Tasty and tuneful new eateries in Harbor Country
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New Buffalo Michigan's PostBoy became a James Beard semi-finalist this year. Photos: Monica Eng/Axios
Folks traveling to Harbor Country for the first time in a couple of years will find some delicious surprises from Chicagoans who've opened some of the coolest new spots in the area.
- They include a James Beard-nominated restaurant and a gas station-turned-wine bar/music venue.
PostBoy
Chicago native Ben Holland teamed up with chef James Galbraith — who staged at Blackbird, Boka, Elske and Big Kids — to open this airy, globally inspired eatery in the winter of 2024.
- By 2026, the restaurant was named a James Beard Award semifinalist.
The vibe: Beachy, breezy and open with a huge patio and DJ sets steps from an Amtrak stop that delivers Chicagoans to New Buffalo at least a couple times a day.
Top eats: Crispy fried biang biang shrimp ($23) with ginger and bok choy, spicy watermelon salad with cotija and cucumbers ($18), an excellent double smashburger ($21), a complex tuna tostada ($19) and my favorite, the roasted sweet potato topped with tahini, raisins, feta and crunchy chickpeas ($17).
Extras: Enjoy live music and morning fitness classes by Chicago's Bian on the patio.
The intrigue: When I called to say I was running late for my 1:45pm reservation, an (AI?) operator told me they'd hold my table for just 15 minutes. But when I arrived almost on time, I found dozens of empty tables and no such pressure.
The bottom line: Expect inventive fare in handsome, friendly surroundings. But be prepared for Chicago prices.
Out There Wine Bar
In 2024, Chicago creatives Molly Kobelt, Penny Duff and Michael Slaboch aimed to launch a bar that felt like "the low-key house party of our dreams."
- Somehow, they've achieved it in a 1955 Shell station on Red Arrow Highway in Sawyer.
The vibe: Low-key house party, for sure, with a laid-back playlist, breezy indoor-outdoor seating, a funky, global wine and gift shop and welcoming servers.
The eats: Seasonal oysters ($36 per dozen), "fish & chips" ($14) featuring kettle chips with smoked trout roe and crème fraîche, lentil salad with beets and goat cheese ($16) and spicy popcorn topped with nutritional yeast ($7).
The drinks: A carefully curated wine selection, aperol spritz ($13), craft beers ($8) and a nonalcoholic selection ($3-$10).
Extras: LPs played on a vintage hi-fi, a summer DJ series (with Metro's Joe Shanahan in September) and intimate concerts featuring the likes of the Sun Ra Arkestra in the past.
- Plus, a wine and record club where these hipsters will pick selections for you each month.