Late-night spot East Room closed back in December 2019, but now co-owner Zack Eastman (Dorian's, Saved by the Max) is resurrecting the space as bar and bottle shop with a sprawling back patio. Appropriately named Easy Does It, the new addition to the neighborhood aims to be a casual, laid-back joint where folks can sip natural wines, local beers and specialty beverages.
Currently, the main draw is the impressive patio, which is situated in a parking lot behind the building at Medill and Milwaukee Avenues. Guests can grab a seat at one of 15 picnic tables that are spaced at least 6 feet apart to allow for proper social distancing. To ensure a seat, folks should make a reservation using Tock, which includes a $5 fee for hazard pay to allow Easy Does It to pay their staff a higher wage during the pandemic.
Once seated, guests can browse the menu and order entirely through their smartphones, with a variety of pours available by the glass and bottle with cheeky but accessible descriptions. The Cantalapiedra Lirondo is described as "sunny & zesty" with notes of pear, apple and apricot, while the Domaine Julien Cecillon syrah promises "a bolder red for the squad." Beer fans get lured in, too, thanks to a robust list of cans from the likes of Marz Community Brewing, Hopewell Brewing and Whiner Beer Co. Rounding out the menu are ciders, seltzers, house cocktails and a few non-alcoholic sippers.
Eventually, Easy Does It will transition business indoors to showcase a renovated interior that looks very different from its dimly-lit late-night predecessor, with a "light fresh and airy atmosphere designed to brighten the space and highlight the original architecture features of the building," according to a press release. Chicago-based design studio Just Coast is overseeing the bar's visual identity, which includes the patio, bottle shop and bar. For those who don't feel comfortable venturing out just yet, Easy Does It's digital bottle shop has plenty of picks for every budget—all available for pickup.
Easy Does It is open on Thursday from 4 to 10pm, Friday from 4 to 11pm, Saturday from noon to 11pm and Sunday from noon to 10pm. Take a look around the space below.
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