spinynorman99 wrote:

Telegram Sam wrote:

We now resume our regular scheduled programming........

Coming soon to the Location of the Damned in downtown Skokie:

The Crazy Greek
5051 W. Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077

This ridiculously located spot formerly was Cravelane, and Panino Blitz. Both very short lived.

Unbelievable. The Restaurant Witness Protection Program location.

I have a hard time imagining that even a pot dispensary could succeed there.

Not that familiar with the area, so I satellite-mapped it out of curiosity. Looks like they're depending on foot traffic from the small park named Fountain Terrace. (Unless the Chase Bank lot allows non-customers to park.) And I'm guessing the number of people who frequent Fountain Terrace at any given time is somewhere between 0 and 4?

Madero's on Irving Park and Ravenswood is taking a winter break. After trying to post the photo a dozen times and getting "The image file you tried to attach is invalid" I've had to move on. The Web site backs up the winter break.

Madero's
1800 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL
https://www.maderoschicago.com/

riddlemay wrote:Not that familiar with the area, so I satellite-mapped it out of curiosity. Looks like they're depending on foot traffic from the small park named Fountain Terrace. (Unless the Chase Bank lot allows non-customers to park.) And I'm guessing the number of people who frequent Fountain Terrace at any given time is somewhere between 0 and 4?

It's ideal for a money-laundering enterprise, less so for a profit-based business.

No more sweet potato pie on 95th street as Jimmy Jams has closed.

SWag wrote:No more sweet potato pie on 95th street as Jimmy Jams has closed.

Do you have more info on this? Sad news

abe_froeman wrote:

SWag wrote:No more sweet potato pie on 95th street as Jimmy Jams has closed.

Do you have more info on this? Sad news

If so, it should be posted here, on the dedicated Jimmy Jamm's thread.

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators

Huh??

Rick Bayless and Jollibee Unveil Their Fast-Casual Partnership at Willis Tower

As per their Facebook page Sono Wood Fired Pizza at 1582 N. Clybourn closed after service on January 11th. They're looking for a new home in Chicago and will be opening a location in Colombus, Ohio soon. The space will be available for private events through February and they plan on opening up for pop-up events on January 30th and February 14th.

According to an Eater article Sono's next-door sister restaurant Burger Bar will be closing soon as well (as early as March) as the land owner is looking to redevelop the property.

Previous thread here

Drover wrote:[T]here looks to be a return of Barcello's Pizza & Pasta in the works. I don't know if it's a return of the "old-school" version or the bought--out-and-fancied-up, overpriced version. Or if it's neither and someone is just appropriating the name.

Barcello's Pizza and Pasta ("Coming Soon")
3576 N. Milwaukee Ave
(773) 205-8700

Closed.

Saw a large sign in the window that Bridgeport Bakery is reopening "soon." I was driving past and didn't catch the smaller print, but I think they are trying to be ready for paczki day. I had heard at least one of the non-retiring bakers wanted to keep it going, glad it appears to be true.

Per my business license and Facebook sleuthing, Mariscos Blue Marlin is opening on January 18, 2020 (Saturday - tomorrow) at 3207 S Halsted in Bridgeport. As the name indicates, it will be a Mexican seafood restaurant also with non seafood dishes. This is next door to WuFu Hunan restaurant (formerly Homestyle Taste).

https://www.facebook.com/Mariscos-Blue- ... 8540600757

Mariscos Blue Marlin - Opening January 18
3207 S Halsted St
(312) 888-9963

Hours posted on Facebook page:
Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 9pm
Friday - Saturday: 11am - 10pm


Also, an all you can eat sushi place called Golden Gai Sushi should be opening soon at 1144 W 18th St in Pilsen.

Chef Tony Hu opening hot pot restaurant Xiaolongkan in former Won Kow space in Chinatown

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html

Cemitas Puebla is closing its doors on 1/24/20.

https://www.facebook.com/CemitasPueblaC ... =3&theater

Lucy's is opening a location at Wilson/Broadway in Uptown
https://www.facebook.com/lucyschicago/p ... 458128864/
https://www.uptownupdate.com/2020/01/lu ... s-new.html

The Yard House location at New City (1500 N. Clybourn) closed as of January 22nd according to a banner hanging in the window. The location no longer shows up on their website and they have been removed from the New City directory.

Coogles wrote:The Yard House location at New City (1500 N. Clybourn) closed as of January 22nd according to a banner hanging in the window. The location no longer shows up on their website and they have been removed from the New City directory.

