The Belden-Stratford

After Seven Years, S.K.Y. Will Leave Pilsen for the North Side | Eater Chicago

"After seven years in Pilsen, I learned S.K.Y. will close there and relocate to 2300 N. Lincoln Park West inside the Belden-Stratford; chef Stephen Gillanders—who named the restaurant after his wife—opened S.K.Y. in Pilsen in 2017 after leaving Intro and is bringing the restaurant back to the former Intro Chicago space where he first worked in the city. I was told about the restaurant’s fraught history in Pilsen, including a 2022 controversy that led the Jean Banchet Awards to pull a nomination for sommelier Jelena Prodan, and that roughly 70 percent of S.K.Y.’s customers live near its new Lincoln Park home. I expect the move to include familiar menu highlights—popular dishes like the lobster dumplings will make the move north—and a reimagined layout with a private dining room dedicated to a tasting menu, a speakeasy-style bar in the former Naoki Sushi space, and a planned 20-seat patio overlooking Lincoln Park Zoo." - Ashok Selvam

Chicago's Best New Restaurants of 2015

"In reality, Intro has the potential to be one of the best new restaurants every year. That’s because this concept from the Lettuce Entertain You team revolves around a constantly changing chef and menu. It’s basically musical chairs, restaurant edition – a visiting chef comes in to do their thing for a couple months before getting kicked out for a new face. Despite the turnover, you can always count on Intro being good no matter who is in the kitchen." - sam faye

Stephen Gillanders’ hit relocates to Lincoln Park with an intimate room and globally influenced dishes built for sharing. Loved by local critics for its balance of polish and fun, it’s a flexible, reservation-friendly date.

Reborn in 2025 inside the Belden-Stratford, S.K.Y. brings moody lighting, a dialed-in wine list, and greatest-hit dishes like lobster dumplings. Applauded by local critics and The Infatuation for being both stylish and welcoming.