About Us

Awards & Accolades:

Paramount Room

Volo

LTH Forum "Great Neighborhood Restaurant Award" 2008/2009

Participating Restaurant/Luminary at The Nantucket Food & Wine Festival 2007

Best Wine Bar - Best of Citysearch 2006, Chicago Nightlife

Best Wine List - Best of Citysearch 2006/2007, Chicago Restaurants
City's Best Date Spot (Top 10) - AOL Cityguide Chicago 2007

City's Best Outdoor Dining (Top 10) - AOL Cityguide Chicago 2007

Reader's Choice "Best New Wine Bar" - New City Magazine, Best of Chicago 2006

Featured on TV's 190 North - WLS-TV ABC Chicago

As seen on The Food Network's Tasty Travels

Featured on the HD "Reel Chefs" Series on answerstv.com

Kitsch'n On Roscoe

$40 a Day with Rachael Ray, Chicago - The Food Network (Our Favorite!)
The Food Network - Top 5, Delicious Duos - The Food Network
Best Of, Top Ten Fun Food Factories - The Travel Channel

Winner - Best of Chicago, Best "Morning After" Brunch Spot - Citysearch.com

Past Editorial Winner – Best Brunch, Best of Citysearch – Citysearch.com
Past Winner - Best of Chicago, 1st Place: Comfort Food - Citysearch.com
Neighborhood Dining in Chicago – Bon Appetit Magazine (Apr 2004)
"The Ultimate Comfort Food Destination", Check, Please! - PBS WTTW11 TV
Past Winner Best Brunch, Chicago's Choice Awards Poll - Chicago Tribune / Metromix.com
Roscoe Village's "Dining Hotspot" - Chicago Social Magazine (Sep 2000)
"Chicago's Best Waitstaff", Best of Chicago Reader's Poll – New City Magazine
"Chicago's Best Hangover Breakfast" – New City Magazine
"Best Place To Eat With Family" – New City Magazine
Winner, Jack Daniel's Chicago Chili Cook-Off (2001, 2004, 2007)


Background:

Jon & wife Helene Albert opened Kitsch'n (2005 W. Roscoe, Chicago) in late 98' when a longtime diner in Roscoe Village, just blocks from their home, became available. Working quickly, they converted it into a fun & funky 1970 's retro diner serving up comfort food with a gourmet twist. Kitsch'n has since become a Chicago cult icon, and has been featured in Bon Appetit, on The Food Channel (Rachael Ray's $40 a Day) and The Travel Channel for their delicious food and unique atmosphere, winning numerous awards and accolades. 

A larger sister location opened in early 2005 in the old Montgomery Ward Warehouse building housed Kitsch'n River North and The Fifth, and now currently serves the 600 West complex exclusively Monday through Friday via Kitsch'n River North's "k-cafe".

Since opening Volo Restaurant Wine Bar with Chef Partner Stephen Dunner in the spring of 2005 it has been awarded “Best Wine Bar”, and “Best Wine List” by Best of Citysearch for Chicago Nightlife and Restaurants, as well as being voted Top 10 for "Best Date Place", and "Best Outdoor Dining" by AOL Cityguide (Chicago).

A second collaboration between Young and Dunne, Paramount Room, opened in mid 2007 features a unique dual-level food & drink spot located in River West offering a chef-driven menu of internationally inspired cuisine paired with an acclaimed selection of craft beer, belgian ales, inventive house designed cocktails, and wine by the glass.

Jon Young

A finance major and graduate of Drake Univeristy, Jon traded options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange before trading in his acronym to pursue a love of the restaurant business. Over almost two decades he has successfully managed restaurants for Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You, Inc. (Maggiano's Little Italy, P.J. Clarke's, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba), restaurateur Alex Dana's Rosebud Restaurants (Centro, La Rosetta) as well as his own concepts (Kitsch'n, Volo & Paramount Room).

Helene Albert

Helene has worked multiple positions in the service industry for the past 15 years. In addition to oversight of the restaurants, Helene is an international flight attendant for American Airlines, and a River Docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Jon & Helene live and work on Chicago's north side with their two children.