Pie Lady wrote:That Irish Place, formerly known as The Blue Angel at 5310 N. Milwaukee, is still closed, but they have an awning up with a shadow outline of their new name: Annegans.

Now the awning is gone and there is a metal stamped sign that says Finnegans. I swear there was an A before.

I just noted in this thread that Noble Tree Coffee & Tea has closed, due to expensive building maintenance. Hope I'm not breaking a forum rule by posting this again -- I'm still getting used to the lay of the land.

Noble Tree Coffee & Tea
2444 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-1500
http://www.nobletreecoffee.com

Del Frisco's opening high-end steakhouse at old Esquire Theater building -
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... r-building

Looks like Trio's Pizza, 7009 W. Higgins, is closed (dark and empty-looking on Sunday, no answer on the phone today).

Dave148 wrote:Del Frisco's opening high-end steakhouse at old Esquire Theater building -
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... r-building

Just what the Viagra Triangle neighborhood needs: another steakhouse. I guess Gibson's and Tavern on Rush can't hold them all....nor can The Grill on the Alley a block south on Michigan Av., or Rosebud on Walton. Glad to see they're pushing the culinary envelope here.

The one good thing: it will make that stretch of Oak a bit more lively at night.

Looks like a Noodles & Company is opening in Vernon Hills on the corner of Milwaukee and Rt 60 in the spring

http://www.noodles.com/locations/location.php?s=641

The north half of Acre in Andersonville is being turned into Ombra which will be Italian small bites from the people who have succeeded with Anteprima two doors to the north. The design of the place by Davide Nanni was featured in the Tribune a couple weeks ago.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... full.story

I noticed lights on and some sort of service going on last night, so they should be open for business sometime soon.

http://www.thrillist.com/food/chicago/i ... all-plates

Ombra
5310 N. Clark Street

sdrucker wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Del Frisco's opening high-end steakhouse at old Esquire Theater building -
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... r-building

Just what the Viagara Triangle neighborhood needs: another steakhouse. I guess Gibson's and Tavern and Rush can't hold them all....nor can The Grill on the Alley a block south on Michigan Av., or Rosebud on Walton. Glad to see they're pushing the culinary envelope here.

The one good thing: it will make that stretch of Oak a bit more lively at night.

I've been to Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Las Vegas a couple of times over the years, and found it above average for its type. Frankly, I think Gibson's (which has disappointed too frequently) actually can use some competition.

Yeh, Del Frisco's stands up well in Manhattan and in its hometown of Dalls, 2 strong steak towns. It immediately moves to the top of the out of towner chain list in the Smith & Wollensky neighborhood.

riddlemay wrote:I've been to Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Las Vegas a couple of times over the years, and found it above average for its type. Frankly, I think Gibson's (which has disappointed too frequently) actually can use some competition.

Gibson's won't be getting any competition if the Chicago location is anything like the one in New York. I'd put it more in the league of Ronny's, though I shouldn't speak ill of the place, which at least has some history to it (plus it was one of my dad's first jobs after coming to this country - he left after nearly stabbing a "hillbilly", my old man's word, who worked there and apparently didn't like Arabs).

JeffB wrote:Yeh, Del Frisco's stands up well in Manhattan and in its hometown of Dalls, 2 strong steak towns. It immediately moves to the top of the out of towner chain list in the Smith & Wollensky neighborhood.

Del Frisco's stands up well in Manhattan because with a few exceptions, steakhouses in Manhattan suck.

Fair enough.

Habibi wrote:

riddlemay wrote:I've been to Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Las Vegas a couple of times over the years, and found it above average for its type. Frankly, I think Gibson's (which has disappointed too frequently) actually can use some competition.

Gibson's won't be getting any competition if the Chicago location is anything like the one in New York. I'd put it more in the league of Ronny's, though I shouldn't speak ill of the place, which at least has some history to it (plus it was one of my dad's first jobs after coming to this country - he left after nearly stabbing a "hillbilly", my old man's word, who worked there and apparently didn't like Arabs).

Hang on--I may be sarcastic due to the overabundance of steakhouses on the Near North Side and River North, but you're comparing a white tablecloth restaurant to Ronny's Steak House?

sdrucker wrote:

Habibi wrote:

riddlemay wrote:I've been to Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Las Vegas a couple of times over the years, and found it above average for its type. Frankly, I think Gibson's (which has disappointed too frequently) actually can use some competition.

Gibson's won't be getting any competition if the Chicago location is anything like the one in New York. I'd put it more in the league of Ronny's, though I shouldn't speak ill of the place, which at least has some history to it (plus it was one of my dad's first jobs after coming to this country - he left after nearly stabbing a "hillbilly", my old man's word, who worked there and apparently didn't like Arabs).

Hang on--I may be sarcastic due to the overabundance of steakhouses on the Near North Side and River North, but you're comparing a white tablecloth restaurant to Ronny's Steak House?

