On Sept. 14, The Omni hotel’s Olives Martini and Cigar Bar plans to reopen as Severin Bar (40 W. Jackson Place). The generically named bar might sound ho-hum, but a sneak peek at the space and the menu is leaving us rather hopeful.
The 80-seat space has a more open and modern feel, with of-the-moment accents: reclaimed wood, chalkboard walls, communal tables, and mustard-colored furniture. The Omni tapped the talents of award-winning Chicago mixologist and advanced sommelier Adam Seger to consult on the beverage menu. Expect classic craft cocktails, Indiana beers and California wines. The bar will be fitted with eight taps, serving up a well-edited selection of craft brews, including Flat12 Bierwerks, Sun King, Upland, Triton, Three Floyds, and Four Horsemen. As for the cocktails, the 17 or so drinks look superb–from a Manhattan made with Harrison Bourbon, Dolin Blanc appellation vermouth, Hum botanical spirits, homemade maraschinos, and Jerry Thomas bitters to an Amped Up Mule, made with pear-flavored vodka, Fever Tree ginger beer, lime, and rosemary.
For food, the roster of starters will range from Bacon Picks (Gunthorp Farms bacon cleverly skewered with custom sauces) to boards of pickled vegetables, Indiana cheeses and meats. Big-plate entrees include Open Face Gunthorp Pigwich (smoked sausage, bacon, and ham hock with a red relish) and Apple Butta’ Backyard BBQ Burger (Sun King Brewery onion rings, slaw, bacon, Fair Oaks Farms cheddar on a pretzel roll).
