Atelier is an American restaurant in Chicago's Lincoln Square (4835 N. Western Ave.)[1].
Overview
The name comes from the word for an artist's studio. It was opened in 2023 by owner Tim Lacey on the former site of the fine-dining restaurant Elizabeth. Its first chef, Christian Hunter, previously worked at Community Table in Connecticut and was a 2023 James Beard Award finalist. The roughly 22-seat restaurant served a 12- to 14-course tasting menu built on ingredients from small Midwestern farms, with the menu changing weekly and even nightly; the cooking blended global influences with Hunter's Kentucky upbringing. After Hunter left in 2024, Bradyn Kawcak took over as chef; the restaurant moved to a larger space on the same street (4544 N. Western Ave.) in October 2025 and closed in May 2026 due to financial difficulties.
Dishes & Highlights
- Warm clam chowder with lamb bacon and chive oil — the signature dish singled out in MICHELIN Guide's review
- Familiar dishes such as marinated beets, pimento cheese and Caesar salad remodeled and refined
- The tasting menu was priced at about $190 in 2023
Honors
The MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2023 listed Atelier among its one-star restaurants, with the official PDF giving the address as 4835 N. Western Ave., Chicago, 60625. The guide marked it as a new starred restaurant that year. The official review noted that chef Christian Hunter's team presented a farm-supported tasting menu in creative ways; the warm clam chowder with lamb bacon and chive oil was specially mentioned.[1]
Practical Information
- Address: 4835 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625 (relocated to 4544 N. Western Ave. in October 2025; now closed)
- Cuisine: American
- Price: $$$$ (per MICHELIN Guide)
[1]: MICHELIN Guide, “MICHELIN Guide 2023 - New York, Chicago and Washington - A new three-MICHELIN-Star restaurant,” 2023-11-08, linked PDF, pp. 1-2, 8.