SuSu, a new chef-driven Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian steakhouse, will officially open in Chicago’s West Loop on Friday, February 27th. Located in the storied former three MICHELIN-Starred Grace space, the new restaurant brings Lebanese and Assyrian traditions to beef-focused fine dining, layered with broader Mediterranean and Asian influences, a distinctive spirits and sake program, and vibrant after-hours energy.
THE TEAM
SuSu is backed by a duo of industry experts, Owner Paul Alqas and Operational Partner Chase Meyer, both involved in Lincoln Park’s Medi. Chef/Partner Alexander Willis (Hog & Hominy, Duisek’s Board & Beer, Moody Tongue) helms the kitchen, blending Lebanese family traditions, fine dining background, and time living in Asia into a Chicago steakhouse with a global perspective. General Manager and Beverage Director Max Shapiro brings leadership experience from some of the city’s most acclaimed hospitality groups, including The Alinea Group’s Roister and St. Clair Supper Club, etc., and After,
SuSu is backed by a duo of industry experts, Owner Paul Alqas and Operational Partner Chase Meyer, both involved in Lincoln Park’s Medi. Chef/Partner Alexander Willis (Hog & Hominy, Duisek’s Board & Beer, Moody Tongue) helms the kitchen, blending Lebanese family traditions, fine dining background, and time living in Asia into a Chicago steakhouse with a global perspective. General Manager and Beverage Director Max Shapiro brings leadership experience from some of the city’s most acclaimed hospitality groups, including The Alinea Group’s Roister and St. Clair Supper Club, etc., and After,
THE MENU
SuSu’s menu combines steakhouse classics, cultural staples, and personal nostalgia. Flavors and traditions from Lebanon, Thailand, and Japan, and beyond weave across dishes, from a Tabbouleh Caesar salad to a potato borek with creamy Labne and caviar. Premium domestic and international steak cuts are paired with sauces like black sesame bearnaise or teriyaki demi-glace, while sides are elevated into statements. Standouts include Wagyu confit marble potatoes with preserved lemon and Middle Eastern shankleesh cheese, and Hindbeh greens with chickpeas and Wagyu beef bacon.
SuSu’s menu combines steakhouse classics, cultural staples, and personal nostalgia. Flavors and traditions from Lebanon, Thailand, and Japan, and beyond weave across dishes, from a Tabbouleh Caesar salad to a potato borek with creamy Labne and caviar. Premium domestic and international steak cuts are paired with sauces like black sesame bearnaise or teriyaki demi-glace, while sides are elevated into statements. Standouts include Wagyu confit marble potatoes with preserved lemon and Middle Eastern shankleesh cheese, and Hindbeh greens with chickpeas and Wagyu beef bacon.
Communal dining moments will be seen throughout, led by the signature “Susu’s Table,” a family-style progression priced at $125 per person. Opening with housemade hummus, seasonal Lebanese preserves, and a choice of salads, the feast unfolds with four chefs’ selected butcher’s cuts and an array of steak sauces and shareable sides. Seasonal knafeh with ingredients like apple butter and koji hazelnut ice cream rounds out the experience, followed by an indulgent assortment of macarons, bonbons, and pâtes de fruits.
The highlight of SuSu’s culinary programming is the “Kan Zaman”, a luxurious 11-course tasting menu launching in April 2026 and served in the restaurant’s private dining space. Courses will feature pristine seafood such as langoustine served in a sake croustade with an oolong tea emulsion, steak standouts like Wagyu short rib shawarma with black apple molasses, and palate cleansers of black lime sorbet with Champagne gelee and almond oil. Each dish will also be paired with hand-curated wines and sakes chosen by Chef Willis, who is a Level One Certified Sake Professional.
THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM
SuSu’s global perspective carries on to its cocktail menu, bringing a sense of adventure to each setting. Cocktail highlights include the Sumac Sparkle with Sweet Gwendoline gin, sumac, Greek mastic, and ginger; The Mish Mish Vieux Carre with Aged Cobrafire Blanche Armagnac, barrel seagrass, and apricot; and the Saidachi with cognac, persimmon, and jasmine tea.
Outside of spirits, the restaurant houses a refined list of regional wines and sakes, spotlighting both heritage producers and rising voices. The collection includes bottles from Lebanon, Greece, Palestine, Armenia, and beyond, alongside world-renowned French champagnes and nuanced Japanese sakes.
THE SPACE
SuSu’s dining experience stretches across 6,000 square feet, seating 110 with an interior that reflects the menu’s cross-cultural dialogue. With a design co-created by owner Paul Alqas and Mark Trace, the restaurant’s hand-carved wooden details set the stage, complemented by wabi-sabi accents. Detailed mural work by chef-artist Won Kim adds layers to the space, moving from a lush, low-lit lounge to a marble bar to the sultry main dining room. Tucked beyond the central space, a grand 12-seat private dining room emerges as the crown jewel, flanked by sculptural wooden wings. On Saturdays, the space shifts into a dynamic late-night destination to capture the feeling of an evening out in the Mediterranean.
SuSu’s dining experience stretches across 6,000 square feet, seating 110 with an interior that reflects the menu’s cross-cultural dialogue. With a design co-created by owner Paul Alqas and Mark Trace, the restaurant’s hand-carved wooden details set the stage, complemented by wabi-sabi accents. Detailed mural work by chef-artist Won Kim adds layers to the space, moving from a lush, low-lit lounge to a marble bar to the sultry main dining room. Tucked beyond the central space, a grand 12-seat private dining room emerges as the crown jewel, flanked by sculptural wooden wings. On Saturdays, the space shifts into a dynamic late-night destination to capture the feeling of an evening out in the Mediterranean.
RESERVATIONS AND DETAILS
SuSu will open in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood on February 27th, 2026, with reservations available on OpenTable. Find more details at the restaurant’s website, www.susuchicago.com, and follow them on Instagram at @susu.chicago to stay up to date.
SuSu will open in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood on February 27th, 2026, with reservations available on OpenTable. Find more details at the restaurant’s website, www.susuchicago.com, and follow them on Instagram at @susu.chicago to stay up to date.
