Champagne and Citrus Pound Cake
Champagne and citrus are meant to be together; that’s why mimosas taste so good. This pound cake is zesty and sweet with all the right textures. It’s slightly crunchy on the outside with a buttery and...
Dynamic Duo
Navarre Hospitality Group has brought two dining venues to one address, in a new building in downtown Elkhart, Indiana’s booming River District.
Downstairs
In 2019, a chicken sandwich skirmish waged between contesting corporate chains. Every fast-food brand was suddenly trying to copy and compete with Chick-fil-A.
From Popeyes to Burger King, businesses introduced new chicken sandwiches. The fad may have faded, but commitment to it has remained in the independent sphere. The real winners of this poultry war seem to be local business—who do it better.
Now Michiana has a new chix fix: Bird in the Hand. It is the first fast casual restaurant from the Navarre Hospitality Group, known for fine dining establishments such as Café Navarre in South Bend and Artisan in Elkhart, among other properties.
“We're a service of upscale fast food,” says Tony Corpe, head chef and general manager of Bird in the Hand. “We make everything in house, made to order and fresh. It's quick, simple and really, really great.”
The focused menu includes chicken sandwiches (crispy, grilled or pulled), popcorn chicken, tenders, and chicken salad packed with celery, apples, green onion, almonds and more. The crispy options are southern-inspired, and the chicken is brined and hand-breaded in a house-made batter. Bird in the Hand also serves smash burgers and a monthly special, such as a Big Kahuna burger or a Mississippi braised beef sandwich. Hand-cut fries come out hot and perfectly seasoned with a spice blend.
Chicken motifs appear throughout the industrial, high-ceilinged space, including a raucous wall mural of a cowboy riding a rooster. Large garage-door windows let in natural light and can open onto a patio with a ping-pong table, corn hole games and a fire pit.
“It's a perfect place to spend time with family and friends,” says Corpe.
Upstairs
Four floors above Bird in the Hand, the Navarre Group built an elegant, modern aerie on the rooftop. Leaving the elevator, you emerge onto a wide open-air patio, with a tiled floor, fire tables, heaters, comfortable couches and scattered conversation nooks. The view extends over the heart of Elkhart.
Jackson Rooftop offers a menu of craft cocktails, wine and beer at a range of price points, from Veuve Clicquot to Coors Light. “It’s an elevated experience at an affordable price,” says Peter Huttemann, general manager and bar manager. He is proud of the atmosphere at the bar. “We hit every demographic, from average Joes to multimillionaires. I’ve never seen a bar with more co-existence than here. It’s beautiful to see.”
The bar itself occupies a small space surrounded on three sides by walls of windows. Huttemann says it is popular year round and is especially magical in winter weather, when “it’s like being in your own snow globe.”
During warm months, special features on the patio include live music a few times a week—mostly acoustic sets—and Sunday brunch. A small menu of flatbreads, sandwiches, small bites and more is always available.
Huttemann stresses the role of the bar program and his staff in the venue’s success. He describes the cocktail menu as “a stepping stone for the Midwest,” offering familiar drinks but doing something special with them. And, he says, “The staff is a huge part of what makes the Jackson the Jackson.” They help demystify the drinks menu for clients and provide a friendly, professional presence.
“What makes Jackson Rooftop special goes beyond the view,” he says.
Bird in the Hand
240 E. Jackson Blvd.
Elkhart, IN
574.359.5473
birdinthehandelkhart.com
Jackson Rooftop
240 E. Jackson Blvd., 4th Floor
Elkhart, IN
574.359.5473
thejacksonelkhart.com
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