Eight years ago, Kathleen Bucci Bergeron discovered an opportunity at a downtown East Dundee bakery. While there for an espresso, she found a postcard featuring The Measuring Cup bakery, with details that piqued her interest. She kept this postcard in her car for a week before inquiring.
By November 2018, that initial visit turned into Mockingbird Bar + Garden, a farm-to-table restaurant on Barrington Avenue. Located near the Fox River Bike Trail, the establishment was a unique find.
Recently, Mockingbird has expanded by 1,700 square feet. The former Scooby Doo’s Dog Grooming space is now a modern kitchen and prep area with a chef’s counter. New features include a garage door opening to downtown, a coffee bar, couches, artwork, and a mural. The restaurant can accommodate 100 indoor diners and 75 outdoor guests, including those on a tented patio. A golf cart, acquired at an auction, is used for transporting patrons.
Kathleen Bucci Bergeron emphasized the need for this expansion, citing sustainability and event demand. “We needed to grow and satisfy demand while balancing form and function,” she stated. With a long history in the restaurant industry and experience with the Lettuce Entertain You group, Bucci Bergeron brings valuable insights.
Despite the expansion, Mockingbird remains committed to its culinary philosophy. Ingredients are wood-fired, and every cocktail is uniquely crafted. Bucci Bergeron highlights the freshness, with no frozen items on the menu.
Chef Patrick Reynolds oversees the kitchen and appreciates the creative environment. The menu is dynamic, featuring seasonal and thoughtfully indulgent dishes. Offerings include salmon, hanger steak, artisanal pizzas, and Venetian cicchetti, all prepared in a wood-burning oven. “Every dish has the distinct touch of flame,” Bucci Bergeron remarked, noting innovations like passionfruit oysters.
Mockingbird operates with varied hours from Wednesday to Sunday. It features a coffee bar on weekend mornings and now offers Sunday night dinners alongside Saturday meals and a Sunday brunch.