Tribute Closes: Only in Business for Five Months

Tribute restaurant at 800 S. Michigan closed Sunday, December 4, 2011. After barely being open five months, the upscale eatery, specializing in comfort food, was unable to attract the crowds necessary to keep it humming.

A Rough Start
The original chef, Brandon Baltzley was fired after it was revealed he had a substance abuse problem. Sous-chef, Lawrence Letrero was elevated to Executive Chef in May, two months before opening. After several shaky starts, the restaurant had it’s unveiling on July 6, 2011. The first official day of business was July 7 at 6 a.m. In September, Letrero was out and Jared Case became the new Executive Chef and the menu was tweaked.

Space Transformed
Tribute transformed the old Savoy Grill into a modern, fresh space, featuring unusual and dramatic fixtures made with repurposed movie film from Disney’s 1951 animated classic Alice in Wonderland. The lounge area was cool and comfortable and the large outdoor space across from Grant Park was lovely this summer. But alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Tribute Hires New Executive Chef

Jared Case will be the new executive chef at Tribute, 800 S. Michigan Ave. Tribute opened in July with Lawrence Letrero in the executive chef position replacing Brandon Baltzley, who entered rehab in June.

Case studied at the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, New York. His restaurant career includes stints at Red Light in Chicago, Radisson Hotel, Thirty-three and One-third in Connecticut, and Little Palm Island in Florida.

A new menu will be created focusing on classic American comfort food. Signature items off the new menu include Bacon Wrapped Scallops with grilled asparagus, crispy potatoes and tarragon mustard cream, and a Yankee Pot Roast with whipped potatoes and seasonal vegetables.