Dave148 wrote:

The Kitchen is coming to Chicago.

The Boulder, Colo.-based restaurant company co-founded by Kimbal Musk (he's the brother of Tesla Motors Inc. founder Elon Musk) has signed a lease for 316 N. Clark St. in River North. The restaurant is expected to open later this year.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... estaurant#

Isn't that the back portion of the Fulton's on the River (which is closed) space?

Edit: never mind, it appears to be the space previously occupied by the 3d Printer Experience

This just opened in Lakeview, anyone been yet? http://chicagoist.com/2014/01/22/popcor ... keview.php

Popcorn Asylum
2823 North Lincoln Avenue

Has anybody tried the new Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant on Devon Just east of Broadway called Red Sea? It occupies the building that used to be an Egyptian/Palestinian restaurant named Habibi. Apparently the same building houses the reincarnation of Toham African Restaurant (around the corner).

I also checked out the menu at Jerky Jerk next door. The place is incredibly inexpensive, and they deliver. They offer brown stew chicken, 1/2 jerk chicken, oxtails, goat or chicken curry for only $5.95. They also have specials of 2 entrees plus 2 sides (yams, cabbage, rice and peas, plantains or corn and peppers) for only 10.95. 3 entrees plus 3 sides are only 13.95! How can you beat that? They also had 4 or 5 "Jerkatarian" offerings. I didn't ask whether the jerk was wet or dry, but I can't wait to check the place out.

Jerky Jerk
1217 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 856-0222

Red Sea
1227 W Devon
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 465-9318

Anybody know what Quay Tao of The Portage is up to? I saw a building permit for a build out of a restaurant space in his name at 6 corners (4038 N Milwaukee).

EDIT: Found it. Looks like it's something called Community. Beer Tavern and BBQ. https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 0805_n.jpg

The Leonidas Chocolate Cafe in Wilmette has moved to Evanston. I hear tell that they make the croissants on the premises (!).


Leonidas Chocolate Cafe
1907 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201

spinynorman99 wrote:

Dave148 wrote:

Le Pain Quotidien is bringing its egg frittatas and tartines to Chicago, inking a lease for an empty retail space in the Gold Coast.

The New York-based restaurant chain signed a 15-year lease for 1,953 square feet in a storefront at the northeast corner of State Street and Delaware Place, said Michael Reschke, CEO at Chicago-based Prime Group Inc., which owns the property.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... old-coast#

Totally decent chain. We have a consultant out East that has one in their building. Enjoy their food very much. And a good Arnold Palmer.

French-influenced restaurant chain Le Pain Quotidien is coming to Lincoln Park and the West Loop, part of a larger push into the Chicago area.
New York-based Le Pain Quotidien, French for “the Daily Bread,” plans to open restaurants at 1000 W. Armitage Ave. and at135 N. Clinton St. in the MetraMarket retail area just north of Ogilvie Transportation Center, a company spokeswoman confirmed.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -west-loop

Stan's Donuts is opening on Wednesday (Feb 5) according to this DNA Info article

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140130 ... retro-vibe

New Tanoshii is open at 720 W Randolph. I was there on Friday 1/24 for dinner for a "soft open."

Sushi Mike is behind the counter with his bowl of Miller Lite and serving his specialties. In addition they've added more menu items - including a wagyu beef entree that looks amazing (but is $95!). As you would expect it's not as neighborhoody as the original location - it certainly has a slicker, more urban feel that comes with being on "Restaurant Row." However, the food was excellent. Of course, they now have liquor, beer, and wine.

I did sense some tension as Mike was trying to get the staff and kitchen up to his standards. So they may have some kinks as they get bigger.

They also have lunch.

Happy to say that the former Frosted Mug at 116th and Pulaski in Alsip has a new lease on life. The new establishment is Demon Dawgs, not sure of any relationship to the original Demon Dogs. Stopped in earlier tonight and tried a dog (mustard onion sport and celery salt), polish and cheese fries. Dog is definitely natural casing and hand cut nicely crisp fries. They use a processed cheese on the cheese fries so probably won't go that route again, they state on the overhead sign as shredded cheese and melted so had my hopes up. Dog was very good, great snap and good topping ratios. I'll post a few poor pictures, but they have redone the parking lot and remodeled the interior. Overheard that cruise nights will be in the cards but no carhops as they put in a drive-thru instead (which isn't open). Glad to see a classic repurposed, especially when they turn out pretty darn good food. It was really busy or I would have probed for some additional details.

More building permit data, but it looks like Jamaica Jerk Villa on Cermak & State is expanding into the adjacent space. Also, something called Harvest Juicery is opening on Tuesday 2/4 at 1012 W Lake St (right near the Morgan Green Line stop). Serving juices of course but I think they make and bottle their own. Definitely a storefront.

marothisu wrote:Anybody know what Quay Tao of The Portage is up to? I saw a building permit for a build out of a restaurant space in his name at 6 corners (4038 N Milwaukee).

I work across the street. I see workmen in there doing the building out now. We're being told by the alderman here, the place will open this coming June.

