FINALLY!

It's here! It's a go! It's the new Red Lion front elevation for all to see.

After months of planning, meetings with the city, alderman, neighborhood groups, architect, green builders and contractors, the plans are in! So, a drum roll please! Announcing, the unveiling of the new Red Lion Pub! 2446 North Lincoln Avenue, will see a new "green" greystone building with two floors of restaurant, traditional pub with a larger, increased seating bar, cozy gas fireplace in the dining area, along with quiet drinking and dining snugs on the lower level. Upstairs, two distinct separate, traditional dining areas.

The traditional, red telephone booth, stained glass, brass fireplace and fireplace mantel along with the old, oak bar front will still grace the downstairs pub.

The second floor will feature another gas fireplace, built in bookshelves, antiques and acid etched mirrors from the old Red Lion.

We have kept the same basic configuration of the old restaurant and have added much needed updates from the 1880 original building. Bathrooms? Increased, new, wheelchair and women friendly!

The menu? Still wonderful, traditional pub grub downstairs and up. Fish 'n Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Ploughman's Lunch, Irish Stew, Sausage Rolls and Beef Guinness look forward to making their way back on the menu. We will have a larger, more upscale menu with increased wine selections on the second floor.

Remember when our kitchen closed at 11pm? With the new Red Lion Pub, we will be able to offer many items for the late nighter still wanting food at our downstairs bar. Devonshire spread, Cheese and Fruit plate along with our Irish Stew and Shepherd's Pie will be a late night staple and available for our patrons even after the kitchen closes.

So, this is just a look at the new Red Lion Pub. More details and views to come in the next few weeks.

For those of you wish to keep updated, please keep checking back to this blog or join us for continued Red Lion meet-ups at The Skyline Lounge, 6th Floor, DANK-Haus Chicago, 4740 North Western Avenue. The DANK-Haus has been very generous in allowing Red Lion regulars to "meet-up" in their wonderful, Lincoln Square building. The "regulars meet-up" is every second and fourth Wednesday evening. Pull up a bar stool, view the gorgeous views and sunsets from the sixth floor of the DANK-Haus and meet up with some great people!

Keep you posted and thank you for all your support over the years.