A restaurant with a whimsical name is bringing serious barbecue to Longwood.
Holy City Zoo, a new restaurant from Kristina and Greg Gaardbo, will open at 190 S. Ronald Reagan Boulevard in the first quarter of 2026, focusing on barbecue flavors and techniques from all over the world.
In an interview, chef Greg Gaardbo explains how travel influenced how he sees barbecue as a universal way of preparing and sharing food. “We like to travel the world to explore food and drink, and barbecue is a type of cuisine shared worldwide. Not everyone has the opportunity to travel extensively, so we wanted to share the flavors of other countries.” The chef explains that Holy City Zoo will feature a rotating menu that, at any given time, could have influences from Spain, Korea, Mexico, or more.
Holy City Zoo will also offer core barbecue items such as pork, chicken, ribs, brisket, and pastrami. The restaurant will also feature theme nights and special dinners including a prime rib dinner for two night and Beer, Bourbon, and Barbecue classes where the chef will share his smoking tips and tricks.
Certified cicerone Kristina Gaardbo is in charge of Holy Zoo’s beverage program that will include a full bar, along with a curated selection of beers. “We’re going to focus on German and Belgian beers, and also support local breweries,” she shares.
For years, the couple ran Chicago Culinary Kitchen, a successful barbecue restaurant that received numerous accolades. But the Gaardbos wanted a change. They parted ways with the restaurant and started a new life in Florida, deciding on Longwood to start their new venture. According to Kristina, it was the right choice. “We’ve been here for six months now, and Longwood has been really good to us. We met with the Village of Longwood, and everyone went home happy.”
The culinary duo want Holy City Zoo to be Longwood’s next neighborhood spot. The restaurant, decorated with 80s-era murals, and a projector playing classics like Thundercats and old Batman episodes, is designed to be a warm, friendly gathering place. “We want to welcome everyone from infants to 90 year-olds,” says Kristina.
The couple plan to be at their spot most every day, getting to know new faces, according to Kristina. “We’re hands on. If we’re working on a new recipe, we’ll come out and give samples to whoever is in the restaurant. Food is love and we think it’s nice when customers get to know who’s making their meal.”
