Sanders BBQ Prime Will Open in Hyde Park by 2026

The acclaimed barbecue outfit will expand to a new 130-seat restaurant at 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. W. by the end of 2026.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Barbecue

Bold vector editorial illustration of meat tongs on a cutting board next to smoked brisket, representing an elevated restaurant expansion. — Sanders BBQ Prime, the award-winning barbecue outfit, will expand with a new 130-seat full-service restaurant in Chicago's Hyde Park by late 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you welcome the opening of new upscale dining establishments in your local community?

Sanders BBQ Prime is scheduled to debut a new restaurant in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood by the end of 2026. Replacing the former space of The Promontory, the expansion will provide a more elevated, full-service dining experience.

Why it matters

The move follows significant growth for the original Beverly location, which earned a spot on The New York Times 2025 list of the 50 best places in America and a James Beard Award semi-finalist nomination. The expansion aims to accommodate high demand that currently exceeds the capacity of the original shop.

The new restaurant will accommodate 130 guests and feature a menu highlighting steak, lamb chops, prawns, and a 20-ounce pork steak. This signature pork dish utilizes a specialized four-hour cold-smoking process followed by grilling.

The players

Sanders BBQ Supply Co.

This Chicago-based barbecue establishment gained national recognition as a James Beard Award semi-finalist.

The Promontory

This venue previously occupied the 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. W. location before closing its doors at the end of 2025.

The details

The restaurant will offer a full sit-down service model complete with a dedicated bar and an open kitchen. Chefs will employ ambitious preparation methods, incorporating cold-smoking and sous vide techniques to achieve their elevated approach to barbecue.

Sanders BBQ Supply Co. opened its original location in Beverly in 2024.
The restaurant earned a place on The New York Times 50 best places list in 2025.
The Promontory venue at the new site closed on December 31, 2025.
Sanders BBQ Prime is scheduled to open its doors by the end of 2026.

Culture Shift

The transition from a supply-focused original shop to a high-capacity, full-service dining destination reflects the broader culinary trend of elevating regional barbecue into upscale restaurant concepts. This evolution mirrors the trajectory of other celebrated establishments that have leveraged critical acclaim into larger-scale, more experimental kitchen environments.

Hyde Park residents can expect a new full-service dining option that introduces an open-kitchen format to the South Lake Park Avenue corridor. Patrons looking to visit the establishment should prepare for a shift toward sit-down service compared to the original Beverly location.

The takeaway

The expansion highlights how critical acclaim can drive rapid growth for neighborhood eateries into prominent city landmarks. Residents should look forward to a more robust menu that utilizes advanced preparation techniques like sous vide and extended cold-smoking.