Anything but Ordinary

The impetus for St. Charles’s newest restaurant actually starts with a love story: Chris and Megan Curren met 10 years ago while working in Chicago hospitality. When they later moved to the Fox Valley to raise their family, they set their sights on downtown St. Charles to open a restaurant together one day. In November, the Currens saw their vision come to life with the opening of the Graceful Ordinary (3 E. Main St., 331.235.5803, thegracefulordinary.com). In case you’re wondering why anyone would call their business “ordinary,” a little history lesson is in order: In colonial times, the town tavern was called an ordinary. It was where you’d go to eat, drink, and socialize. “All the goings-on of the community resonated in that one space,” says executive chef and owner Chris Curren, who opened his first restaurant in Chicago, Blue 13, in 2008 and most recently worked at Fulton Market Kitchen and restauranteur Alpana Singh’s Seven Lions. In addition to dinner service, the Currens hope to host a lot of socializing here, from corporate lunches to rehearsal dinners. With owner Megan Curren—who ran events for Entertainment Cruises and Bonhomme Hospitality Group in Chicago—serving as event manager, they’re well equipped to do so. The space is designed for gatherings of various sizes, from the cozy fireplace lounge in front to a semiprivate dining alcove in back. The outdoor space, which Megan aptly describes as “a fun little oasis off the river,” includes a terrace wrapping around the back of the building and the west side along the Fox River. A combination of enclosures and radiant floor heating should extend the alfresco season beyond its natural limits.

Click the Naperville Magazine link to read the entire article.

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