Meanwhile in the old Papa Spiros / Chara space at...

733 Lake St, Oak Park

Forest Park's Scratch Kitchen and Lounge will be opening another outpost by November 1st.

http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/9- ... -location/

I enjoy their food and even the atmosphere of their other locations and it will be a welcome addition to 'Restaurant Row'.

Looks like Messy Crab is both open and following in the footsteps of other local places by charging Chicago prices for Oak Park-quality fare. Talking $20+ an entree. And $13 margaritas!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Messy-Crab ... 986109224/
722 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 763-9937

Further bad sign that their posted website is DOA.

Michael's Beef House
6747 W North Ave, Oak Park
(708) 848-8080

... is under new management. The building is undergoing an extensive cleanup & redo. (Note the big dumpster for construction trash in the photo.
Sources say the new management operates 3 other restaurants and that they will keep the name Michael's Beef.
It's encouraging that that the building was only on the market for a few weeks.

https://www.facebook.com/NorthAvenueNei ... 50343757:0

Vitesse98 wrote:Looks like Messy Crab is both open and following in the footsteps of other local places by charging Chicago prices for Oak Park-quality fare. Talking $20+ an entree. And $13 margaritas!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Messy-Crab ... 986109224/
722 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 763-9937

Further bad sign that their posted website is DOA.

I had a pretty good meal at...

bobbywal wrote:I'm also curious about the Messy Crab and will try it. But if you need a fix before then, I think you might want to try Seafood Junction (123 Madison). I can't vouch for consistency as I've only had it once. I grabbed take-out (two cajun style snow crab clusters with potatoes) and found it to be a delicious "crab-in-a-bag" option surprisingly close to home.

... for about half the price.

Panther in the Den wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote:Looks like Messy Crab is both open and following in the footsteps of other local places by charging Chicago prices for Oak Park-quality fare. Talking $20+ an entree. And $13 margaritas!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Messy-Crab ... 986109224/
722 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 763-9937

Further bad sign that their posted website is DOA.

I had a pretty good meal at...

bobbywal wrote:I'm also curious about the Messy Crab and will try it. But if you need a fix before then, I think you might want to try Seafood Junction (123 Madison). I can't vouch for consistency as I've only had it once. I grabbed take-out (two cajun style snow crab clusters with potatoes) and found it to be a delicious "crab-in-a-bag" option surprisingly close to home.

... for about half the price.

Very encouraging - I live just a few blocks away...

Vitesse98 wrote:Looks like Messy Crab is both open and following in the footsteps of other local places by charging Chicago prices for Oak Park-quality fare. Talking $20+ an entree. And $13 margaritas!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Messy-Crab ... 986109224/
722 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 763-9937

Further bad sign that their posted website is DOA.

I ate at Messy Crab the other day. First, I do not find the prices wacky at all. The market price for head-on shrimp on Saturday was $14/lb. Sure crab legs and lobster ran over $20, but that's not wrong per se; on the other hand there were mussels @ $10/lb and crawfish @ $9, so you have options. A pound of seafood per person, supplemented by an order of garlic bread + add-on potatoes and corn left us with leftovers. What was interesting/surprising to me was that the focus here is Mexican. It's really like a version of Islas Marias, not the Asian-cajun blend that's been the craze. That said, the prices are right in line with, say Happy Pollo on Grand/Austin (w/o the benefit of BYO).

Good?

Yes. Very much worth going back IMO.

Panther in the Den wrote:La Notte Cafe
6822 Windsor Ave, Berwyn
http://lanottecafe.com/
(708) 749-1800

... is planning to open another outpost on Marion St in Oak Park

http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/6- ... -Oak-Park/

At the location of the shuttered...
Aripo's Venezuelan Arepa House
118 N Marion St

Happened to be driving by on Friday and noticed people inside. Locked on the binders and stopped in.

Apparently they have been having a couple of soft openings (fixed and limited menu) during the last week and Friday was their hard opening (full menu).


High End Table Settings!

Things were good. Service had a few fits and starts but I was able to keep them on track. Prices on the high side ($20 - $30) in keeping with the other high end restaurants that have been opening up lately. Drinks good at $10 although inconsistently prepared.

Seemed like it was another FFaR (Friends, Family and Relatives) evening and the staff (hostesses and chef) would sit at various tables to chat, hugs upon exit. Most of the upper staff are all related with the father being the chef. Heard them apologizing to other patrons for the slow service and they even mentioned to us that papa needs some additional help at the stove.

Not sure what their relation is to the other location in Berwyn. They confessed that it was their fathers dream to open a place of his own.

My Brides Alfredo was just as it should of been, my Veal Marsala was tasty enough but could of been presented better (4 thin slabs on a plate) and the side of pasta with red sauce was very good!

We are planning to go back to the Berwyn location and order the same meal to see how it compares and to compare the pricing.

