Kevin Hickey Leaving Allium, Four Seasons

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Sep 26, 2013 4:45PM

One of Chicago's most underrated chefs is on the move. Kevin Hickey, who has earned high praise the past couple years at Allium in the Four Seasons Chicago, announced he's leaving effective Oct. 1 to tackle a couple projects—one of them in the neighborhood where he was born and still lives.

The first project on Hickey's agenda is an unnamed restaurant at 441 N. Clark Street with Billy Dec's Rockit Ranch Productions. That was the site of the much-maligned Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ that opened earlier this year. Hickey said in a press release the unnamed restaurant will open in the fall.

The project that captured our attention, however, is The Duck Inn, a restaurant and bar in Bridgeport Hickey said will be open in Spring 2014. Hickey offered no details on The Duck Inn but it will be located at 2701 S. Eleanor St., the site of a former Bridgeport bar called the Gem Bar. DNAInfo Chicago reported in July that a liquor license application was filed for the address and Hickey was listed as a managing partner.

Hickey was born, raised and still lives in Bridgeport and The Duck Inn, when it opens, will be another addition to a growing number of quality restaurants in the South Side neighborhood. Prior to Allium, Hickey managed Seasons, the Four Seasons' fine dining restaurant.