You are right. Perhaps the comparison is not apt. At least one can have a civilized meal at Ronny's, whereas at the Double Eagle its pretty much a bunch of corporate lizards humping each other in a pool of acrid blood, which would be fun if all the lizards weren't actually lethargic middle aged men. Something like that key scene from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, except no sarcasm, and no acid.

Yeah, I hate Del Friscos.

Habibi wrote:
You are right. Perhaps the comparison is not apt. At least one can have a civilized meal at Ronny's, whereas at the Double Eagle its pretty much a bunch of corporate lizards humping each other in a pool of acrid blood, which would be fun if all the lizards weren't actually lethargic middle aged men. Something like that key scene from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, except no sarcasm, and no acid.

Yeah, I hate Del Friscos.

Oh good god, is this turning into Occupy LTHForum?

Well at least my plans for luch tomorrow are settled now - Ronnie's here I come!

zoid wrote:Well at least my plans for luch tomorrow are settled now - Ronnie's here I come!

I'd almost forgotten about them. The last time I ate there was at the now closed location on Wabash, probably in the late 80's after a Sox game or something. Somehow Ronny's having a website and Yelp reviews feels pretty ridiculous. +1 on that for the sheer anachronism.

The GP wrote:Read on the Trib online that the Apple Haus in Long Grove has closed its doors.

http://triblocal.com/buffalo-grove/2012 ... huts-down/

I went there looking for a donut today and was so sad to see that it was permanently closed. I did see that their apple pie was still being sold at the Long Grove Confectionary next door and the Sunset Foods down the street. The ones at Long Grove Confectionary are frozen.

shorty,

You might want to inquire with Sunset Foods for the donuts. If enough people inquire, maybe they might be available as an occasional special.

Regards,

Habibi - that post was a thing of beauty. Thank you for the superb word nightcap.

Habibi wrote:At least one can have a civilized meal at Ronny's, whereas at the Double Eagle its pretty much a bunch of corporate lizards humping each other in a pool of acrid blood...

Not your thing, then?

I don't know, I thought it sounded kinda hot.

Pie Lady wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:That Irish Place, formerly known as The Blue Angel at 5310 N. Milwaukee, is still closed, but they have an awning up with a shadow outline of their new name: Annegans.

Now the awning is gone and there is a metal stamped sign that says Finnegans. I swear there was an A before.

According to the Nadig News, Finnegan's is now open: Sun, Mon–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am. Another one to add to the Late-Nite Dining list.

Whole Foods Taking Former Borders Space in Orland Park

The high-end organic and specialty grocery store is scheduled to open in Orland Park in fall 2012.
Whole Foods Market will be opening up a 27,000 square-foot store in the space formerly occupied by Borders Bookstore at 15260 S. LaGrange Road. The store will be the first Whole Foods in the south suburbs, joining 17 other locations throughout the Chicago area.

Michael Salerno’s in Vernon Hills has closed...nothing seems to stay open in that building.

Looks like a new restaurant from the owners of Flatlander's is planning on opening something up there.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2012 ... 701309773/

Pie Lady wrote:Now the awning is gone and there is a metal stamped sign that says Finnegans. I swear there was an A before.

The awning is still there but the metal sign is more prominent above it. Even knowing it says 'Finnigans', it really does look like an A. I'll probably give it a try in the next couple weeks.

Habibi wrote:

riddlemay wrote:I've been to Del Frisco's Double Eagle in Las Vegas a couple of times over the years, and found it above average for its type. Frankly, I think Gibson's (which has disappointed too frequently) actually can use some competition.

Gibson's won't be getting any competition if the Chicago location is anything like the one in New York. I'd put it more in the league of Ronny's, though I shouldn't speak ill of the place, which at least has some history to it (plus it was one of my dad's first jobs after coming to this country - he left after nearly stabbing a "hillbilly", my old man's word, who worked there and apparently didn't like Arabs).

I have eaten at a few of the Del Frisco locations, notably Dallas, Las Vegas, and Denver. Always very consistent quality. The one in Vegas was pretty impressive in that I was there with a party about 35 people. Usually the service falls apart in large groups, but they did a great job getting all of the steaks right.

I have never been disappointed there.

In OakBrook Terrace, on Summit near 22nd, there is a new restaurant called 'Pulp Kitchen' that moved into a place that was formerly a Chinese Restaurant (name I forget).

It is very odd. It has a giant floppy sign tacked up that is handmade and crude and says 'Now Open'. On the wall near the front door is a wall that has 'Pulp Kitchen' printed on it and a giant banner strung across the length of the top of the wall that has goofy pictures of what appears to be eggs framed as if on a strip of film.

I tried looking it up online, but it was not clear from the websites I found whether they have any connection. I am going to just walk in there soon and see what the heck is going on.

Pulp Kitchen is the new restaurant by the owners of Eggstacy that was just around the corner on 22nd.

Eric wrote:Pulp Kitchen is the new restaurant by the owners of Eggstacy that was just around the corner on 22nd.

A breakfast place? Have you been? Why is their signage so weird?