The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

Photos: What To Expect When The Riot Feast Opens This Weekend In Wicker Park

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 7, 2017 3:17PM

If you visited Saved By The Max while it was open, prepare yourself for a shock when you enter that Wicker Park pop-up's space now occupied by The Riot Feast. Where Saved By The Max was all bright lights and '80s neon, The Riot Feast is drenched in velvet curtains, low lighting and warm wood decor. The artist's rendering we shared earlier offered a hint of what to expect, but the final result is even better than we expected.

When you enter you'll pass by a hall of oddities, preparing you for the immersive experience that the Riot Fest and Saved By The Max teams have cooked up for diners over the next few months. In the main room, you have the option of taking a photo with some Riot Fest memorabilia, or taking a seat at the long community table in the middle of the room, or the handful of private tables dotting the perimeter.

If there is a central theme to the new restaurant—aside from the obvious retro sideshow feel—it is community. The layout encourages diners to get to know their neighbors and participate in a shared dining experience.

The menu is split between Openers (appetizers), Headliners (entrees), Encores (dessert), and The Nosh Pit (the bar menu including burgers, hot dogs, wings, and nachos). We haven't had a chance to sample the menu yet, but we already have our eyes on the Have Mercy! Cornbread that comes with little pats of butter molded in the visage of Riot fest patron saint John Stamos; and a helping of the Never Mind The Chicken, Here's The Funnel Cakes.

The Riot Feast celebrates their grand opening on July 8 and while tickets for this weekend are sold out, they will be allowing a limited number of walk-ins. You can reserve seating for the duration of The Riot Feast's run by picking up tickets here.