Chicago Pop-Up Restaurant Coming to Portland’s Old Port for One Night Only

Get ready for a little taste of Chicago on Tuesday, December 20th.

Chicago’s beloved sandwich spot, Big Kids, will be popping up with Chef Cyle Reynolds at Crispy Gai in Portland's Old Port for one night only. Big Kids is a carry-out-only sandwich shop with one heck of a pedigree, helmed by Ryan Pfeiffer, previously the chef of Michelin-starred Blackbird, and partners including Mason Hereford of New Orleans' lauded Turkey & the Wolf. I've never been, but they've got a hell of a reputation for food and attitude. Check out this NSFW Instagram post looking for workers.

This one-night special appearance will have a menu with a mix of Big Kids classics, a few bespoke dishes created just for the event, and some of Crispy Gai’s hits. Plates likely to include:

Chicago Philly Chee (Big Kids) Philly beef, beef jus onions, provolone cheese, mild giardiniera, garlic mayo on garlic bread.

Amy & Nettie (Big Kids)
fried chicken tenders, roasted tomato chimichurri, smoked paprika mayo, arugula, and provolone on a french roll.

There's also a Sloppy Joe Shepherd’s Pie from Big Kids and lots of wings, skewers, and salads from Crispy Gai.

Big Kids and Crispy Gai both love playful cocktails so, naturally, there will be plenty of fun drinks including:

• Ecto Cooler - rum, green chartreuse, orange honey, lime
• Tang!-a-Rita - mezcal, tequila, TANG!, lime
• Same Same But Different - rum, coconut milk, ginger, makrut lime leaf, lime, tom Kha tincture
• Bermuda Love Triangle - coconut gin, guava, lemongrass-y lime cordial, lime

This is all taking place at Crispy Gai on 90 Exchange Street on Tuesday, December 20. The dinner will run from 5-10 PM with walk-ins only, no reservations. Everything will be priced a la carte.

They had me at sandwiches.