Sneak-Peek Inside The Bentley Tavern, Opening on Southport (PHOTOS)

After announcing the new concept in May, owners of The Bentley Tavern are prepping for their grand opening next week.

The new French bistro and brasserie-inspired restaurant sits on Lake View and Lincoln Park’s border at 2834 N. Southport Ave. Owner Brian Dohmen and executive chef Ian Flowers say they’re ready to bring the casual yet upscale atmosphere to the North Side.

Flowers—whose claims to fame are working at Wicker Park’s LOKal, 676 Restaurant & Bar inside The Omni Hotel and Lincoln Park’s Prost—plans to cook American food with a French feel.

“We’re trying to cater to the community,” said Bentley spokesperson Heidi Hageman. “It’ll be a place that’s classic, comfortable, simple and just back to basics.”

The Bentley Tavern will seat 100 people, with 50 of those seats on the two tree-lined outdoor patios. Flowers will just serve its dinner menu from 5-11 p.m. to start. There are plans to one day serve brunch, too.

As for the menu, appetizers like angelotti confit duck with crisp shallots and shiitake jus range from $10-$14. Soups and salads are between $7-$12, while “snacks” like a spice-rubbed spare rib with napa slaw range between $8-$10.

Entrees tend to be more upscale with surprises like a grilled cheese tomato and frites for $12 and the Bentley Burger with frites for $14. Higher-end entrees like the black cod with peppers and risotto runs for $22, with The Bentley Tavern’s most expensive item being the spring lamb rack with herb-glazed root vegetables and an arugula-shallot salad being $26.

Officials with The Bentley Tavern say they expect to open late next week after the city pushes through its final permits.