Georgetown Edition | April 2026

Dining

BY JILLIAN NACHTIGAL

After years of hearing the same request from loyal customers just up the road, restaurateur Bill Nychay brought a taste of Chicago to Georgetown in February 2025. His newest venture, The Red Door Kitchen, builds on the success of his sandwich shop WiseGuys, while expanding into pizza, pasta and weekend breakfast. The spot draws in locals eager for an authentic bite of the Windy City, especially those chasing the unmistakable comfort of a dipped Italian beef sandwich, Nychay said. The backstory WiseGuys has been around for 15 years. Nychay opened a Round Rock location about 10 years ago, and found that many of his customers live in Georgetown. “They’re like, ‘Man, if you ever came to George- town, we’d be with you every day,’” Nychay said. Respecting the craft Red Door Kitchen ships in poppy seed buns from Chicago and the hot dogs are all Vienna Beef brand. “Everything is authentic and legit and right,” Nychay said. “It costs money. But you can’t do what you want to do if you’re not willing to spend money. You can’t fake it. Chicago people will know right away if that’s not a Vienna hot dog.” He says Chicago people are more loyal to their food than Texas folks are to barbecue. “The number one thing they miss is the food,” Nychay said. Craving Italian beef? Nychay said the star of the show at Red Door Kitchen is the Italian beef sandwich, which is layered with thinly sliced Italian beef with sweet peppers or hot giardiniera on a Turano roll. Served with au jus, Nychay says you “have to dip it.” This sandwich is the top selling item on the menu. “When they come in here, people say, ‘It’s like I’m back home,’” Nychay said. “I had a lady that came in, hadn’t had Italian beef in 40 years.” One more thing March was Red Door Kitchen’s busiest month since opening. Patrons from Sun City keep the restaurant lled as they host parties and events, and the BYOB concept means Friday and Saturday nights will have wine glasses at each table. A taste of home: Chicago classics nd a place at The Red Door Kitchen

Popular menu items at The Red Door Kitchen include the works pizza ($20.99), the Chicago dog ($9.99), the Italian beef sandwich ($13.99), chicken marsala ($17.49), and the Red Door salad ($13.99).

PHOTOS BY JILLIAN NACHTIGALCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Bill Nychay (middle back) and his sta opened The Red Door Kitchen in Georgetown in February 2025.

LAKEWAY DR.

4106 Williams Drive, Georgetown www.therdk.com

The Chicago dog ($9.99) features a Vienna Beef hot dog with mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, sport peppers, a pickle spear and celery salt.

GEORGETOWN EDITION