Chicago's FAME Unveils New Cocktail Program, Menu & More

FAME - the mixology and art-focused bar and restaurant located at 2015 W Division St in Wicker Park designed by HGTV's Antonio Ballatore - will unveil a completely revamped cocktail program, an expanded food menu with larger portions and lower prices, and new art installations including a Banksy print that will all roll out on Thursday, February 20. "We've been successful since our opening over the summer, but we really want to up our cocktail program and move away from liquor infusions that dominated our previous menu and become more craft focused," FAME managing partner Brad Gold said. "We want to give our guests more value and more options when it comes to our food, too. Plus, we have this great space so we wanted to take better advantage of it by showcasing our incredible art to amp up the experience for everyone." A PDF of the overhauled FAME cocktail, food, wine, and beer menus is attached to this press release.

COCKTAILS, WINES & BEERS FAME's all new cocktail menu has nine seasonal offerings ranging from $9 to $11. Highlights include the 15 Minutes Of Fame (Journeyman gin, fresh lime, Aperol, house jalapeno syrup), Almost Famous (Espolón tequila, fresh lime juice, Angostura bitters, house cinnamon syrup & shaken with blueberry jam), and Smooth Operator (Pisco infused with roasted granny smith apples, egg white, fresh lime juice, Angostura bitters) FAME's beer program features five mass-market beers (like Hamm's for $3) by the bottle and can, 11 All-American craft beers (from Three Floyds, Lagunitas, Dogfish Head, Two Brothers, Metropolitan, Founders, etc) by the bottle, and two seasonal drafts. FAME also features 18 different sparkling, red, rose, white, and sherry wines available by the bottle and by the glass.

FAME will also feature rotating daily beer & shot combinations for $5 like a Hamm's can with a Templeton Rye shot.

FOOD
FAME has reduced the prices and upped the portions of its standout small bar bites menu such as its Italian Beef Dumplings, BBQ Pork Egg Rolls, and Tuna "Nachos". FAME has is also adding traditional salads to its menu for the first time with three offerings: Jerk Chicken Caesar, FAME Chopped Salad, and a Caprese Salad. Four new sandwich and burger options are also on the menu including the FAME Burger (double beer patty with crispy plantains, white cheddar cheese curds, American cheese, Sriracha aioli, and BBQ sauce served with steak fries). FAME is also adding larger and heartier dinner options via five "Knife & Fork" entrees such as breaded and fried chicken thighs over a cheesy polenta waffle smothered in gravy with asparagus and mixed mushrooms; braised lamb shank with an apple brandy drizzle; and a bone-in pork chop with mango salsa. FAME also has three brand new dessert options including "Fortune Cookie Fried Ice Cream" topped with raspberry and chocolate sauce. FAME will roll out a special $5 food menu available between 5pm & 7pm each day that include grilled cheese with tomato basil soup, mini fish tacos, flatbreads, ramen, and Italian beef dumplings options.

ART
Modern Multiples Fine Art Studios from Los Angeles has curated a brand new 15-piece art installation along the 2,000 square feet of walls at FAME. All of the brand new pieces - which will stay up at FAME for six months - retail for a combined $30,000. (FAME does not make any commission from any artwork sold). A PDF of new selected artwork at FAME is available upon request. The highlight of the new art installations at FAME include a licensed Banksy print of his work "Applause. The "Applause" Banksy piece is 33 inches by 49 inches and is on sale for $14,000. On the west wall at FAME there is a six-piece exhibit dubbed the "Highrise of Color and Movement" that's features future hand style pieces from Italian calligrapher Luca Barcellona and pieces of urban abstract by Haze. Other prints hanging at FAME are from artists like Futura, Mear One, Charlie Anderson, and Sonia Romero. FAME also had a permanent wheat paste art installation installed along its back north wall from artist Richard Duardo of Modern Multiples. The 25 foot by 10 foot installation is a one-of-a-kind pop art mural featuring the likes of Grace Slick, Bettie Page, Jimi Hendrix, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and others that also includes the quote "I'm A Loser. You're A Loser. Let's Hug." Acclaimed Chicago street artist Amuse 126 has also tagged the back walk-in coolers with Chicago centric themes.

About FAME: FAME is an art-centric bar located at 2015 W Division St (773-227-1110) located in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. FAME seats 76 people inside its sleek interior designed by HGTV's Antonio Ballatore. During the spring, summer and fall FAME sports 46 seats on its sidewalk café patio. FAME is closed on Mondays, open from 5pm until midnight on Tuesdays, open from 5pm until midnight on Wednesdays, open from 5pm until 2am on Thursdays, open from 5pm until 2am on Fridays, open from 5pm until 3am on Saturdays, and open from 5pm until midnight on Sundays.