Red Hot Ranch is now open in the former Dona Torta space on the corner of Barry and Ashland

* Yellow mustard
* No pickles
* Good fries
* Vienna meats

Red Hot Ranch
3055 N. Ashland

No pickles?!?

Like Gene and Jude's, Jimmy's etc, Red Hot serves "depression dogs" with mustard, onion, relish and maybe sport peppers and fries on top of the dog. These are not "Chicago Dogs". The orignal Red Hot Ranch is on Western south of Fullerton and they are also at the Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood

scottsol wrote:Like Gene and Jude's, Jimmy's etc, Red Hot serves "depression dogs" with mustard, onion, relish and maybe sport peppers and fries on top of the dog. These are not "Chicago Dogs". The orignal Red Hot Ranch is on Western south of Fullerton and they are also at the Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood

I would argue (as I have many times in the past) that these ARE "Chicago Dogs". The ones with frou frou toppings like tomato, cucumbers, etc. are the newcomers to the game.

Due to this morning's fire, the Pine Yard and Taco Diablo in Evanston will be closed, at least for a while.

Evanston fire wrecks 3 businesses, injures firefighter

nsxtasy wrote:Due to this morning's fire, the Pine Yard and Taco Diablo in Evanston will be closed, at least for a while.

Evanston fire wrecks 3 businesses, injures firefighter

From the pic I saw someone post on Facebook, it's going to be longer than a while. Walls and roof partially gone on the west side of the building (Pine Yard).

JoelF wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Due to this morning's fire, the Pine Yard and Taco Diablo in Evanston will be closed, at least for a while.

Evanston fire wrecks 3 businesses, injures firefighter

From the pic I saw someone post on Facebook, it's going to be longer than a while. Walls and roof partially gone on the west side of the building (Pine Yard).

I wonder if this might give a reprieve to LuLu's, which has the same owner as Taco Diablo and was slated to close in January. Probably not, since it sounds like there's another establishment lined up to move into the LuLu's space, but a girl can dream.

JoelF wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Due to this morning's fire, the Pine Yard and Taco Diablo in Evanston will be closed, at least for a while.

Evanston fire wrecks 3 businesses, injures firefighter

From the pic I saw someone post on Facebook, it's going to be longer than a while. Walls and roof partially gone on the west side of the building (Pine Yard).

Each of the two restaurants may decide to rebuild on the same site, or to re-open elsewhere. Or they may not re-open at all. Either way, for now it's too early to say whether it's a permanent closure, or a temporary one (i.e. "for a while").

Icosium Kafe in Andersonville (5200 N. Clark, Chicago) has closed.

Drove past Japonais last night and it looked dark... a quick call tonight confirms that they closed on the 20th and will reopen on January 31 with some Iron Chef guy...

The GP wrote:Icosium Kafe in Andersonville (5200 N. Clark, Chicago) has closed.

Pretty sure this is the best closing sign I've ever seen. Best wishes to Chef Belkacom.

WahooWilly wrote:Drove past Japonais last night and it looked dark... a quick call tonight confirms that they closed on the 20th and will reopen on January 31 with some Iron Chef guy...

It's reopening as Japonais by Morimoto. He's the "Iron Chef guy" but has chops. He was executive chef at Nobu years ago and then opened the highly-regarded Morimoto in Philadelphia.

spinynorman99 wrote:

WahooWilly wrote:Drove past Japonais last night and it looked dark... a quick call tonight confirms that they closed on the 20th and will reopen on January 31 with some Iron Chef guy...

It's reopening as Japonais by Morimoto. He's the "Iron Chef guy" but has chops. He was executive chef at Nobu years ago and then opened the highly-regarded Morimoto in Philadelphia.

That gives us three Chicago sites run by current or former Iron Chefs, including Batali's Eataly and Jose Garces' Mercat a la Planxa.

I ate at Morimoto in Philly a few years back (himself was not in residence), and it was quite good. I'm hopeful that Japonais by Morimoto doesn't replicate the tacky colored lights in frosted plexiglass that's a Darren Star (the restauranteur who runs the place) standard in Philadelphia.

Both Eater Chicago and DNA Info report that La Bocca Della Verita is closing in early January after being unable to come to terms on a lease. The DNA Info story is more complete including why they dropped their liquor license and became BYOB in October. The owner is trying to purchase a commercial building a little farther west.

Las Delicias Pupuseria, which I noted in this thread as coming soon on November 9, is open with a big grand opening sign over the door. Address is 4010-12 West Montrose.

Has it been mentioned that Eleven City Diner has opened a north side outpost? (I don't recall seeing it here if it has.) They've opened up in the "downstairs from Tower Records" space (Clark and Belden, 2301 N. Clark) that housed a couple of restaurants previously, one of them a deli. I have not been by to see them in operation, but a friend who has walked by says they are, and their website says they are. The website also contains the info that validated parking is available.

Didn't Eleven City Diner open that location months ago? I am pretty sure I've seen it there since the summer and possibly even the spring.

Panic Brewing will be opening at 4055 W. Peterson in a building with historic ties to the brewing industry, the former home of the Siebel Institute.

marothisu wrote:Didn't Eleven City Diner open that location months ago? I am pretty sure I've seen it there since the summer and possibly even the spring.

I think that may be possible! I did not see a marking of the occasion on this thread, and wanted to rectify that. I, for one, had no idea it was there until our friend commented on it the other day; and it occurred to me that if I didn't know it was there, others might not.

stevez wrote:

scottsol wrote:Like Gene and Jude's, Jimmy's etc, Red Hot serves "depression dogs" with mustard, onion, relish and maybe sport peppers and fries on top of the dog. These are not "Chicago Dogs". The orignal Red Hot Ranch is on Western south of Fullerton and they are also at the Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood

I would argue (as I have many times in the past) that these ARE "Chicago Dogs". The ones with frou frou toppings like tomato, cucumbers, etc. are the newcomers to the game.

Same thing as 30's style burgers without all those toppings like lettuce and tomato and thin crust pizza vs. deep dish/stuffed. That being said, even though I am very minimalist with my toppings on anything, I am not a fan of fries on top of the dog or inside it. Plus I miss the poppy seed bun.

Grant's Wonderburger Closing Dec. 31 After Sale

The most famous burger joint in Mount Greenwood will be closing on Dec. 31 and what the future holds for the neighborhood staple is not yet known.

Grant's Wonderburger Grill, 11045 S Kedzie Ave., has been sold to new owners and their plans for the restaurant which has been operating since 1954 are uncertain, the Mount Greenwood Community Business Association confirmed.

While the restaurant will be closing on Tuesday, it is not known if the new owner's will be keeping the same menu or the signature burgers with wonder sauce and Curly Q fries.

Hi all,

Q-4 has come to a close and this thread is now locked. For 2014's Q-1 Openings and Closings, please see this thread:

Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings, January - March 2014

Thanks,

=R=
for the moderators