Noticed a new awning on the old Red Flame Pizzeria space at 2417 N. Clybourn while driving by which said "Marshfield's Urban Grill". I found a facebook page which only says that they'll be opening in February.

marothisu wrote:Also, something called Harvest Juicery is opening on Tuesday 2/4 at 1012 W Lake St (right near the Morgan Green Line stop). Serving juices of course but I think they make and bottle their own. Definitely a storefront.

Former chef Kristina Sciarra will debut Harvest Juicery in the West Loop tomorrow.

Harvest Juicery, which started as a bottled delivery service about a year ago, grew so fast that Ms. Sciarra, who worked in restaurants in Rhode Island before moving to Chicago to manage Equinox fitness clubs, decided to build on her culinary and wellness background, expand and open the storefront, located at 1012 W. Lake St., around the corner from Google's future office.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... west-loop#

According to their instagram account, the Winchester will be open 7am to 11am starting tomorrow. For now they will only be serving breakfast, but will soon move into serving brunch and lunch as well.

The Winchester
1001 N. Winchester
Chicago 60622
(773) 698-8703
http://winchesterchicago.com/

The secret project in the former Swirl Wine Bar at 111 W Hubbard in River North apparently opens tonight. This project has been kept a secret for awhile, so it's awesome and hilarious that the open just came upon us very quickly. Two floors to it and cocktail driven. They will have food too that looks pretty decent and the place is open until 4am (awesome). The concept is still kind of a a secret, but the name of the place is Celeste.

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2014/ ... -today.php

King Pho, on Devon in Edgebrook (in the former Al Primo Canto space) is now open.

http://kingphorestaurant.com/menu.html

Don't think it's been mentioned…Etno Grill (the place for cevaps at the three-way of Lincoln/Wrightwood/Sheffield) is expanding into the vacant lot next door to it. To my naked eye, it looks like the expansion will more than double them in size. More power to them!

From their website: Grass Fed will be closing its doors after business Sunday February 9th. We are remodeling and going to reconcept, so look for us to reopen soon in the same location.

riddlemay wrote:Don't think it's been mentioned…Etno Grill (the place for cevaps at the three-way of Lincoln/Wrightwood/Sheffield) is expanding into the vacant lot next door to it. To my naked eye, it looks like the expansion will more than double them in size. More power to them!

That has been going on for awhile, and they haven't made any progress lately. There was a problem with the liquor license that was holding things up, but it is now resolved: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20131211/lincoln-park/etno-grills-major-expansion-hits-liquor-license-snag

Also, the Q BBQ on Diversey is opening this Friday. I am excited to try this out, heard good things about the other locations.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140204/lakeview/q-bbq-opens-first-chicago-location-friday

Stan's Donuts now open in Wicker Park. I'm going to try and go there today. Anybody who's been to a Stan's, especially the original in Westwood, will understand why. They are most likely going to be opening up a 2nd shop in Streeterville as well later this year.

Stan's Donuts
1560 N Damen (next to Damen-O'Hare Blue Line stop)
(773) 360-7386
6:30am - 9pm (so far - I hear they may expand business hours later)
http://www.stansdonutschicago.com/

Plein Air Café & Bakery is nearly ready to open, some two years after the Hyde Park project was announced.
The spot, connected to the Co-Op Seminary Bookstore, should open later this month.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -hyde-park

Cellar Door Provisions opened today in Logan Square, at 3025 W. Diversey Ave. The talented gentlemen involved have worked really hard to make this a community place, with exceptional food, I can't wait to try it. http://www.urbandaddy.com/chi/food/2952 ... Restaurant

Sorry for the random building permit data, but Blaze Pizza was just issued a permit to build out a new restaurant at 227 E Ontario in Streeterville. If you remember, they have one right off the Belmont Red/Brown/Purple line stop and are owned by Levy with a handful of US locations.

Commonwealth Tavern (2000 W. Roscoe St., Roscoe Village, 773-697-7965) plans to open for dinner at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

From Chicago Magazine:

Commonwealth Tavern

Carol Stream to get gourmet burger joint: Rev

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -joint-rev

The latest addition to River North's jumble of nightlife, restaurants and bars plans to attract customers by offering something a little bit more upscale than just one bourbon, one scotch and one beer.

Riot Hospitality Group wants to open a country music-focused restaurant called Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row at 17-21 W. Hubbard St., said Michael Troyan, the company's president.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... restaurant

Richard Sandoval plans Latin version of Eataly in Block 37

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-block-37

Anybody been to The Winchester yet?

marothisu wrote:Sorry for the random building permit data, but Blaze Pizza was just issued a permit to build out a new restaurant at 227 E Ontario in Streeterville. If you remember, they have one right off the Belmont Red/Brown/Purple line stop and are owned by Levy with a handful of US locations.

To clear this up, it's not a Levy Restaurants venture or franchise. It is, however, a Larry Levy and Levy Family Partners business venture. There is a difference. (full disclosure: I've worked for Levy Restaurants for over 25 years.)

What is it with fires this year? Latest victim is Sakura in Mount Prospect.