Gingie reservations open daily at midnight for the following 30 days on OpenTable. The published release time does not specify a time zone, so treat midnight Central Time as unconfirmed and check the live calendar before the date you need enters the window.
That is the practical answer for diners trying to book Brian Lockwood's River North restaurant. Gingie reopened on August 29 after a March kitchen fire interrupted its original run, and current coverage says reservations are moving quickly.
Last verified: August 29, 2026. Booking rules can change. Confirm availability and any terms shown during checkout on Gingie's official OpenTable listing.
When Gingie Reservations Are Released
OpenTable's current Gingie feature says reservations drop every day at midnight for the next 30 days. This is a rolling calendar, not a monthly batch, so one new date should appear each night.
The source does not identify the release time zone. Gingie is in Chicago, but do not assume midnight Central Time is guaranteed until the restaurant or booking page states it explicitly. Open the calendar a few minutes early, stay signed in, and watch when the target date becomes selectable.
OpenTable showed active inventory for parties from one through 20 when this guide was verified. That is a booking-interface observation, not a published promise that every party size is offered at every seating. Large groups should use Gingie's private events inquiry instead of trying to coordinate separate tables.
The Best Booking Strategy
Create or sign in to your OpenTable account before release time. Set your target date, real party size, and a broad time range, then take the first acceptable table rather than repeatedly searching for the perfect 7 p.m. slot.
Friday and Saturday prime times will usually face the most pressure. Sunday through Thursday, an early 5 p.m. seating, and later dinner slots offer more flexibility. The current hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
If the initial release sells out, keep checking the same OpenTable listing. Reopening plans change, and canceled tables can return to the calendar. Resto Mojo can monitor a sold-out restaurant reservation for matching availability, but no monitoring service can guarantee that a table will appear.
What Is Still Unverified
Gingie's public pages do not currently publish a general deposit requirement, cancellation deadline, late-cancellation fee, no-show charge, or walk-in policy. Review the exact terms presented by OpenTable before confirming because they can vary by date, experience, or party size.
The same caution applies to the midnight release. The 30-day cadence is published, but the time zone is not. If you are booking from outside Chicago, do not convert the release time until you observe the calendar or receive confirmation from the restaurant.
Walking in may be possible, but it is not a verified fallback strategy. The room includes a main dining room, lounge, patio, and eight-seat bar, according to OpenTable, yet none of those areas is publicly promised for walk-ins. Call Gingie at the number on its booking profile before making a special trip without a reservation.
Why Gingie Is in Demand Now
The immediate reason is its reopening. Gingie first opened in March, then a grease-chute fire closed it after only three days. CBS Chicago reported that no injuries occurred, and the restaurant has now returned with reservations live.
The longer story is Chef Partner Brian Lockwood. Boka Restaurant Group's official profile traces his career through The French Laundry, Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad, and El Celler de Can Roca. He also worked as a consulting chef on The Bear before opening this first permanent restaurant with Boka.
That pedigree created anticipation before the original opening. OpenTable notes that Bloomberg, Bon Appétit, and Wine Spectator included Gingie among their anticipated 2026 restaurants. The interrupted launch compressed that attention into a second opening moment, which is why flexibility and cancellation monitoring matter now.
What to Order and What It Costs
Gingie's official dinner menu is à la carte and designed to move from seafood and handrolls through starters, pasta, rice, and larger plates. It is contemporary American cooking with Japanese and broader global references rather than a fixed tasting menu.
For a first dinner, consider the $22 potato-parmesan frico with smoked trout roe, the $27 squid ink chitarra with clam and mussel, and one main to share. Current mains include a $46 heritage half chicken, $46 sablefish, $59 grilled lobster, and $59 ribeye. The black pepper tofu rice at $25 and eggplant "steak" at $31 give the menu substantial meat-free options.
Desserts currently run from $9 to $20. The honey meringue with milk ice cream and sesame is the signature choice, while the Gingie sundae for two adds coffee cremeux, hot fudge, toffee, and hazelnut.
The menu states that a 4 percent surcharge is added to checks to offset operating costs and may be removed on request. Budget for drinks, tax, and gratuity beyond listed food prices.
The Room and Best Use Cases
Gingie occupies a 152-seat River North space with burgundy marble, red velvet, chandeliers, and an open kitchen. The eight-seat bar gives the closest view of the kitchen, while the main dining room suits a polished date night or celebratory dinner.
OpenTable lists the style as casual elegant and the dress code as smart casual. The restaurant is expensive enough for a special occasion, but the à la carte format lets diners control the total more easily than at Chicago's prepaid tasting counters.
For broader booking options, browse Resto Mojo's restaurant directory. Gingie is also a useful alternative when the city's hardest tasting-menu reservations are unavailable, especially for diners who want serious cooking without committing to a long fixed menu.
Practical Details
Address: 707 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60654
Neighborhood: River North
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10:30 p.m.
Booking: OpenTable
Official site: Gingie Chicago
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Price: $50 and over, with most current mains from $31 to $59
Dress code: Smart casual
Walk-ins: Not publicly verified
FAQ
What time do Gingie reservations open?
OpenTable says reservations drop daily at midnight for the following 30 days. The time zone is not published, so confirm it against the live calendar rather than assuming midnight Central Time.
How far ahead can you book Gingie?
The published booking window is 30 days. Because it rolls daily, one new date should become available each night at the stated release time.
Is Gingie on Resy or OpenTable?
Gingie currently books through OpenTable. Use the restaurant's official reservation flow or the verified OpenTable listing rather than an older third-party link.
Does Gingie accept walk-ins?
A walk-in policy is not published on the official site or current OpenTable profile. Call the restaurant before relying on bar, lounge, patio, or dining-room availability without a booking.
What happens if Gingie is sold out?
Keep checking OpenTable for returned inventory, search less competitive weekdays and edge times, and monitor cancellations. A sold-out calendar can change, but a table is never guaranteed.
When reservations are gone
Let Resto Mojo keep checking for the table.
Choose the restaurant, date, party size, and time range. Resto Mojo monitors supported booking platforms and can book when a matching opening appears.
