Restaurant projects come with the added challenge of having to design and craft highly specific spaces that cater not only to a client’s patrons but also their brands and their team’s specific needs. Clients might require everything from various complex master kitchens to lounges and entertainment facilities. We’ve listed Chicago’s 15 best contractors, the names behind some of Windy City’s most recognizable restaurants and commercial spaces. These firms are also proud recipients of countless industry accolades, and their work has also been featured in a variety of publications.
Leopardo Companies
210 N Carpenter Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607
Founded in 1977, Leopardo operates out of its headquarters in Chicago and has had the opportunity to work in some of the city’s most impressive commercial districts. Since its establishment, it has secured a nationwide reputation for its outstanding work and services and assists all of its clients throughout the entire process. The company has worked with countless Fortune 100 companies, including Apple and Wells Fargo. The firm’s portfolio showcases completed retail and office projects for many of the world’s most-recognized brands, such as AMC, Grubhub, and Radio Flyer, and it has built countless residential homes, village halls, healthcare spaces, and stunning restaurants.
Completed in collaboration with the professionals over at SPACE Architects + Planners, the project featured here spans over 38,000 square feet. The firm’s team was asked to transform a historic landmark building that dates back to 1892. The space can now house up to 275 and includes a range of excellent dining areas, a custom ornamental iron spiral staircase, a sushi bar, and three large murals created by the New York-based artist, Hush. Custom furnishings include one-of-a-kind Asian relics like antique Chinese doors, dragon columns, and over 100 fortune cats.
Skender Construction
1330 W Fulton Market, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607
Skender Construction is composed of over 200 licensed and talented industry experts. Together, they draw inspiration from over six decades of experience and employ a seamless, highly hands-on approach. The firm operates out of its headquarters in Chicago and extends its services throughout Chicagoland. The firm’s portfolio showcases a great range of projects completed in a variety of markets, including the healthcare, multifamily, office, retail, lab sciences, retail, and higher education market sectors.
Located at 150 North Riverside the featured space was designed and constructed for the Four Corners Tavern Group. It entailed having to work on two restaurant build-outs for the brand and added over 15,000 square feet of space, including the projects’ dining areas, bar, and elegant decor.
Norcon, Inc.
661 West Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Founded in 1999, Norcon is the product of the vision of its owners and principals, Jeff Jozwiak and Charles Norwesh. They are both experienced professionals who first gained experience working in some of Chicago’s largest firms. Under their leadership, the firm has grown its staff to over 65 talented individuals who together have worked on projects worth $125M. The firm can take on projects regardless of scale. In terms of design, its portfolio showcases various modern and contemporary themes. The firm serves the corporate, cultural, education, health, and hospitality sectors, and it has also taken on several religious, multifamily, restaurant, and retail projects.
Norcon has been distinguished with countless industry awards, including accolades from organizations like the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Chicago Building Congress. The firm’s best work can best be seen in the project featured here. Completed for Goddess and the Baker, this space was designed in collaboration with the professionals at MAI Architects.
McHugh Construction
1737 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
McHugh Construction has been in business since 1897, making it one of the oldest firms on this list. Headquartered in Chicago, it provides its clients with a complete array of general contracting services. The firm maintains affiliations with organizations like Chicagoland Associated General Contractors, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Doing so allows the firm to stay update with the latest building techniques and methods, in addition to infusing various green building and design practices into its spaces.
Located on 233 North Canal St., the restaurant featured here was designed by Antunovich Associates and constructed by McHugh for Gibsons Italia. It spans over 15,000 square feet and serves as the flagship restaurant for the Gibsons Restaurant Group. It offers its patrons three levels of dining spaces with wonderful views of the Chicago River.
International Contractors, Inc.
977 S Route 83, Elmhurst, IL 60126
With over four decades of industry experience, International Contractors extends its services to the entirety of Elmhurst and its nearby boroughs. It has had the opportunity to work with various household brands including the Audi Exchange. The firm is proud of its 80% repeat clientele rate and is a family-owned and -operated practice. Now in its second generation of builders, International Contractors is licensed to practice in 43 states and has six LEED accredited professionals on its staff, assuring clients of the high efficiency and sustainability of its work. Showcased below is one of the company’s best restaurant spaces.
This space was designed for Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants and the team collaborated with the professionals at Aria Group Architects. The project serves as the new flagship location for the brand, and it is located in the Esquire Theater in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The project features polished wood wall panels and floors, touches of brass and grey metal, and a stunning chandelier centered within the space.
Novak Construction
3423 N Drake Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618
With over four decades of industry experience, Novak Construction is a leading national general contractor that provides potential clients with a complete and comprehensive range of commercial services. The firm is based in Chicago and has had the opportunity to work in some of the best commercial districts in the area. The firm is the product of the vision of its founder and namesake, John G. Novak. Under his leadership, the company has had the opportunity to work with recognizable brands like Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods Market, Target, Walmart, and CVS Health.
Located in Lincoln Park, this restaurant showcases the company’s work for Uprising Wood Fired Pizza. It was completed within a four-month timeframe and spans over 1,800 square feet. It features reclaimed wood, marble, exposed brick, and iron beams. Some other elements include its hand-paint murals, chalkboard menus, and amber lighting.
Synergy Construction Group
2037 W Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612
Synergy Construction is a leading expert in the design-build process, which allows it to keep the entire process in-house throughout the duration of a project. It is a multi-faceted firm that has been in business since December of 2010. The firm’s team oversees all of its projects from start to finish. The firm is led by its principals and co-founders, Michael Pinelli, Phil Domenico, Jeff Metz, and Anthony Alessi. Under their collective leadership, the company has created a stellar reputation for itself and has become known for completing all of its spaces on time and within the agreed-upon budget. The restaurant below serves as one of the firm’s best projects.
