SOUTH LOOP — Moody Tongue is moving to the South Loop — and bringing a brand new restaurant helmed by former Longman & Eagle Chef Jared Wentworth along with it.
Last month, cousins and brewery founders Jared Rouben and Jeremy Cohn announced they would be ceasing operations in Pilsen and moving to a larger spot at the shuttered Baderbrau brewery, 2515 S. Wabash Ave. The new location, expected to open this summer, will allow the founders to double production operations to keep up with growing demand, the cousins previously told Block Club Chicago.
Along with the new brewery, the 25,800-square-foot home will also house the Dining Room, a 25-seat fine dining, beer-focused restaurant, and the Bar, an expanded version of its award-winning Pilsen tasting room.
Nine-time Michelin star chef Wentworth, who also worked at Dusek’s Board & Beer, will oversee both operations.
Related: Moody Tongue Expanding To Take Over Former Baderbrau Brewery, Prepares To Bid Pilsen Farewell
The Dining Room at Moody Tongue will feature a 10-course seasonal tasting menu paired with Moody Tongue beers. The menu will draw from global influences inspired from Wentworth’s travels. Guests can expect to find things like king crab served with cheung fun noodles, soybeans, peanut and XO sauce paired with a Sour Watermelon Saison when the restaurant opens later this summer.
The more casual Bar at Moody Tongue — designed by Mo Faux Studio —will offer fresh oysters, 12-layer German chocolate cake as well as an expanded a la carte menu. Fans of Moody Tongue will be treated to new dishes such as a fried chicken served with maque choux, griddled corn cakes and foie gras butter and Tunisian spiced romanesco with beluga lentils, onion ragout, dill-infused raita and Moroccan oil.
The Bar will also offer 16 Moody Tongue beers on tap along with speciality bottled offerings like the Sliced Nectarine IPA and Steeped Emperor’s Lemon Saison.
“It’s always been our intention to expand the culinary offerings at Moody Tongue, but we wanted to focus on building the brand and increasing beer production first,” Rouben said. “Now after five years, with the new venue and help of Jared Wentworth, we will finally have the capability to move forward with our vision.”
In 2014, Moody Tongue opened its production operations in at the 9,500-square-foot Pilsen brewery at 2136 S. Peoria St. The Pilsen taproom will remain open indefinitely as Moody Tongue gets the South Loop spot up and running.
Rouben and Cohn opened their Pilsen taproom in 2016. Earlier this year, the taproom was recognized as the best bar at the Jean Banchet Awards.
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