Tap House Grill Expanding into Plainfield

Tap House Grill, an upscale restaurant specializing in craft beer and American cuisine, could be open as soon as mid-March in the spot once anchored by .

Co-owner Mark Zych said the village is perfect for his franchise, which also has restaurant/bars in Oswego, St. Charles, Glen Ellyn and Westmont.

"We're excited about coming to ," Zych said. "I think it's a great location. Tap House is a phenomenal match for Plainfield, which is a little more of an upscale community."

The business, located at 24402 W. Lockport St., will feature a full lunch and dinner menu as well as 40 craft beers on tap. The goal is to create a place that's as much a restaurant as it is a spot to have a drink, said Zych, who owns the chain with Scott Ward and chef Todd Davies.

The menu will be identical to what's offered at the other Tap House Grills. In addition to more than a dozen sandwiches, which include such options as a Sprechter Root Beer-braised beef and gouda torpedo and a Kobe beef burger, there are five large plate options (Guinness-braised boneless short ribs, shrimp and fish tacos), sliders, flatbreads, salads, chicken wings and six types of wontons.

Zych said among the big draws are the seven types of mac-and-cheese they serve, with such ingredients as bacon, crab meat and poblano chicken.

Every month, Tap House features a food and beer pairing event with a fixed menu.

There is not a lot of remodeling to be done to the site other than to add booths and give the space more of a restaurant feel, Zych said. There will be seating for about 120 people, he said.

How quickly the eatery opens depends on how long it takes to secure a village liquor license, for which they've just applied, he said. If all goes smoothly, a mid-March opening is likely, he said.

"A lot of our regulars in Oswego are already coming from Plainfield," Zych said. "Everyone in Plainfield's been so excited and accepting, and that just motivates us."