All in all it might not make it into my regular rotation as there are several good Italian places in the area at a lower price point but I will stop in again.

La Notte Ristorante Italiano
118 N Marion St, Oak Park
(708) 948-7576
http://www.lanotte-op.com

La Notte's executive chef and owner Giovanni Matteo Mancini has a multitude of recipes which draw on his upbringing in Italy, but also his families ancestral recipes from Rome and Tuscany and Bari.

Panther in the Den wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote:When does that new bakery Spilt Milk open? Or did it?

As far as I can tell (online) they were supposed to open in August but no announcement. I am past there frequently so I'll take a peek...

Not open...

Supposedly Saturday...

... we'll open(ing) our first retail location at 103 S Oak Park Ave in Oak Park, IL on October 29, 2016. We hope you'll stop by and try something sweet!

http://www.spiltmilkpastry.com/about

Robinson's No 1 Ribs is open at...

848 Madison, Oak Park
(708) 383-8452
http://www.rib1.com/

Panther in the Den wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote:When does that new bakery Spilt Milk open? Or did it?

Supposedly Saturday...

Walking by today and they looked open so I poked my nose inside only to be quickly shooed out, "We're closed and forgot to lock the door!". I did manage a little conversation as I was on my way out...

Apparently they do have some savory items as well. Sandwiches, Chicken Pot Pie.

I guess the pot pie is around 6 to 8 inches (she was gesturing with her hands) for around $14. Mmmm... Sounds like it should be very tasty.

She was also pushing their sweet pies pretty strongly.

Hustled out the door and it was quickly locked.

Vital Information wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote:Looks like Messy Crab is both open and following in the footsteps of other local places by charging Chicago prices for Oak Park-quality fare. Talking $20+ an entree. And $13 margaritas!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Messy-Crab ... 986109224/
722 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 763-9937

Further bad sign that their posted website is DOA.

I ate at Messy Crab the other day. First, I do not find the prices wacky at all. The market price for head-on shrimp on Saturday was $14/lb. Sure crab legs and lobster ran over $20, but that's not wrong per se; on the other hand there were mussels @ $10/lb and crawfish @ $9, so you have options. A pound of seafood per person, supplemented by an order of garlic bread + add-on potatoes and corn left us with leftovers. What was interesting/surprising to me was that the focus here is Mexican. It's really like a version of Islas Marias, not the Asian-cajun blend that's been the craze. That said, the prices are right in line with, say Happy Pollo on Grand/Austin (w/o the benefit of BYO).

Good?

Yes. Very much worth going back IMO.

We visited last week and had a great meal!

If you are joining a group and are not a fish eater your choices are very limited. Chicken finger appetizer or the steak and fish special and ask them to hold the fish (at full price).

Also the drink selection was also limited. No Old Fashioneds, Manhattans or Martinis. I guess beer and Margaritas is about it.

The fish dishes were well received and the fish eaters were eager to return. I had rice and ordered a bowl of pho from next door for the road.

The prices by the pound were not bad at all.

A nice addition to the neighborhood!

Maybe some coffee?

http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10 ... rk-Avenue/

L!VE Café
163 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park
https://www.livexclamation.com/

mid-November

I can't keep up...

Been open since June 13th, 2014

Sergio’s Place
6966 W North Ave, Chicago, IL
(773) 622-5555
http://www.sergiosplacechicago.com

Looks nice on the web?

Who cares anyway.

The Heritage in Forest Park.
We had dinner there a few weeks ago thought it was very good.
Not positive but I think it may occupy what used to be House Red.
http://www.theheritageforestpark.com/

Great to hear about Messy Crab. So what then is going on with Spilt Milk? Website still says 10/29. I have a friend who says OP's health inspector is fair but super strict, which is the only reason I can think of for so many delays for all these new and seemingly not too complicated spots (bakeries, coffeeshops, burger places, etc.). The counterpoint is how quickly (the weirdly beautiful) Lou Malnati's came together, but I assume as a known quantity and franchise they know how to navigate the ins and outs of this stuff better than independents, neophytes and one-offs.

Vitesse98 wrote: So what then is going on with Spilt Milk?

See upthread.

The venerable...

New Star Restaurant
7444 W North Ave, Elmwood Park,
(708) 453-8242
http://www.newstarrestaurant.com/

Changed hands a while ago and have been redecorating and adding to the menu. Sushi bar, Thai, and soon to come, Hibachi.

Beautiful and modern inside.

Rumor has it the new owners bought the old recipes from the Moy family. Everything still tastes great and even the egg rolls have the same flavor if a bit smaller.

As usual they were doing a very brisk takeout and delivery business with perhaps 20 orders staged near the bar. Not bad for a Wednesday night.

Panther in the Den wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote: So what then is going on with Spilt Milk?

