David Burke plans more restaurants in Chicago and beyond

Celebrity chef David Burke plans at least two more restaurants in the Chicago area as part of a new joint venture with local real estate developer Musa Tadros.

Known locally for David Burke's Primehouse in the James Hotel, as well as for appearances on television shows such as “Top Chef,” Mr. Burke confirmed he has joined forces with Mr. Tadros, CEO of Frankfort-based Crown Commercial Real Estate & Development Inc., to open new restaurant concepts throughout the country, including one in the Loop later this year.
The venture, Chew on This Enterprises LLC, plans to open three to five restaurants in the next couple of years, initially focusing on Mr. Tadros' home base of Chicago and the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Mr. Burke's home turf, the chef said.

Mr. Burke said he is stepping aside from the day-to-day operations of Watershed Ventures LLC, the holding company of David Burke Group, which owns restaurants in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and manages restaurants in Chicago and Las Vegas. Mr. Burke will remain 50 percent owner of that group but will focus his efforts on building the new company, he said.

Also in the works is a casual, farm-to-table restaurant in the Schaumburg area, at a location Messrs. Burke and Tadros declined to identify. They wouldn't disclose the names of the new Chicago-area restaurants.