffy Mai

"Fort Willow is a venue opened by DMK in January and is located along Elston Avenue, between Lincoln Park and Bucktown in Chicago." - Ashok Selvam

"Fort Willow, the soon-to-be-open restaurant and bar along the Elton Industrial Corridor, wants its adult customers to use their imaginations in the same ways they did as children. The 75-seat restaurant at 1721 N. Elston Avenue should bring back backyard memories when kids played in treehouses. If the metaphor is lost upon diners, don’t fret — there’s a tree that’s sprouting at the end of the bar. It’s one of many design elements aimed to transport customers back to their younger years." - Ashok Selvam

"Fort Willow offers $5 cocktails and complimentary chef’s choice late-night nibbles." - Ashok Selvam