Uncommon Ground To Open Spacious Second Restaurant Early December on Devon at Glenwood

Adding momentum to Chicago's burgeoning green movement, the owners of Uncommon Ground are set to open their second restaurant and music venue in early December at 1401 W. Devon (telephone: 773-465-9801) near Loyola University.

Husband and wife owners Michael and Helen Cameron purchased the building on the corner of Devon and Glenwood and have extensively rehabbed the space, adding eco-friendly roof top solar thermal panels. The Camerons plan to transform the spacious 2500 sq. ft. roof-top into a production garden featuring sustainably grown organic herbs and produce.

The restaurant exudes an eco-friendly philosophy and a natural beauty throughout. For example, the dining rooms are furnished with handsome wood table tops made with reclaimed wood from downed trees at Chicago’s Jackson Park.

Like its flagship Wrigleyville location at 3800 N. Clark Street (celebrating 16 years on July 1), the new venue will feature all-day and nighttime dining, live music and art-oriented events.

Helen’s passion is solidly grounded in cooking, Mike’s in music. Helen, considered by many of her customers to be a visionary, has been quietly serving local sustainable food at the Clark Street location since its inception. Mike has built a music venue that is highly respected both locally and nationally and has become a spawning ground for many a rising national star. For musical artists, a performance at Uncommon Ground is a coveted opportunity to gain recognition and artistic credibility.

The Camerons are a modest couple who are, nonetheless, deeply committed to their mission of serving delicious, healthy food in a community-spirited environment. They have never sought publicity and, in fact, Uncommon Ground has rarely been reviewed. They have humbly and conscientiously built a successful 16-year-old institution with a passionate, loyal following. Unfortunately the general public has often misperceived Uncommon Ground as simply a coffeehouse with live music. While the Camerons do have an inspired coffee menu and serve excellent, locally produced Intelligentsia Coffee on Clark Street—they will serve Metropolis Coffee (an Edgewater neighbor) at the new location—they understand that the name Uncommon Ground can mean many things to many people. It’s their hope that the Devon location will shed new light on what they’ve been doing all along. With its beautiful décor and excellent fare, the new location should quickly set things straight.

The food has always been the biggest draw among loyal customers.

Even out-of-town guests find their way to Uncommon Ground for excellent food. The thoughtful and delicious menu will feature American comfort cuisine with uncommon twists by Executive Chef Brian Millman (Think, Everest Room) who will run both kitchens, with Sous Chef Matt Ronan handling day-to-day kitchen operations on Clark Street.

Locals who frequent the Clark street location will appreciate the long-time favorites offered at the new. Signature dishes include Black Cat espresso and cocoa nib-rubbed American Buffalo Rib-eye with hand cut Yukon Gold Potatoes and Sweet Onion Marmalade ($24); Compart Family Farm (MN) Duroc Bone-in Pork Chop with seedling ginger pear glaze, sage pear salsa and Green Acres Butternut Squash Risotto ($19); Chorizo Stuffed Cumin and Coriander Crusted Naturally Raised Chicken Breast with Chipotle Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, mixed peppers and tomatillo crème ($18); Pistachio-crusted Tilapia with crab and red pepper Israeli couscous, blistered tomatoes with orange reduction ($18), and Pumpkin Ravioli with sage and brown butter crème sauce, with toasted hazelnuts, blue cheese and flash fried sage ($16).

Signature desserts include creations by local pastry chefs Paula Haney (Hoosier Mama), Nancy Depondt (Maude’s Organic Chocolate Cake), and Jessica Oloroso (Black Dog Gelato) – all desserts are $7 each.

The restaurant will offer 150 seats including a separate dining and bar area featuring a 100-year-old art deco bar and comfortable lounge seating. Drinks will feature house made infusions using organic liquor. There will be a focus on biodynamic and sustainable wines, as well as organic and locally produced beers.

In addition to great food, Uncommon Ground is known for giving local artists a prized venue to display their works. Art showings typically run for two to three months. The first showing at the new location is by photographer Troy Burt and features farmscape photography taken in a moving car and displayed in reclaimed barn wood frames. Permanent art can be scene in the bathrooms where three local artists show off their talents. Featured are mosaic artists Heather Hancock and Denise Milito-Stockwell, as well as art doors by Erika Jane Huntzinger.

The music program expands to encompass international musical styles.

While the design and artistic touches give the new Uncommon Ground a warm and homey feel, it’s the food and entertainment that will secure their position as a must try for 2008. The live music schedule is a still a work in progress; however the room is loaded with a high tech, state of the art sound system designed by notable Jonathan P. Laney who also designed the sound environment at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.



The Camerons recently and enthusiastically hired David Chavez, formerly the music director of HotHouse, to be the new music program director. While Uncommon Ground will continue to be a regular showcase for cutting edge, emerging indie/rock/pop bands, Chavez plans to add an international flavor to the music programming. Tentative plans call for Uncommon Ground to feature regular Brazilian nights, an African music series that will highlight African culture, a World Jazz series that will explore the fusion of traditional jazz with global ethnic musical disciplines, regular AfroCuban and Caribbean dance nights, international and local World music artists, and a "Critical Selector DJ Series" that will put music critics, music programmers, label owners, and producers in the city behind the turntables for an interesting listening experience.

Next year, the Camerons plan to start a local school program to educate neighborhood school children about local, healthy and home grown food. They are working with The Organic Gardener’s Jeanne Pinsof Nolan (who also operates the Edible Gardens at Lincoln Park Zoo for Green City Market) and Growing Powers’ Erika Allen to design the roof top garden and build a volunteer program. A longtime admirer of Alice Water’s, Helen hopes to do her share by teaching children how eating local, healthy food is good for them and the environment.

One thing is certain: the Cameron’s will continue to make Uncommon Ground exactly what its name implies: an uncommon place for people to gather and enjoy healthy, good food; appreciate good music by burgeoning artists, and appreciate fine art and all of life’s joy. Together with friends and family, the Cameron’s will create a second environment and experience that’s hard to capture in words.

As with the original location, Uncommon Ground on Devon will be open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to midnight and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m. daily. Lunch is served until 5 p.m. daily. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. and is served until closing (the Clark Street location opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday). The Devon location has a parking lot, which will double as a site for outside events in the summer.