I wonder if a non-suburban non-chain could make it in that location. From the moment New City opened, the selection of restaurants seemed all wrong to me. An attempt to re-create The Glen, but in the city. That doesn't seem to me to be what city folks want. But what do I know? Maybe suburban chains are the only ones who can afford the rent.

riddlemay wrote:

Coogles wrote:The Yard House location at New City (1500 N. Clybourn) closed as of January 22nd according to a banner hanging in the window. The location no longer shows up on their website and they have been removed from the New City directory.

I wonder if a non-suburban non-chain could make it in that location. From the moment New City opened, the selection of restaurants seemed all wrong to me. An attempt to re-create The Glen, but in the city. That doesn't seem to me to be what city folks want. But what do I know? Maybe suburban chains are the only ones who can afford the rent.

Also the mall was very poorly designed. Everything faces inside & not the streets.

Per Yelp, Northside Kitchen is closed. I did a walk-by yesterday around 10AM and it was dark. There was a distinct closed vibe. Not the biggest loss, but I hoped that they would have been able to work out the kinks and been a decent breakfast place for the neighborhood.

Northside Kitchen
2012 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60618

Warehouse Woodfired Eatery & Sports, the former Trax, in downtown Deerfield has closed. It was a decent place to watch a game and get a drink and bar food in an area with not many options for such. Looks like our fantasy football draft needs a new location.

For Immediate Release

Chef Stephen Gillanders to Open Second Restaurant in Chicago

1/30/20 | Chicago, IL — Chef Stephen Gillanders, owner of acclaimed S.K.Y. restaurant in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, introduces the launch of a unique new concept slated to open this fall. Apolonia, named after Gillanders’ grandmother, will be located in South Loop and feature European-Mediterranean fare with an emphasis on seafood. The bright, 100-seat space will evoke a contemporary, approachable atmosphere, and offer Chef Gillanders' signature shared-plate, social dining experience.

"I'm excited to show how much range we have as a team. Apolonia will differ completely from S.K.Y. conceptually, however, we will carry with us the things that have worked so well for us operationally: service, technical execution, creativity and culture. The idea is to provide a completely new experience to our guests, rooted with the same principles we have grown into and executed with the same precision we are known for,” Gillanders explains.

Inspired by Chef Gillanders’ travels throughout Europe, Apolonia's menu will present a modern approach to the ingredients and flavors from the coasts of France, Spain, and Italy, while utilizing seasonal, local, and sustainable products. A collection of notable dishes will be prepared in the wood-burning oven and on the wood-fired grill. Such dishes will include Wood Grilled Spanish Octopus with chickpeas and a smoked pimento emulsion; Whole Roasted Prawns with Romesco sauce and shaved fennel; and Strozzapreti al Sugo with smoked tomatoes and pork neck sausage. Desserts will be created by Executive Pastry Chef Tatum Sinclair and will also focus on European ingredients and techniques. Sinclair will be introducing a Banana Budino Cake — based on the signature Budino — comprised of banana cake, vanilla custard and granola; as well as a Croquembouche filled with frozen mousse. An exclusive, in-house bread program will also be initiated by Sinclair, featuring puffed sourdough flatbreads and focaccia made from a proprietary flour blend. Guests can expect food offerings in the $8-29 price range. The beverage program, led by General Manager/Partner Charles Ford, will feature old-world cocktails, plus a rotating selection of carefully curated wines by the glass and bottle, all sourced from the Mediterranean coastline.

The space is located at 2201 S. Michigan Ave. and will offer dinner service five days a week with plans to expand into weekend brunch and eventually lunch. According to Gillanders, "The South Loop area is beautiful and growing and absolutely ready for a restaurant such as Apolonia."

About Chef Stephen Gillanders

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Gillanders became fascinated with food at a young age. He spent much of his childhood in the kitchen alongside his Filipino grandmother and enjoyed observing and helping prepare authentic home dishes like lumpia . At the age of 15, he participated in a summer program at the Culinary Arts Institute of Los Angeles that his mother insisted he try. It was after his first culinary class that Stephen discovered his love for cooking and knew he was meant to become a chef.

Gillanders attended culinary school in Los Angeles, then went on to receive his B.S. in Culinary Arts Management at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As a student at UNLV, Gillanders won the national title of San Pellegrino's “Almost Famous Chef” competition and was later offered the position of sous chef at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Prime. He opened Jean-Georges’ second Las Vegas restaurant as executive sous chef and after two years, Gillanders traveled expansively throughout Asia and Europe to broaden his culinary repertoire. He returned to the U.S., this time settling in New York City, to become the Corporate Executive Chef of the Jean-Georges Management Corporation. During his tenure as corporate executive chef, Gillanders opened 9 restaurants, foreign and domestic, and was responsible for the seven New York restaurants within the Jean-Georges empire.

