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NORTH CENTER — Cobblestone European Bistro and Cider House reopened in the spring with expanded patio seating after temporarily closing twice during the pandemic.
The restaurant quietly reopened in April, but owner Markus Chwajol announced it was back Tuesday. He joked the “third time is the charm.”
“We worked hard to create a welcoming, community-friendly restaurant where guests can meet new and old friends, enjoy a wonderful meal and find a new cider or craft drink to toast their visit,” Chwajol said.
Chwajol — founder of the now-closed Bohemian House — took over The Northman cider bar at 4337 N. Lincoln Ave. in North Center in February 2020 and renamed it Cobblestone.
Chwajol opened about a month before the dine-in ban went into effect in March 2020. Last summer, the restaurant reopened with 24 tables for its sidewalk patio, 22 tables for indoor dining and 14 tables for its outdoor back patio. It closed again in November when indoor dining restrictions went back into effect to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The restaurant reopened in April with expanded outdoor seating, including a 43-seat sidewalk patio with a canopy and string lights and a rear outdoor courtyard that seats 38 people and features decorative brick flooring surrounded by floral murals by local artist Taylor Dlesk.
Credit: Provided.Chef Michael McCloud, who was previously chef de cuisine at the Tortoise Supper Club, is now at the kitchen’s helm.
The seasonal menu includes a 50/50 lamb and beef burger with pepper jelly, drunken goat cheese and arugula on a toasted brioche bun with house-cut Kennebec fries, as well as steak tartare with house-made mustard, pumpernickel toast and egg yolk.
There are also lighter and vegetarian options, including farro and arugula salad with fig vinaigrette and goat cheese croutons, and grilled romaine topped with anchovy-preserved lemon vinaigrette and shaved American grana cheese.
The bar has 35 hard ciders, 20 craft beers on tap and a new cocktail each Friday.
Some of the cocktails incorporate ciders like the Papa’s Brew, which has bourbon, maple syrup and seasonal cider.
Credit: Provided.Cobblestone will host a free monthly variety show at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month. They will be produced by musician Sebastian “Sabi” Thomas.
Below are Cobblestone’s cocktail and dinner menus. The brunch menu will return in August.
Credit: Provided.
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