Boka Will Soon Unveil an 8-Seat Omakase Restaurant
Boka's foray into intimate Japanese dining, driven by seasonality and chef curation, is a big transformation for the previous tenant. Milk Room, founded by star bartender Paul McGee, was a tiny bar where guests enjoyed rare, vintage spirits and custom cocktails.
Chef Brian Lockwood will be in charge of Midōsuji's menu. In February, Boka announced its first project with Lockwood. A rep confirms Gingie is on track for a fall inside the former GT Prime space in River North. The Boulder, Colorado, native has worked in some of the world's most esteemed kitchens, including the French Laundry, El Celler De Can Roca, and Eleven Madison Park. At Midōsuji, he'll use classical French techniques on Japanese ingredients to create dishes such as sansho pepper duck and crab salad with daikon and miso egg yolk. There will also be a rotating selection of hand rolls.
On the beverage front, expect wines, sakes, and signature cocktails like a tomato water martini, as well as Japanese spirits infused with lemongrass, sesame, and more.
Midōsuji is the first change coming to the dining lineup inside the Michigan Avenue hotel this year. Boka took over from Land & Sea Dept. earlier this year as the operator of the CAA's restaurants. That left the fate of several places up in the air. Rooftop restaurant and bar Cindy's, a perennial hot spot offering views of Millennium Park and the lake from the building's 13th floor, has stayed the course — albeit without Top Chef alum Kaleena Bliss at the helm. Game Room, a bar area with pool tables, and the Drawing Room, the second-floor lobby space, have remained open as well. The CAA also still houses Shake Shack and Fairgrounds outposts. However, Cherry Circle Room, a classic wood-paneled American restaurant, closed after the switchover to Boka, and a successor has yet to be announced.
Boka's portfolio continues to steadily grow in 2025. In March, the group opened Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna in River North. Boka is no stranger to Japanese cuisine. Beyond its two sushi spots, Boka has run a bar below Momotaro called the Izakaya.
Midōsuji, on the second floor of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S. Michigan Avenue, opening in late summer or early fall.
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