Award-Winning Dear Margaret Restaurant Plans Comeback After Fire Damage in Lake View

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Lake View · November 14, 2025

The beloved French-Canadian restaurant Dear Margaret, one of Lake View's most celebrated dining destinations, has announced plans to reopen in a new location after a devastating fire damaged its historic Lincoln Avenue building. Owner Lacey Irby and Executive Chef Ryan Brosseau remain optimistic despite the setback, with Irby declaring, "We opened a fine-dining restaurant in the middle of a pandemic Chicago winter. We've done the impossible before. We can do it again."

Dear Margaret quickly gained both local and national acclaim after opening in 2020, landing on The New York Times' list of best restaurants in America in 2022. The intimate neighborhood spot at 2965 N. Lincoln Ave. became known for Brosseau's French-Canadian-inspired cuisine that emphasized preservation techniques and whole-animal cooking. The October 6th electrical fire began at an outlet beneath the restaurant's bar, causing extensive smoke and heat damage throughout the dining room and kitchen despite being largely contained to the bar area.

While the timing and location of their new venue remain uncertain, the determination of Dear Margaret's team offers a silver lining for Lake View dining enthusiasts. The restaurant's journey from pandemic opening to national recognition, and now to rebuilding after disaster, exemplifies the resilience that defines Chicago's vibrant culinary community.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/dear-margaret-permanently-closing-in-lakeview-but-owners-are-planning-a-comeback/