OP_051817

opprairie.com Dining Out
the orland park prairie | May 18, 2017 | 31
The Dish
Port Noir offers more than just wine and martinis
New owners look to
add to, not change,
Lockport fixture
Erin Redmond, Assistant Editor
Lockport’s Port Noir has
finally invented time travel.
OK, not really, but customers
of the Port Noir wine and
martini bar might feel that
way when they step through
its doors. With soft jazz playing
over the speakers, and
silent black-and-white films
on the televisions, the historic
feel of the downtown is
drawn indoors, transporting
patrons to days gone by.
And that is exactly what
owner David Rickerd wants.
At its core, Port Noir is a
wine and martini bar, but the
California native has plans
for it to be so much more.
Rickerd is channeling his experiences
from his hometown
of Los Angeles, in particular
the bustling and eclectic entertainment
scene, to bring
together drinks, eats, live music
and a homey atmosphere.
Not changed, enhanced
David Rickerd and his
wife, Yari, took ownership
of Port Noir — formerly
William Alexander Wine
Studio — a little over a
month ago. The couple said
they did not want to change
anything to which customers
are accustomed but simply
add to their experiences.
For instance, Port Noir
will still continue to offer
the wines and martinis the
WAWS faithful have come to
know and love but has added
a few more it hopes will be
Lockport legends, too.
The Noirtini ($10), the
brainchild of manager and
bartender Greg Roth, replaces
the vodka of a classic
martini with pinot noir. The
smooth, fruity drink combines
the wine with banana
liquor and triple sec, making
it the “lightweight” version
Port Noir
900 S. State Street in
Lockport
Hours
3-11 p.m. Thursday and
Sunday
3 p.m.-midnight Friday
and Saturday
For more information …
Phone: (815) 834-9463
Web: www.facebook.
com/waws900
of the classic martini by offering
all the flavor without
as much punch.
“We have a lot of people
who aren’t big drinkers and
want something that isn’t
going to knock them on their
butts,” Roth said. “So that’s
how I came up with this.”
Roth also put a new twist
on the New York Sour. The
Port Noir Sour ($10) combines
bourbon, lemon and
pineapple juices with pinot
noir floated on top.
Port Noir inherited 150-
plus exclusive wines stocked
by WAWS, and the beloved
bottles of reds and whites
will remain. Certain wines
are sold by the bottle, but
most are by the glass, ranging
from $8-$14.
Also staying put is the
wine club membership ($25
per person, $35 per couple
per month), which offers its
members exclusive access
to the VIP room, a bottle of
wine a month, discounts on
wine orders and complimentary
monthly wine tastings.
The tastings are available to
non-members, too, but they
will need to pay $20 to sample
the 10-12 wines offered.
“We loved the vibe that was
already here, so we just wanted
to add onto that,” Yari said,
noting Port Noir will continue
to offer live music — including
the Sunday night Kids Jam
session — while adding comedy
and open mic nights, too.
Eat, drink, be merry
Port Noir stocks more than 150 wines at its downtown Lockport location. Photos by Erin Redmond/22nd Century Media
Patrons will have plenty
on which to snack while
they are sipping their signature
cocktails and exclusive
wines. With help from one
of his friends, who David
Rickerd describes as a “culinary
guy,” Port Noir’s menu
received an update to include
shareable items like the Far
East Meets West Pork Sliders
($11 for three).
The melt-in-your-mouth
sliders are made with slowcooked
pulled pork, topped
with coleslaw and bacon,
which is all nestled between
two toasted buns and adorned
with a slice of jalapeño.
For those looking for
something a little more substantial,
the pesto pizza ($28)
is pure perfection.
The dish channels the
Rickerds’ West Coast roots,
mixing grilled chicken, sausage,
fresh tomato slices,
gooey cheese and, of course,
pesto atop a classic California
thin crust. The pizza is
comparable to a large at most
establishments, leaving plenty
to share.
And for those looking for
more classic-style eats, Port
Noir also offers regular pizzas
($22 for three toppings).
Rise and shine
Currently, Port Noir is
only open Thursday through
Sunday, catering to nighttime
crowds — but not for long.
While Port Noir offers customers
a 1920s-esque vibe by
night, David Rickerd intends
for it to be reminiscent of a
1990s coffee shop by day. He
plans to add coffee, espresso,
loose-leaf tea and specialty
snacks, infused with tea leaves
and coffee, to give customers
“a buzz” — pun intended.
All those additions, David
said, are slated to launch
within a month. And when
they do, Port Noir will be
open bright and early seven
The Far East Meets West Pork Sliders are sold in sets of
three and are topped with coleslaw and bacon on a toasted
bun, topped with jalapeño.
days a week, giving visitors
and locals alike a spot to grab
their caffeine fix in the heart
of downtown.
With large, inviting
couches and shelves stocked
with books and games, the
Rickerds are hoping Port
Noir becomes a place for
people to disconnect from
their devices and reconnect
with one another.
“I want people to be happy,
and if you’re not happy then
I want you to become happy
when you come in here,” David
said. “With everything
that I’m putting in, I want this
to be a place where I would
want to come. ... I want you
to feel at home when you
come here.”