Roister
New American restaurant · West Town ·
Creative New American food & drink in lively, rustic surrounds
![Roister by Roister [Official Photo]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62585910/Roister_credit_Roister.0.0.jpg "Roister by Roister [Official Photo]")
Creative New American food & drink in lively, rustic surrounds
"Positioned as the group's most casual, accessible outpost, this venue opened in 2016 when the company moved into the Fulton Market space and helped make the brand approachable to a wider audience. It closed in November amid broader organizational changes following a co-founder’s departure, and its closure prompted a reworking of the site that led to a new concept." - Ashok Selvam
"Danny Shapiro listed the closing of the restaurant as another significant local development, grouping it with other high-profile shutdowns that marked the year." - Ashok Selvam
"The most casual member of the Alinea Group family will close after an eight-year run in Fulton Market; its last day of service will be Saturday, November 16. Opened in March 2016 as a deliberate departure for Kokonas and Achatz, the concept proved that a casual restaurant need not be ho-hum: loud music, a stage for the kitchen, and signature items like the "gourmet fried chicken" from chef Andrew Brochu helped redefine what belonged on a fine-dining menu in Chicago. The team rode the early wood-fired cooking trend to numerous best-new-restaurant lists in 2017 and earned a Michelin-star rating from 2016 through 2019. The operation was notable for holding back tables for walk-ins (something unheard of for Alinea), and on opening night Kokonas gushed about the fried chicken, which was sourced from D'Artagnan; the chickens were reportedly fed scraps from upscale restaurants like Thomas Keller's Per Se. After co-founder Nick Kokonas sold his ownership stake, Jason Weingarten took over; Weingarten says, "[That restaurant] has — and I wasn’t biased previously — the best fried chicken that I’ve ever had." The brand could be scalable and might find life outside Chicago, according to leadership discussion." - Ashok Selvam
"The Alinea Group is going all out for Thanksgiving and offering a comprehensive takeout experience. Packages can feed four to eight guests and contain a free-range turkey (complete with detailed cooking instructions, compound butter, herbs, and spices), as well as sides including baked brie with apple cinnamon compote, roasted garlic sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Place pre-orders via Tock for pickup on Wednesday, November 27 at Roister (951 W. Fulton)." - Eater Staff
"Getting a steak at Alinea might involve crawling inside a cow frozen with liquid nitrogen, then smashing your way out. Roister, which is from the same team, doesn’t have over-the-top theatrics - but the menu still has plenty of interesting dishes, including two excellent steaks (a very expensive wagyu for $115, and a more affordable prime rib). Since both are worth ordering, the answer to the question “Can I still pay rent this month?” should help you decide between the two." - adrian kane
