our team

Hailing from Mimoso do Sul, Brazil, Junior Borges brings over two decades of culinary expertise to Chicago's Nic & Junior's Tavern. Borges honed his craft in America's great food cities, from his start in New York to a transformative move to Dallas, where he served as Executive Chef at Uchi.

 

His extensive culinary history culminated in launching Meridian, the United States' first modern Brazilian restaurant, where he was named a 2023 James Beard Award Outstanding Chef semifinalist. Ready for a new undertaking, Chef Borges partnered with longtime friend and restaurateur Nicholas Yanes to open Nic & Junior's Tavern, an upscale neighborhood destination in the heart of River North. ​

 

Here, Borges imparts his signature creativity, attention to detail, and craftsmanship onto a menu of elevated classics, which earned Nic & Junior’s Tavern a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist nod for Best New Restaurant.