Food truck expands into restaurant site
Feb. 15, 2023
Owners of a food truck inspired by neighborhood restaurants in Chicago have expanded to open their own neighborhood restaurant.
DaShawn and Samantha Lewis of Windy City Bites have leased the former Randle’s Kitchen space at 114 N. Indiana Ave. on the east side of downtown. They’re opening Windy City Bites Bar & Grill today with limited hours, including some lunchtimes, for the rest of the month while they get used to working in the new space.
“We are keeping the original name, still Windy City Bites,” said Samantha Lewis, who is a native of Chicago along with her husband. “We plan to operate the food truck for larger events in the summer, not doing too many. Staffing is what we have to figure out first. Once we figure that out, we’ll do the larger events.”
They started the food truck in late 2020, operating out of a refurbished camper, and bought a different trailer last summer.
In the restaurant, they’re planning to offer the same menu as the food truck and add to it “as we go,” DaShawn Lewis said. Their signature items include Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, chicken wings and catfish nuggets. He has family from Jamaica, so there are Caribbean influences on the menu like jerk chicken.
In an interview after they opened the food truck, Samantha talked about the restaurants they love to visit when they’re back in Chicago and how that inspired their menu. It’s those neighborhood spots “where it’s more fast food, made to order. They throw it together, and it’s quick and good. … It’s those little restaurants where they drop it into the fryer, get it on the grill, and get it ready quick,” she said in late 2020.
Last month, Windy City Bites participated in the Downtown Burger Battle, operating at Covert Artisan Ales & Cellars, and their Son of Zeus, a Greek-inspired burger, will be on the menu, minus the feta fries.
“It’s going to be a family dinner place from 3 to 9 p.m. during the week, and Friday and Saturday after 9 p.m., it will be more of a bar atmosphere,” DaShawn Lewis said. He envisions those hours as a gathering spot with more of a “middle-age vibe; I’m thinking 27 and older.”
The space has a pool table, and they’re planning to add a dart board. There are several TV screens, and they’ll usually be showing sporting events. The restaurant has seating for 40, mostly at tables, but there are a couple of booths. Delivery is available through third-party services.
They’ve applied for a beer and wine license, with a hearing next week, and plan to include local craft beers.
“Bar-food” additions will include fried mushrooms, cheese curds and chislic, DaShawn Lewis said.
With the food truck, the Lewises occasionally offered Soul Food Sunday menus with dishes like the fried catfish nuggets, cornbread, greens, mac-and-cheese and candied yams. They envision doing that sometimes in the restaurant, along with a Jamaican-style brunch.
Windy City Bites will continue to offer catering and will be available for smaller events too, Samantha Lewis said.
The couple’s goal has been to move into a storefront.
“The opportunity presented itself at the right time, and everything lined up to work out for it,” DaShawn Lewis said.
They’re planning to hold a grand opening after the beer and wine license is approved.
To find their temporary schedule, check the Windy City Bites Facebook page.
