About Us

Group of six people standing behind a bar in a colorful, lively restaurant or bar, smiling at the camera.

We love our team!

We’re a small, independently owned neighborhood bar, and our team is the heart of everything we do. They’re the ones who bring this place to life every day! When you stop by, don’t forget to take good care of your bartenders and say hello to our cooks.

Had an amazing time, standout service, or great food? Leaving us a Google review means the world to our small business — you can do that here. here.

Group of five people behind a bar counter, holding drinks and smiling, with cocktail ingredients and bar accessories in front.

Check us out on WGN

Thank you for featuring us on WGN for the Avondale Chicago segment. Watch full clip here

Our Team

A woman pours a yellow cocktail through a cocktail strainer into a glass.

Angelica Soto

If you’ve been to Ludlow, you’ve definitely crossed paths with Angelica. A steady, welcoming presence behind the bar, she’s honed her skills over years of bartending at some of Chicago’s standout spots. Angelica brings a thoughtful, methodical approach to cocktail creation—and it shows.

If you stopped by this summer and tried favorites like the Kimchi Michelada or the Caprese Martini, you’ve already experienced the creativity and care she puts into every drink.

Fave House Cocktail: Down the Rabbit Hole
Fave Burger: SuperHai Burger
Fave Classic: Any Daiquiri

Bar Lead
Person in a red hat and sunglasses squatting in snow, holding a red painting of a black cat with a red hat, with a broken chair nearby, trees in the background, and a fence and bridge behind them.

James Grace

Bar Lead

James Grace is one of the friendly faces behind the bar at Ludlow and the host of Whiskey Wednesday + Vinyl & Chess Night. Catch him on Wednesdays to check out the vinyl he’s spinning—bring your own favorites and he’ll happily throw them on. If you ask nicely, he might even beat you at chess.

He’s our resident expert on classic and obscure cocktails alike. If you’ve tried the West of Indiana Negroni or the Sabai Sabai Daiquiri, you’ve had a taste of his handiwork. When he’s not behind the bar, he’s off traveling, exploring new food and drink spots, and listening to sad country music by choice (we don’t ask why).

Fave House Cocktail: Lower East Side
Fave Burger: Rodeo Burger
Fave Classic: Manhattan

A woman smiling behind a bar counter in a dimly lit bar, with bottles and bar tools in the foreground and a menu board on the wall in the background.

Mercedes Guerrero

Bartender and Resident Piercing Expert

Mercy does it all. From whipping up drinks in a jiffy to running our TikTok, she somehow manages everything while making sure everyone gets properly bullied along the way. When she’s not behind the bar, you can find her at Identity Body Piercing, where she works as a resident piercing specialist.

Check out her piercing work HERE

Fave House Cocktail: Just Peachy
Fave Burger: KimCheese Burger
Fave Classic: Anything but whiskey

A man wearing a yellow t-shirt, blue jeans, and headphones is DJing with vinyl records at a party. There is a beverage and a can on the table, and shelves filled with vinyl records in the background.

Jerome Gilbert || Jackersize

Music Director

If you’ve ever wondered who’s been curating our excellent weekend DJ rotations, this is the man behind the music. He’s the one setting the vibe, keeping the energy right, and making sure every night sounds as good as it feels. Outside of Ludlow, you can find him DJing all over Chicago as half of the duo Jackersize, bringing his sharp taste and seamless mixes to dance floors across the city.

See where to find him playing HERE

A man with a beard, wearing a red cap and blue shirt, giving two thumbs up behind a burger with fried onion rings, tomato, lettuce, and bun on checkered paper.

Jordan Ross

Kitchen Gnome + Knife Guy
Skeleton with a human skull mask sitting at a bar, wearing a black t-shirt with white text, in a dimly lit room with Halloween decorations.

Our resident Bar Dad. He’s got the puns and the dad jokes—basically the Bob to our Burgers. He’s also the guy behind Güd Knife, our small cutlery shop and knife sharpening service at the bar. He can sharpen, repair, or even make a new handle for your knife. Find him on any given day, and he’d be happy to nerd out with you about chef knives, burgers, video games, and more.

Fave House Cocktail: Down the Rabbit Hole
Fave Burger: Rodeo or SuperHai
Fave Classic: Handshake

Visit Güd Knife HERE

Jane Chencheng Shang

Design, Marketing, Events & Bar Stuff

“Im Scared”

Fave House Cocktail: Sleepwalker
Fave Burger: Wasabi Bleu Burger
Fave Classic: Espresso & Tonic

See her work HERE