Grand Avenue Upheaval

My neighborhood, West Town around Grand and Ogden, has been undergoing quite a restaurant revolution lately. II Jack's closed a couple of weeks ago. Bella Notte moved next door (old news, I know) and now there is a Mexican steak (?!?) place in the old space. I have no idea how long Saussy has been closed, but now there is a Sushi/Thai restaurant in its place, Butterfly. And yesterday on my ride home there was white paper covering Canella's on Grand's windows. There was a sign in the window that said, "Coming Soon May St. Market." The sign thanked the loyal Canella's customers and touted the new place, describing it as "seasonal American cuisine" or something similarly meaningless and bland. I just ate there last week!

Does anyone know more info. about any of these places? Is this the beginning of the end for the Italians on Grand?

Kristen

I wonder if it's the same as the May St. Cafe that is currently at May and Cermak, but seems to have been closed for the past few months.

If so, it was nuevo latino style when it was still open.

The Mexican Restaurant next to Bella Notte is owned and operated by Chef Ramone Aguirre (Grotto Chef Abraham Aguirre's brother), who also owns and runs Bella Notte.

Abraham assures me the food is excellent, and being a big fan of Ramone (and Abraham!) I don't doubt it. I'm hoping to make a trip there in the upcoming week.

ciao
sharon

gleam wrote:I wonder if it's the same as the May St. Cafe that is currently at May and Cermak

Now that I think about it, I think the sign actually said "May St. Market." (I'll edit the OP to say that.) It seemed from the sign that it would be operated by the same people as Canella's.

kl5 wrote: Is this the beginning of the end for the Italians on Grand?

Kristen:

Yikes... Dante's Inferno, the bar down on Hubbard at Racine, owned by an old hockey buddy of mine, looked very closed last time I was over that way.

Is Misto still there, just east of Bari? How 'bout Salerno's?

Bari Foods and D'Amato's are still going strong, I take it...

Antonius

Antonius wrote:Is Misto still there, just east of Bari? How 'bout Salerno's?

Bari Foods and D'Amato's are still going strong, I take it...

Antonius

Antonius, Bari and Damato's (the one at May) are still going strong, as far as I've been able to tell. The other Damato's is still open as well, but I'm not sure about how well they do. Salerno's is still open, but never looks busy. Oggi still going strong. Bella Notte is doing as well as ever. Misto is still open, I'm fairly certain. And the Buon Giorno caffe or whatever it's called, across the street from Bari, is shockingly still open. Dante's, sorry, is most definitely closed.

The Ace Hardware is closed and now there is a sub sandwich shop (Vinnie's?) and a True Value in its spot. (Or maybe it was True Value and now it's Ace?)

Player's, in the old Bone Daddy space, is unfortunately busy all the time. Twisted Spoke is doing well as always. Amelia's seems moderately popular.

It seems like I'm seeing fewer and fewer old neighborhood types and more and more lexus SUVs and thousand dollar strollers.

Sigh.

HI,

Canella's had been recommended as a location for a good rendition of Chicken Vesuvio. It was on my list of places to visit one of these days.

Regards,

I was in the area yesterday for work, don't find myself there that often, but I too marveled at the rapid gentrification of an area that, as recently as last year, was more neighborhood-y.
People are getting priced out of LP, Lakeview and Bucktown and Wicker Park, Uk Village and WestTown are growing like gangbusters, bringing the "aging" trixie and chad dollar with them--Trixie's all grown up now and, like, has kids and stuff.
Hence the bland blah dreckiness swarming the area, clamoring for their business.

This is depressing news, indeed, as these are some of my occasional neighborhood haunts. Don't know what I'll do without II Jack's. While the food was not the best Italian I've ever had, there were some dishes I did enjoy, and where else has Don "The Don" Walsh to provide dinner entertainment?

The neighborhood along Grand Ave. west of the JFK on the E. and Ashland Ave. on the W. has been in a state of flux for at least 5 or 6 years now - this is nothing new. The people moving into the renovated/new buildings and the neighborhood do and will support local businesses that meet their needs. Restaurants that fail to meet those needs will indeed go by the wayside. And that's life. Nobody need hold a tag day.

Update: II Jack's is back open. I don't know what the deal is, but it was definitely shuttered for at least a week with signs on the doors thanking customers for their patronage. Big screen was going strong when I went past last night. No sign of The Don.

First-timer here, very excited.
hello kristen

so my husband rob and i went to II Jacks last night for a late night drink and investigation. a few days ago i asked _____ about the closing-reopening gossip. she said that Jack Jr. closed up shop and headed to greener pastures at north and clybourn. Jack Sr. was inspired to reopen, and so did. not too interesting, i bet there is more to the story...

when we arrived we met jerry (who used to be the host or something, he was always around). he was happy to see us, "welcome back!". we asked him the deal and he said after 9 years he had left the restaurant (mysteriously) before it closed, but after it closed called Jack Sr. and got a partnership together in order to reopen. so he seems to be managing the place.

The good news: the thin crust pizza is back to the superb quality and awesome deliciousness that it once was (cerca 2 years ago). i would say, for the area, it is hands down the best: crisp, thin crust the melds perfectly with the sauce and cheese, not soggy. We usually get the roasted peppers and fresh garlic. broccoli salad (always one of my favorites which, the last time i had it, was over cooked and bland) arrived perfectly prepared and very fresh. great flavors of mellow citrus, garlic and pepper. menu appears to be the same but better executed.

i really hope that they do well since it's a block and a half from our house and a good place for drinks, pizza and a cigar. standard italian fare and friendly people.


