Looks like the former Meritage space (2118 N Damen Ave) is going under the knife to get a full facelift, reopening in late May or early June as Duchamp. The restaurant is a collaboration between the guys behind swank nightspot Lumen (Jason Freiman, Peter Gogarty and Nick Podesta) and Zealous’s Michael Taus. Gogarty is driving the design, which apparently will be a nod to Marcel Duchamp’s “provocative artistic spirit.” (Let’s hope it’s not a literal one; the Dadaist art prankster’s most famous work might spoil a few appetites.)

Taus’s culinary background includes training in Duchamp’s native cuisine, but the chef says he’ll use French mainly as a springboard for his “melting pot” menu that combines Mediterranean and American staples. “The design is really fun and we want it to be a neighborhood place so the food will naturally be really approachable,” Taus says. “We want it to be a very casual, everyday place that people feel like they can come to for a whole meal, just an app and a drink at the bar, or some small plates on the back patio. I’ve tried ten different ground beef sources to find the best one for burgers, we’ll make breads in-house, have stuff like fries with truffle mayo and these long flat pizzas like my Sicilian grandmother used to make, but topped with stuff like lobster and taleggio and lemon zest.”

Taus, who also has pastry experience, will do desserts as well, and plans to have a short list of classics like crème brulee and seasonal tarts. Starters will be in the $8-10 range and entrees will top out at $20. Duchamp is primarily a dinner spot, but due to demand in the neighborhood, Taus says they’ll likely do Sunday brunch as well. Knowing the brunch-crazy Bucktown locals, if they don’t, they’re likely to get a Cynthia Rowley handbag to the head.

UPDATE: Duchamp is opening on Jul 31. Read more about Duchamp’s menu and its artistic pedigree.