Lower48 Kitchen Announces It Will Close November 7

When Lower48 Kitchen opened in the fall of 2013, it immediately grabbed the attention of our food and drink staff, winning our Best New Restaurant award in March 2014.  Over the next two years, owner Mario Nocifera and chef Alex Figura proved they deserved that win with innovative dishes, top-notch hospitality and commitment to quality. But today Nocifera announced that Lower48 will soon be serving its last dinner. In a message to valued customers, he wrote:

Good afternoon friends,

I am reaching out on behalf of the entire Lower48 team. Chef/partner Alex Figura and I started this adventure four years ago with sincere goals and I couldn't be more proud of what we, as a team, created.

I write to you with a heavy heart, as we have made the very difficult decision to close Lower48. Our last night of service will be Saturday, November 7, and we hope you will come in and join us in celebration and reflection of two great years serving the community.

To the team that helped open Lower48, to our fantastic guests, loyal supporters, friends & family, landlord and investors: thank you for your generosity, belief, unwavering support and tireless work to help grow and develop Lower48 into what it is today. Every day has provided a new experience forged with the opportunity to learn, develop and grow. Saying goodbye to our dream is no different.

Our number one goal is to support our loyal and talented staff; helping them through this transition and ensuring secure employment is extremely important to Alex and I. We encourage you to come help us say good-bye to Lower48 and to celebrate all of the hard work and commitment that the team gave day-in and day-out for the last two years.

We continue to be humbled by everyone’s continued support and look forward to welcoming you to Lower48 in the next few weeks.

With sincere thanks,
Mario Nocifera

The loss of one of our favorite restaurants comes even as the Ballpark and River North neighborhoods experience incredible growth and popularity — and it's a reminder to recognize greatness when and where it pops up. Thanks for some excellent food.