See upthread.

$4.50 muffins. Good though!

Sorry, I was confused (and still am?). I know Spilt Milk was supposed to be open, but scanning upthread I just saw a post from someone more or less being kicked out because they weren't open. Was that to mean that yes, it was open for business, but was just literally closed, like end of the day closed? Anyway, maybe I'll check it out now, I'll be right by there ...

Vitesse98 wrote:Sorry, I was confused (and still am?). I know Spilt Milk was supposed to be open, but scanning upthread I just saw a post from someone more or less being kicked out because they weren't open. Was that to mean that yes, it was open for business, but was just literally closed, like end of the day closed? Anyway, maybe I'll check it out now, I'll be right by there ...

$4.50 muffins.

Anyway, it is open! Or at least, the door was open and people were inside. Next time I'll have to go in.

My date chose The Messy Crab as a pre-show meal last night amongst the new options and it worked out pretty well.

We split a pound of snow crab legs ($20) and the easy-peel (headless) shrimp($14) with some potatoes and sausage added. The former was in the "Cajun" sauce with "hot" spiciness and the latter was garlic-butter with "mild spice" which wasn't on the menu technically but was recommended to us by the friendly server which turned out to be perfect for my companion. We added an order of the garlic bread after the bags came to dip in the sauce.

I'll still be getting takeout from Seafood Junction, but I liked this as a dine-in option very much. The shrimp were pretty much perfectly cooked and the crab was very good - lots of nice long pieces from the legs to dip in the sauce. Potatoes and sausage also quite tasty.

I also liked the sinks in the main dining area to be able to wash your hands without having to go in to the washrooms, etc.

At the old Papa Spiro's / Chara spot at...

733 Lake St, Oak Park

The Forest Park favorite, Scratch Kitchen, has opened (January 6th) their 4th outpost...

Scratch on Lake
https://www.facebook.com/scratchonlake/
It appears with a more formal bar area.

I have always enjoyed their other locations and I am eager to give them a try.

The new Scratch does have a full bar with cocktails (Paloma was excellent) and draft beers in addition to the many cans hallmarking the original location. Ventilation is a challenge in that layout with as much fried as they do - the space feels a little cramped and stale to me, though I'll give them time since the paint was still drying on my visit. Food was strong, particularly Greek spuds - these should be on more menus.

Went to scratch the day before opening day. I was walking by and saw that the place was full, though the sign outside said opening was the following day, I wondered in. I was glad I did. I ordered the make your own burger and it was better than the few times I've been to the forest park location--it was not overcooked. We tried their drumsticks appetizer which is basically buffalo wings with drumsticks. Very well done. Then came my wife's favorite, fire mac and cheese. This is her go to dish at the forest park location and it did not disappoint. Even better was the bill. No charge for food just drinks.

Decided to give Messy Crab another try. Last time I went was with Oak Park Boys Club. I was not impressed the first time, but I arrived late and felt maybe the food was better when served fresh. My wife was really interested in going, so what the hell. I went for the seafood boil with crayfish and mussels. I ordered it spicy and it was the definition of average. Nothing special and nothing to bring me back. My wife ordered the jumbo shrimp which was over salted and dry for $30, it came with garlic bread that was burnt. My margarita was average and my wife's ginger ale tasted more like sprite. The fries were average to boot. All in all average to below average food at a premium price.

dradeli wrote:...All in all average to below average food at a premium price.

There is a joke in there somewhere about OP Dining for the last 60 odd years.

Michael's Beef House @ North & Oak Park Ave is open again under new management. Appears to be much improved from the last guy. The place was totally gutted. Fries very good, dog was slightly above average, will have to return for beef and hamburgers.

Santander wrote:The new Scratch does have a full bar with cocktails (Paloma was excellent) and draft beers in addition to the many cans hallmarking the original location. Ventilation is a challenge in that layout with as much fried as they do - the space feels a little cramped and stale to me, though I'll give them time since the paint was still drying on my visit. Food was strong, particularly Greek spuds - these should be on more menus.

Stopped by after a movie for date night dinner with My Bride.

I guess I was a little grumpy. Drink seemed small for $10, burger cooked very well (they didn't ask), asked for side of cheese for the fries (limp and soft) that came with the burger and it was thin and bland.

Turned out the drink was strong, the mac and cheese and chicken legs, awesome (as is par for the chain)... I guess the visit wasn't a complete loss. I left feeling pretty good.

RE: Scratch. Decent burger but they won't cook it rare. Decent fries, though the garlic ones didn't have any garlic on them. Worst mac and cheese I have ever had. Don't really see the appeal of this place.

The family behind Two Brothers Brewing has signed a letter of intent to purchase the longtime home of Marion Street Cheese Market in downtown Oak Park with plans to make it their fifth restaurant.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-oak-park