Step inside The Monkey’s Paw.
A warm, inviting atmosphere draws you in, while food and beverage delights invite you to stay awhile. Fresh artisanal ingredients take center stage on the menu offerings. From dinner for two to elegant evenings for group outings, our engaging staff is at your service.
Special events abound from small batch whisky tastings to exclusive beer pairing dinners, we look forward to serving you soon.
The Proprietors--Matt and Barbara Parkinson
Native Chicagoans Barbara and Matt Parkinson are the mother/son duo behind The Monkey’s Paw.
Barbara, a restaurant/bar industry veteran is the self described ‘sweetness and light’ behind the operation. A graduate of Fenger High School, this local gal spent 14 years as CFO of a restaurant group in California after she had planted roots in Santa Barbara. While on a road trip, she took a seven year detour to Taos, New Mexico, where she owned and operated El Patio de Taos Restaurant and Cantina before she returned to Chicago to develop The Monkey’s Paw. 
It’s a safe bet that Matt Parkinson is the only University of Chicago Medieval Studies graduate that is currently helming a bar. Perhaps more of a ‘renaissance man’, Matt has worked nearly every aspect of a bar/restaurant operation from door man to bartender, server and most jobs in between. An accomplished home brewer of 20 years, Matt has a deep love and knowledge of beer, which may only be matched by his affinity for scotch.
| Curious about the name? The Monkey’s Paw derives its name from the famous short story by W.W. Jacobs, in which a monkey’s paw grants three wishes, with unintended consequences. In a nod to the 11 years it took to bring The Monkey’s Paw to fruition, owners Barbara and Matt Parkinson, identify with the irony of the famous tale. Click on the logo to read the short story.  |
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