Bridge House Tavern opens in former Flatwater space

This weekend, temperatures are supposed to inch close to 70 degrees, a phenomenon Chicagoans know as a Severe Heat Wave. Usually such circumstances would mean one thing for the after-work crowd: Hitting up Flatwater, a mediocre bar/restaurant with an unparalleled riverside location and an amazing view.

But Flatwater, you may have heard, is no longer around. As of this week, a new spot is in that space: Bridge House Tavern (321 N Clark Street, 312-644-0283).

"This is a brand new space, a brand new concept," says one of the owners, Ryan See. That concept: "Industrial Tavern." To achieve it, See and his partners renovated the interior, giving the space all new lighting, all new acoustical tiles, and a new audio/video system. The only thing they kept: The remarkable patio space (which See says is the only bar patio where boats are allowed to dock).

That means that Bridge House has a whole new menu, too. It was developed by chef-owner Mark Hemmer, who put in time at Uptown's Magnolia Café, and it's got a lot of stuff Flatwater didn't, such as offerings from the Butcher & Larder and Green City Market. See the entire menu, after the jump.

Things To Share
Popcorn – honey, bacon, jalapeño, and smoked salt  4
Tavern Fries - sauce béarnaise, bacon aioli, ketchup, remoulade  8
Mussels – orange, poblano, chives, shaved serrano, grilled baguette  10
Pig Wings - buttermilk ranch, bbq, maytag celery root slaw  12
Bruschetta – sundried tomato, white beans, goat cheese, chive, balsamic glaze  9
Charcuterie – featuring Butcher & Larder, house pickles, grilled baguette stone ground mustard   16
Cheese Board – an assortment of local cheeses, honey, spiced nuts, fresh fruit, grilled baguette  14
Shrimp Cocktail – 5 jumbo tiger prawns, BHT cocktail sauce, lemon, greens  12
Smoked Salmon On Toast – mascarpone, parsley salad, chive crème, melted red onion, toast  11
Oysters – sold by the ½ dozen, with BHT cocktail sauce and chili lime mignonette
Blue Point – MA.   Each  2
Kumamoto – Humboldt Bay, CA.  Each  3

Soup
Beer Cheese – Guinness, chive batons, paprika, pretzel croutons  8
 
Greenery
Wedge – Nueske bacon, roasted tomatoes, hard egg, onion trio, bleu cheese  7/14
Caesar – smoked sardine and roasted tomato bruschetta, homemade caesar  7/14
Spinach – roasted beets, goat cheese, spicy pecans, pork chips, sunny egg, strawberry vin  13
Shaved Salad – cauliflower, fennel, radish, pickled onion, ricotta crouton, citrus vin  10
Garden – garden greens, feta, herb croutons, pomegranate soaked apples, mint, lemon, garlic, olive oil  9
Add Chicken  3       Add Shrimp  6

Between The Bread
All sandwiches are served with a side of fries or salad
Salmon BLT – smoked salmon spread, bacon, roasted tomatoes, arugula, ciabatta, bacon milkshake  12
Turkey – smoked turkey, apple frisee slaw, blackberry horseradish aioli, country wheat  11
Grilled Cheese – brie, fontina, cheddar, bacon, tomato, tomato jam  10
Po’boy –  3 fried tiger prawns, celery root slaw, remoulade, french roll  13
Bridge House Burger – 10oz of Meyer’s farm special blend, American cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, potato bun, tavern pickles  14
 
Big Things
Fish Sticks – fresh white fish tempura, house tartar sauce, malt vinegar, tavern fries  18
Tavern Chicken – ½ Roasted free range organic, Anson Mills grits, herb butter pan sauce  22
Steak Frites –  10 oz grilled hanger, tavern fries, sauce béarnaise, crispy shallots, truffle oil  26
Prime Rib of Pork – smoked center cut 2 bone chop, apple maple jus, Nueske bacon mac n’ cheese  29
Whole Lake Trout – Green City Market veggies, Pernod butter, fennel herb salad  24
Linguini – roasted tomatoes, grilled veggies, black garlic parm sauce, crumbled croutons  16
Add Chicken 3      Add Shrimp 6
 
Sides  6
Anson Mills Grits
Grilled Broccolini
Fries
Nueske bacon mac ‘n cheese
Green City Market Veggie Side Salad