iNG Permanently Closes Its Doors Tomorrow Night

By Lisa White in Food on May 23, 2014 6:30PM

Saying goodbye is always bittersweet and it is no different in the restaurant world. But knowing where to focus your business and pulling the plug instead of fading away is always the higher road to take. So we understood reasoning when we received word from Chef and Owner Homaro Cantu that his experimental and playful smaller restaurant iNG would be shutting its doors for good after service tomorrow evening.

Cantu opened iNG back in 2011, using it as vehicle to play with his 'Miracle Berry' and create a less formal and tongue-in-cheek establishment compared to his fine dining offerings at moto next door. Time has passed and Cantu has many irons in many fires, including working on his upcoming Berrista Coffee shop, continuing his studies of indoor farming at moto and forays into other projects combining cuisine and science. It's no surprise that the time has come to streamline focus and trim the fat in a way, since there are only so many hours in a day.

We received the following statement from Cantu in regards to iNG's closing:

"After a great run, iNG Restaurant will be closing after service on Saturday, May 24th. We want to thank our employees and diners, who we consider part of our family, for their support and the many great memories we shared over the years. iNG employees did receive advance notice of the closing, allowing them time to find new jobs which was my main priority. We remain committed to the great city of Chicago, the culinary community and our guests at Michelin-starred Moto. In addition to Moto, I am busy working on my next new concepts, including Berrista Coffee in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood, which is scheduled to open in early fall 2014, as well as other exciting projects to be announced in the near future."

Head over to iNG today and tomorrow to toast the fine and fun work the staff has put out over the years. We look forward to seeing what other crazy concoctions and projects Chef Cantu and team have up their sleeve.