A brand new po’boy restaurant called Daisy’s Po’Boy and Tavern is making its way to Hyde Park, located at 5215 S Harper Ave.
This is the latest restaurant from chef Erick Williams, the owner and executive chef of Virtue Restaurant & Bar and Mustard Seed Kitchen in Chicago. The new restaurant, which will focus on po’boy sandwiches inspired by Williams’ family from Louisiana, will replace Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery in the Harper Court. A representative from the company says it’s too early for an official opening date, but the restaurant is still in the early stages of opening.
This is a massive accomplishment for chef Erick Williams, who opened his first solo concept, Virtue, in late-2018. The restaurant, which attracts guests both from throughout Chicagoland and around the globe, unites his 25 years of fine dining expertise, his love of Southern cuisine, and his insatiable study of history and art related to food culture. Since then, the restaurant has been voted Best New Restaurant in 2019 by Esquire. A year later, Williams was named “A Chicagoan of the Year” by Chicago magazine and received a coveted award nomination by the James Beard Foundation in the Best Chef Great Lakes category.
In late 2021, inspired by his experience at Virtue providing meals to-go during the pandemic, Williams opened Mustard Seed Kitchen in Chicago, a take-out and delivery-only concept featuring a menu of high-quality everyday meals. In only four years, Williams has become a key player both in Chicago’s restaurant industry and the city itself, often donating his time to those less fortunate by partnering with charities. He is particularly devoted to positively impacting the future of Chicago’s inner-city youth and the hospitality industry, offering his time as a keynote speaker advocating for small businesses.
When this new restaurant opens, it will sit in a perfect area surrounded by other popular restaurants, including Williams’ Virtue, just around the corner. Other restaurants found within the Harper Court include a Deep Purpl, Ja’Grill Hyde Park, Pork Chop, and Aloha Poke Co. On top of the high pedestrian score, the new Daisy’s Po’Boy And Tavern will be situated just a few blocks from Hyde Park Shopping Center, Spruce Park, and Harold Washington Park.