II Jacks Italian Restaurant
1758 W. Grand Ave.
312-421-7565

-dickie

I don't know how I missed this thread but as long time lurked I am finally posting.

My brother-in-law is the new owner/chef of May Street Market. He has just moved back to chicago after being a chef in Germany for the last 3-4 years. He last worked in chicago at Tru as a souz chef. He wants it to be a place that offers fine dining at non-ridiculous prices. A restaurant that people could go to on a regular basis.

So its a brand new restaurant with no connection to Canella's. I am admittedly biased but am very excited for the restaurant.

Here is a link to the metromix preview:
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/108866,0,33579.venue

Now that I have made my first post, I promise to actually contribute to the forum instead of just taking from it....

Glad to hear that II Jack's is back. Perhaps this is not a ringing endorsement, but is the only place I can take my fussy-eater father in the city without complaint. Italian sausage appetizer (check), butter for your bread upon request (check) cheese ravioli with meat sauce instead of marina (believe it or not, check). Now I can rest peacefully until the next parental visitation.

kl5 wrote:
Dante's, sorry, is most definitely closed.

The Ace Hardware is closed and now there is a sub sandwich shop (Vinnie's?) and a True Value in its spot. (Or maybe it was True Value and now it's Ace?)

Dante's had a white chocolate martini that I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to duplicate, and a non-pretensious yet very cool atmosphere to go with it. Why did they close? They seemed to do good business.

Vinnie's and the hardware store are connected and have the same owners. (I thought the hardware store was around for awhile and just expanded.)

As far as it being the “beginning of the end for the Italians on Grand,” it’s far from just beginning. But definitely give the (non-Italians) at El Paraiso a chance- (their skirt steak and margaritas are both excellent, and they make the guacamole at your table, to your liking.) According to Time Out Chicago, “When more than half of the folks running an Italian restaurant are Mexican, it’s no surprise when they open up their own place next door.”

Vinnie's.

I don't think you have to worry about "the Italians on Grand" disappearing. Look at how long the Oakley strip of Italian restaurants has held on and that neighboorhood has changed much more dramatically than Grand.

louisdog wrote:I don't think you have to worry about "the Italians on Grand" disappearing.

I know, I know. I was being melodramatic and reacting to II Jack's and Canella's closing within a week of each other. The character of the neighborhood is changing lately, though I know it's more a continuation of change rather than the start of it. I just hope that enough old folks in the neighborhood keep their houses there and that the newcomers realize what a treasure they've got in places like Bari and D'Amato's and Oggi (yes, Oggi) and keep these places open. And I don't think it's exactly comparable to Oakley. I haven't been down there recently, but I'd guess you'd be hard pressed to find a block, like mine, where there are at least 6 new condo projects in the last year and a half. And that doesn't include farther down the street, around the corner, across Ogden, on Racine, etc. Change happens in fits and spurts and we seem to be going through a particularly active spurt.

kl5 wrote: I just hope that enough old folks in the neighborhood keep their houses there and that the newcomers realize what a treasure they've got in places like Bari and D'Amato's and Oggi (yes, Oggi) and keep these places open.

I do agree with you and all anybody will have to do is taste the sandwiches from Bari to realize they have the best in the city.

I had the unfortunate experience of dining at Amelia's Mexican Grill (located right at the corner of Grand/Ogden, across the street from Twisted Spoke)...

I went there soon after they had opened, about 2 years ago now... It was easily the worst restaraunt experience I've had in Chicago.

I can't remember the full details... but I do remember it was BYOB, so we brought a bottle of wine... the waitor didn't really know how to open the bottle of wine.. Then our food took about 45 minutes to come. Then when it came, my entree was not the entree I ordered. I told the waitor, he apologized and said he would go get me what I ordered. ANother 20 minutes go by, and my food finally came. When the check came, the waitor charged me for BOTH ENTREES (the one I didn't order, plus the one I did order). I asked why, thinking "oh it was a mistake" ...he said "oh, well you had both" ... I asked for the manager. She came out (it seemed like it was the owner, actually). She explained that they charged me for both items because I had both. I explained I didn't order the one. She eventually "gave in" and comped the entree that I did not order (and did not eat, for that matter)... But geez. who does that? Any normal restaraunt wouldn't have charged me for something I didn't order. Any normal restaraunt PROBABLY would have also given me my own entree for free, just for the 20 minute extra wait+15 minutes of bitching inconvenience. Clearly this restaraunt has <B>NO customer service</b> skills.

I'm truly suprised they're still in business. I suspect things could have improved since... but i suspect that this crazy woman still runs the place.

BTW, I miss bone daddy

I'm so glad to read your review of Amelia's. I pass by there quite often and have wondered about trying it. it never appears too busy, but of course that's not an indication of quality.

Poor service will turn me away faster than anything at a restaurant.

Thanks
Leesh

leesh wrote:Poor service will turn me away faster than anything at a restaurant.

I will add to dddane's review only to say that the food is about in line with the service at Amelia's. I can't believe I've eaten there as many time as I have (probably four).

We had lunch at Amelia's earlier this year without any service problems. However, the food was extremely bland. Our reaction was that this was Mexican for twentysomething yuppies who had never eaten any good Mexican food. But then, maybe having eaten at so many Mexican places where at least 3/4 of the customers or their parents were born in Mexico has had some effect on us.