Nevin's Brewing Set to Open This Month in Plainfield

The wait is almost over.

After unforeseen obstacles — like Hurricane Sandy — delayed its delivery, the custom-made, 15-barrel Belgian brewing system is en route to Nevin’s Brewing Co. in Plainfield, and owners of the Route 59 eatery say they’ve finally pinned down an opening date.

“It just [arrived] in the U.S.,” Nevin’s co-owner Steve Cin said, adding he expects the system to arrive by Friday.

That means the brew pub is set to open before Christmas.

Related: Tommy Nevin’s Finalizes Limestone Building Purchase

Cin said the restaurant, which will open up at 12337 S. Route 59 in the former Limestone Brewing location, will offer a sneak peek to guests at private parties on Dec. 21, 22 and 23. Reservations are still available online via the Nevin’s website, www.nevinsbrewing.com, and its Facebook page.

The 500-seat brewery and restaurant will open to the public on Dec. 26.

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‘Not your everyday bar food’

Diners can get a preview of what’s in store for them by clicking on the menu on the Nevin’s website.

“Ninety-nine percent of the items are made from scratch,” Cin said.

Chef Marcus Mooney said the fare includes gourmet burgers and pizzas, along with Nevin’s specialities like jambalaya, pasta, ribs and more.

“We’re trying to be different from Tommy Nevin’s down the street,” he said, referring to the location on Route 59 in Naperville. “The menu is a little bit smaller, a little more gastropub-ish … It’s not going to be your everyday bar food.”

Cin wouldn’t give Patch any details on the craft brews being created by master chef Mark Wilson (Facebook fans will get the inside scoop on that, he said), but according to Mooney, the signature beers will play a big role in the cuisine at Nevin’s.

The beers will be used in some way to create each dish, he said, and will even be incorporated into the meat.

“We’re starting to integrate a lot of the spent grain from the brewing process,” Mooney said, explaining that Nevin’s meat will come from local farmers who use the grain to feed their cattle.

Big changes

Cin said the brewery itself has doubled in size.

Other changes include the addition of an outdoor patio, which will be enclosed so that it can be open year round. That should be completed by spring, Cin said.

“It’ll be a nice addition,” he said.

The eatery has new floors, and the kitchen has been completely revamped to accommodate orders for the dining room, bar, patio and banquet facility.

“We pretty much gutted the entire kitchen,” Cin said. “We had to expand the whole footprint to accommodate a place of this size.”

The bar has also been redesigned, with a space set aside for gaming, should the Village of Plainfield ever change its stance on video poker. In the meantime, guests can enjoy video games including Golden Tee.

The brewery will be enclosed by glass and will be the backdrop for a new, 250-seat banquet facility, Cin said.

The venue will also host live music, and was designed with green elements.

Cin said green additions include energy-efficient insulation and rooftop solar panels.

“We’re trying to make the place as environmentally friendly as we could,” he said.

Help wanted

Cin said most staff members have been hired and are learning the ropes with training held off-site and at the Naperville Tommy Nevin’s.

But there are still some positions open.

“We’re still looking for good people,” Cin said. Prospective employees can apply online by clicking here or contact Nevin’s via Facebook or Twitter, he said.

When fully staffed, Nevin's Brewing will employ about 75 people, according to Cin.

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