The Aviary (bar)

The Aviary is a craft cocktail bar in Chicago, Illinois. The bar is part the Alinea Group, in of the same "culinary universe" as Alinea, run by Michelin-starred chef Grant Achatz.[1]

The Aviary
Restaurant information
Established2011 (2011)
Owner(s)Alinea Group
Street address955 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates41.886499°N 87.652015°W / 41.886499; -87.652015
Websitewww.theaviary.com

The Aviary is known as one of the world's best bars.[2] It is centered around molecular gastronomy, with prominent scientific and culinary influence in its drinks.[3]

Attributes and history

The bar takes the food world's fine-dining approach into its bar program, with elements of molecular gastronomy, custom glassware and other serviceware, and an evolving seasonal menu, all allowing for unique drinks which have changed how drinks are presented worldwide. The bar also includes a separate room where an "ice chef" prepares custom ice cubes for drinks.[1] The bartenders are treated like chefs, and work in a fenced-in "cocktail kitchen".[2]

The bar is within the restaurant Next, in Chicago's Fulton Market District, part of the West Loop neighborhood. Another bar in the space, The Office, is a 22-seat speakeasy-style bar situated directly beneath The Aviary.[1]

The Aviary has several ordering methods, including an à la carte menu, a three-course cocktail tasting, a five-course tasting, and a seven-course "kitchen table experience". The three-course menu starts with delicate drinks and progresses to richer items. The five-course menu includes food with the drinks, prepared by the chefs and bar team to accompany the cocktails. The seven-course tasting is served in the restaurant's kitchen, and includes food and reportedly the best cocktails The Aviary can offer.[1]

The bar is considered a destination cocktail establishment.[4]

History

The Aviary bar opened in 2011.[2]

In 2017, the bar released its first cookbook, The Aviary Cocktail Book, self-published and funded via Kickstarter. The funding move was reported by Eater as unusual given that publishers would have accepted the work, and Achatz has already published several books through reputable publishers. Business partner Nick Kokonas cited the financial benefits for Aviary; that traditional publication would ensure high production costs and profits divided between the publisher and author, making the books little more than "good publicity". Kokonos wrote an article for Medium to explain his decision, saying in part that publishers do not offer cookbook authors good deals.[5]

In 2019, one of the bar's employees spit on Eric Trump, businessman and son of then-U.S. president Donald Trump.[6][7] The employee was arrested and detained for two hours, and immediately put on leave; Trump declined to file charges. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot denounced the incident as "repugnant", regardless of any politics.[8] The bar released a statement that day calling the incident "unfortunate" and something that should not happen, and that the company would investigate.[9]

Second location

From 2017 to 2020, The Aviary and The Office opened secondary locations in New York City, on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, taking over and doing a complete remodel of the former Lobby Lounge and MoBar spaces. The bars had been in development for three prior years.[2][10] The space was noted for its "sweeping" view of Central Park, what The New York Times referred to as a perch for a bird's-eye view, making The Aviary finally live up to its name.[11]

The two bars closed in 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Reception

The bar has won several awards and titles, including being named 13th best bar in the world, in The World's 50 Best Bars publication in 2014.[12] It made 39th in 2016.[13] It won a James Beard Foundation Award, "Outstanding Bar Program", in 2013.[14]

In 2017, Eater titled it "Chicago's coolest cocktail bar"[5] and one of the city's essential bars. The publication also stated that The Aviary is considered one of the best bars in the world.[2]

TimeOut reviewed it with four out of five stars in 2015.[15]

References
  1. "Tried and Tested Review: The Aviary Bar, West Loop, Chicago". Business Traveler USA. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  2. Dai, Serena (2017-03-06). "Holy Crap: Revolutionary Chicago Cocktail Bar The Aviary Is Opening in NYC". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  3. Wondrich, David; Rothbaum, Noah, eds. (2021). The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails. Oxford University Press. p. 176. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199311132.001.0001. ISBN 9780199311132. OCLC 1260690923.
  4. Adams, Erika (2020-04-21). "Alinea's Upscale NYC Cocktail Bars Are Permanently Closing". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  5. Galarza, Daniela (2017-05-01). "Aviary, Chicago's Coolest Cocktail Bar, Is Kickstarting a Cookbook". Eater. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  6. "Eric Trump says he was spit on by an employee at a Chicago cocktail bar". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  7. Smith, Mitch (2019-06-26). "Waitress Spit on Eric Trump at Chicago Bar, Trump Organization Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  8. Selvam, Ashok (2019-06-28). "Chicago Mayor Calls Eric Trump Spitting Incident a 'Repugnant' Assault". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  9. Bremer, Shelby (2019-06-26). "Chicago Bar Whose Employee Spit on Eric Trump Releases Statement". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  10. Jacobs, Sarah. "One of America's best chefs just opened a cocktail bar with drinks like nothing else you've seen". Business Insider. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  11. Simonson, Robert (2017-08-25). "A New York Perch for Aviary, Chicago's High-Concept Bar". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  12. "Aviary, Three Dots and a Dash among world's 50 best bars". Chicago Tribune. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  13. "Chicago's The Aviary makes Best Bars in the World 2016 list". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  14. Neveau •, James (15 November 2017). "Chicago Establishment Named as One of Best Bars in the World". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  15. Cavanaugh, Amy (4 March 2015). "The Aviary". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
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