Synergy Construction is a leading expert in the design-build process, which allows it to keep the entire process in-house throughout the duration of a project. It is a multi-faceted firm that has been in business since December of 2010. The firm’s team oversees all of its projects from start to finish. The firm is led by its principals and co-founders, Michael Pinelli, Phil Domenico, Jeff Metz, and Anthony Alessi. Under their collective leadership, the company has created a stellar reputation for itself and has become known for completing all of its spaces on time and within the agreed-upon budget. The restaurant below serves as one of the firm’s best projects.
LG Construction
2234 W North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Headquartered in Chicago, LG Construction is a full-service commercial construction firm. It also specializes in residential developments and has taken on several multi-family projects through the years. The firm’s portfolio also includes several countless hospitality, office, and retail spaces. Since its establishment, the company has had the opportunity to take on projects across ten states and also offers great design-build packages. Some of its other outstanding services include its preconstruction work and construction management.
The restaurant below is one of our favorites from its portfolio. It was completed in collaboration with Jonathan Splitt Architects and Avroko for its design. It spans over 5,000 square feet and can be found in the Fulton Market. It is an electrifying underground bar reminiscent of the streets of Tokyo. Throughout the restaurant, there are vintage street signs, Japanese lanterns, and several lounges.
Helios Construction Services
2324 West Fulton Street, Chicago, IL 60612
Helios Construction provides a complete list of commercial general contracting and construction management work. The firm has been in business since 2008 and is composed of talented professionals with backgrounds in architecture, engineering, and commercial construction. Its portfolio showcases an excellent gallery of healthcare, hospitality, and industrial spaces. It has also taken on several institutional, multi-family, office, and retail projects. The project below showcases the company’s work for Tied House, which best embodies the firm’s talent and expertise.
Located at 3157 North Southport Avenue, this project was finished back in 2018 and spans over 12,000 square feet. It entailed having to work on its extensive renovation and providing the addition of a fine dining restaurant to an iconic Chicago music venue. Some other key features include a fully operable storefront system, a custom patina copper fireplace in the outdoor dining area, and the extensive use of marble, millwork, leather, and plaster interior finishes.
Stratum Builders
1138 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Ground Floor, Chicago, IL 6064
Stratum Builders specializes in both commercial and residential construction services. It was established back in 2011 and maintains a highly collaborative approach. It takes great pride in receiving a large portion of its clients from referrals and emphasizes the importance of close collaboration with clients throughout the entire process. At the firm’s helm are founders Michael and Stanley Walczak. Michael is an award-winning third-generation builder, who is experienced in every aspect of the ground-up construction and renovation process. Stanley, on the other hand, draws inspiration from over four decades of industry experience and has remodeled over 2M square feet of commercial space.
Located in Old Town, this sports bar was designed for The Vig Chicago. Stratum Builders built over 6,000 square feet of space. The firm took on its exteriors and interiors, millwork, and custom commercial kitchen.
Level Construction
4701 N Ronald Street, Harwood Heights, IL 60706
Since its inception, Level Construction has worked on over 3M square feet of space and over 2,000 projects. It draws inspiration from over two decades of industry experience and has had the opportunity to work with brands like Burger King, Anytime Fitness, McDonald’s, Hilton, and Marriott. The firm operates out of two offices in Chicago and Houston. The company’s packages encompass design support, preliminary budgeting, resource, and materials logistical planning, scope management, project scheduling, project administration, supervision, and value-engineered cost management. It is also the proud recipient of countless industry distinctions. In 2015, it was named among the fastest-growing private companies by the Inc. 5000.
The project above was completed for the Harbor Restaurant. Located in the heart of Chicago, this kitchen features a stellar transitional theme. Our editorial team loved its tiled backsplashes, custom finishes, and especially the elegant bar.
Infocus Builders
4001 North Ravenswood Avenue, Suite 604, Chicago, IL 60613
Infocus Builders provides its clients with high-end residential and commercial construction services and extends its work throughout the entirety of Chicago. The firm draws inspiration from over four decades of industry experience and is the product of the vision of its principals, Bob Sievers and Larry Brown. Seivers first gained experience working in residential construction projects during his high school and college years. He makes sure that each of the firm’s projects receives the benefit of his experience. Brown, on the other hand, has always had an interest in “how things are built and how they work.” He graduated with a degree in Industrial Science and spent the next 20 years designing, project managing, and building upscale shops and commercial spaces. Sievers and Brown established Infocus Builders after meeting while working at a design firm, together they finished several of the city’s highly anticipated bars and restaurants. In terms of design, the company’s portfolio depicts an excellent range of transitional and contemporary-inspired spaces.
The photo above is an example of the firm’s talent and expertise. Completed for Bernie’s Lunch & Supper, this space features an excellent lofty and transitional theme with Mediterranean touches.
MOD Construction
917 W Washington Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60607
MOD Construction has worked with countless impressive brands, including the Waldorf Astoria, Jetsmarter, Menin Hospitality, Lexus, and Sotheby’s. The firm takes on both commercial and residential projects and operates out of its headquarters in Chicago. With over two decades of industry experience, the firm has constructed some of the area’s most exciting commercial spaces, and it has built everything from restaurants and nightclubs to high-end offices and retail stores in the area. The chosen project below is a great example of the firm’s talent and expertise.
Designed for the Bistro Paris, this restaurant showcases an excellent and elegant transitional feel. It showcases a great custom bar, wood-paneled flooring, excellent lighting, and wrought-iron finishes. Some of its other elements include its exposed brick and timeless booths.
