New Upscale Steakhouse 'Guard & Grace' Coming to Chicago

This is the third location for Guard and Grace, the flagship steakhouse concept from Chef and owner Troy Guard. The original, a 9,000-square-foot restaurant in Denver, opened in 2014, followed by an expansion to Houston in 2019. The restaurant is named after Guard's daughter, Grace. Chef Troy Guard, a Hawaiian native, built his career under mentor Roy Yamaguchi before leading kitchens in Asia and later as executive chef at the New York hotspot TAO. His Denver-based TAG Restaurant Group operates multiple concepts, including the Mexican-themed Los Chingones, the fast-casual Bubu, and a breakfast spot named HashTAG. Guard and Grace positions itself as a "modern steakhouse," moving away from a dark, heavy atmosphere to one that is more light and airy. The concept has earned a Michelin Guide recommendation and was ranked No. 47 on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list in 2024. The menu emphasizes wood-fired cooking and includes traditional prime and wagyu cuts alongside significant seafood offerings that reflect Guard's background. Signature dishes at other locations include a filet mignon flight, oak-grilled octopus, and handmade gnocchi with truffle. The Chicago restaurant will be located at One South Wacker, a 40-story office tower designed by famed architect Helmut Jahn in 1982. The building is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation to add a new fitness center, tenant lounge, and conferencing facilities. Guard & Grace enters a highly competitive market for upscale steakhouses in Chicago. Recent rankings for the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants included local players Asador Bastian (ranked 13th), Swift & Sons (71st), and Bavette's Bar & Boeuf (77th).