In 2016, Chef Gillanders joined Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ INTRO for a 3-month chef-in-residence position, which then turned into a permanent role as Chef/Partner. He quickly built a following in Chicago and opened his first solo restaurant, S.K.Y. in fall of 2018. S.K.Y. continues to receive critical acclaim both locally and beyond, including “Best New Restaurant” by Chicago Magazine.

For media inquiries, contact:
Lorraine Petrie
Marketing Director
[email protected]
(310) 751-4899

Exterior signage for Myplace is up at the former Lobo Ray space on Wabash. A quick scan of the interwebs shows that the restaurant was formerly located in Chinatown; its original incarnation focused on noodle/casserole/congee dishes + the usual bubble tea and smoothie assortment. Smart move to hightail it up north a few blocks: the neighborhood needs this sort of place, and they'll have no competition. (Ming Hin, which also just opened in the neighborhood, is going for something much, well, louder.)

Pullman Food Hall Welcomes Lexington Betty's Smokehouse
West Side BBQ Spot Opens in South Side Food Hall

Lexington Betty's replaces Exquisite to Go sandwich shop and joins Laine's Bake Shop and Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine to round out the space of Black-owned restaurants at 756 E. 111th St.

Lexington Betty's owner Dominique Leach said her goal was also to expand and make the South Side as familiar with her food as residents who support the West Side location at 6954 W. North Ave., and have supported the pop-up spots and food truck before her storefront opened a year ago. Leach said the concept honors her southern heritage through her grandmother Betty King, who hails from Lexington, Miss.

2201 N. Lincoln Ave. has had the windows papered over and a sign up saying "Coming Soon - Diner" for months, yesterday evening as I was walking by the paper was off and a sign on the window says it's called "Dash of Salt and Pepper Diner". According to their Facebook page they had their grand opening yesterday, hours are 7AM to 1PM so I didn't get a chance to check them out.

Maple Tree Inn set to open Friday

The Maple Tree Inn will officially open Friday, Feb. 7, in Homewood. A ribbon cutting is being organized and may come as soon as next week.

18849 Dixie Highway
Homewood.Il

https://chicago.eater.com/2020/2/5/2112 ... eddy-bears

I have been to the one in Flushing and it's the best hot pot I've had in the US. Took my in laws there a few months ago when they were visiting from China and they thought it was very good.

For the record, I'm pretty sure you can't eat the bears, but I could be wrong.

Chinese hot pot chains are snapping up locations across the U.S. — and locally in Chicago — and now a New York-based company is leaping into the fray. Xiang Hot Pot, which operates locations in Brooklyn and Queens, is “coming soon” to the South Loop, according to its website.

And the company’s signature gimmick — edible teddy bears made with mala soup and butter that dissolves (slowly, it seems) into steaming broth — could be available too. Reps have not yet responded to a request for more information.

Xiang Hot Pot is slated to open in the space above S.K.Y. chef Stephen Gillanders’s forthcoming restaurant Apolonia inside a Hilton Hotel, he said. The building at 2201 S. Michigan Avenue, near Wintrust Arena and McCormick Place, also houses the second Fatpour Tap Works, a Starbucks, and VU Rooftop Bar.

Sushi Plus Chinatown is opening soon. I walked past it earlier this week and they look ready to go. The rotary sushi bar should be a good gimmick.

It looks like it's part Sushi+ in Lakeview. There's an old Eater article mentioning a Chinatown (and Wicker Park) location coming. There's a coming soon map at the bottom of their web page.

Between Phoenix and Strings on Archer. I think it's

Sushi Plus
2131 S Archer
Chicago, IL

Per Facebook post, Harold's Chicken has opened up at the Shops at North Bridge (520 N Michigan Ave) 4th floor food court as of 2/5. They also got a business license issued recently to open at 3933 N Broadway, just south of Irving Park Rd.

I have also updated my new retail food business license issuances map through 2/7.

Can't find a dedicated thread, but it appears Whisk at 2018 W. Chicago is closed. Reported on Yelp as of 2/1, Facebook and website are gone. I know they started closing for dinner in or around December.

Neapolitan pizzeria Gallucci will be opening in the old Dinotto space at 1551 N. Wells on Friday.

Started a new thread here.

Benny’s Chop House to Close After a Decade in River North

Management behind essential Chicago steakhouse Benny’s Chop House has announced its impending closure at the end of the month in River North after a decade of serving martinis and steaks. Its final day of service is Leap Day, Saturday, February 29.