Bucktown Gem Sets a Sparkling Example

Off the beaten path, Jane’s Restaurant has flourished in its first 11 years by offering reasonably priced eclectic fare in a cozy environment. And just like its seasonally revolving menu, the restaurant itself continues to evolve. The addition of a second dining room, which opened August 15, only adds to the allure of this Bucktown favorite.

The hard-earned reputation of Jane’s, located at 1653–1655 West Cortland Street, has been a mixed blessing. While a devoted clientele made the place a success early-on with its word-of-mouth praise, the restaurant’s small seating capacity—admittedly one of its charms—sometimes made it difficult to accommodate larger parties. The challenge was to expand while maintaining the restaurant’s integrity and intimate feel.

The floors of the new room are dark espresso-stained oak, with an area of crème white marble mosaic surrounding the Calcutta marble bar. The tables, too, are also stained espresso and are accompanied by wrought-iron chairs as well as an ultra-moderne white vynil banquette on the western wall.

The room is painted in creamy shades with a tin ceiling, detailed moulding and several crystal chandeliers including a grand Capiz chandelier for the finishing touch. The design culminates in a cappucino effect: warm, rich, modern, yet classic. One might even say subtly sweet. It is in part due to the soothing surroundings that Jane’s has long been a favorite spot for rehearsal dinners, engagements, anniversaries, birthday parties, and other watershed occasions, and the new space is well-suited to handling such events. The 1,200 square foot room—roughly the same area as the original dining room—can welcome up to 50 patrons seated or 80 standing. A modest platform in the front picture window doubles as a stage for small musical ensembles when necessary.

The expansion and renewal of Jane’s was overseen by Julie Greenwalt, Jane’s longtime general manager and co-owner, along with chef and co-owner Tony Recillas. The two have worked closely together since assuming ownership in 2000. For them, Jane’s is a labor of love.Greenwalt caught the hospitality bug at an early age from her mother who ran a small catering business out of their home in Des Moines. As she recalls, "I used to help her prep for parties all the time." Greenwalt began working as a waitress at Jane’s not long after it opened in 1994, and she recognized early on that it was a well-run establishment with obvious vision. When the opportunity arose for Greenwalt to manage and later own the eatery, it was not a difficult decision.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UPCOMING EVENTS AT JANE'S
Check back soon!

JANE'S FEATURES LOCAL ARTISTS
Currently showing Cindy Tomczyk

PAST ARTISTS
Jeff Zimmermann
Michael Everson
Armando Pedroso
Christopher Baxter
Sonya Gilbert

Artwork rotates seasonally. Contact Julie with ART in the subject for more info: julieatjanes@yahoo.com