Tap House Grill Coming to Palatine This Fall

There’s a new ‘Gastro Pub’ coming to town. Tap House Grill was unanimously approved by the Palatine Village Council at its meeting Monday.

A special use variation was approved by the council to allow for occasional live entertainment at the restaurant. Approved also was a lease agreement with Village Manager Reid Ottesen - and a redevelopment agreement with Mayor Jim Schwantz, with Tap House Grill owners Scott Ward and Mark Zych, of Restaurants America.

The restaurant also was approved for a liquor license. 

The Village of Palatine owns the former Mia Cucina property at 56 W. Wilson Street, and Tap House Grill will act as a tenant before the new owners have the option to purchase the property after ten years of leasing it.

“Tap House Grill will be responsible for all property taxes and maintenance; there is an option [for Tap House Grill] to purchase the property after 10 years,” Ottesen said.

Among the maintenance responsibilities will be snow removal, parking lot maintenance and regular maintenance inside the 8,500 square foot property.  

Ottesen gave some background on the history of the building, stating after the lagging economy quelled potential development proposals, the village actively pursued finding owners for the property over the last five years. Palatine purchased it after being approached by the former owners of Mia Cucina when they decided to close their doors in 2006.

“We listed the property with Cornerstone Real Estate, and a number of concepts came forward. Tap House Grill is interested in taking the entire property - they are willing to step up and invest $1.5 million to redevelop it,” Ottesen said.

Ward and Zych plan to not only open the restaurant at the location, but bring their corporate headquarters there as well.

Mayor Schwantz asked about the loss of train commuter parking spots that are currently located in the property’s parking lot. Ottesen said there is plenty of parking throughout the downtown area to compensate for the loss of spaces.

“There are parking vacancies. The village owns parking lots that sit by-and-large, empty, with a total of 426 spaces under village control and ownership, on streets and in parking lots, he said.

Ward then discussed the Tap House Grill concept.  

“We will be more of a family restaurant, we’re known as a main street concept,” Ward said. “Examples of the menu include deep fried bacon, pork belly tacos and drunken shrimp. We will have 40 taps, with rotating local and non-local micro-brews, and Sprecher’s Root beer for the kids.”

The color scheme will mirror the Merlot and gold that exists in the other Tap House Grill locations in St. Charles, Glen Ellyn, Oswego, Westmont, Plainfield and Highwood.

Ward said exposed wood and brick will also be part of the inner décor.

The hours of operations will be Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.

Lunch and dinner - along with a late night segment - will be served in the future 310 seat restaurant.

Over the next several months, Zych said a new roof, plumbing and a new bar will be installed, among other renovations.

The restaurant is planned to open by early October.