jennydran wrote:For those of you who didn't see this yet:

Meritage calls it a career, announces Jan. 1 closing

Say it ain't so: Christopher Peckat announced this morning, via e-mail, that his restaurant, Meritage Café & Wine Bar (2118 N. Damen Ave) would close its doors for keeps on Jan. 1. Meritage has won a handful of awards since its May 1997 opening with chef Jonathan Harootunian, and has been one of the city's most consistently excellent restaurants throughout its existence. It will be missed. But the good news, sort of, is that there's still time for a farewell meal or two.

I have to say I'm really not surprised. I've been a fan of Meritage since we've lived within a few blocks, but have always felt it was a tad overpriced and also just didn't seem to find its niche. When Scylla was just down the road, RIP, it was pretty much a no-brainer choosing between the two--Scylla was just so much more interesting and also really well priced, even before they lowered their prices.

That being said, I really hope something nice goes into the space and that it's not another burger and fries type place, we've got too many of those in the hood now.

I noticed that the Rancho Luna corner at Petersen and Kimball is returning to its fast-food roots and becoming a KFC. I was not a fan of Rancho Luna in the last several years before it closed (too much microwaving), but I still consider that a step backwards.

chef d'sprit wrote:A recent neighborhood notice said that Uncommon Ground will be opening another location in the former Speakeasy space at Devon & Glenwood. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served. Haven't been by to check it out.

Uncommon Ground opens tomorrow at 1401 W. Devon.

I just came from a preview brunch (full disclosure: friends of mine are friends of the owners). Space looks great, comfort-food menu. Glad to have them in the hood.

New signage in the space off Montrose and Western (been under construction for near forever) next to the bank and across from the Aldi's.

Paddy O'Somethingorothers. Can't remember, another "irish" bar, don't care.

Also, come to find out I'm the last carnivore in Rogers Park to learn that Frank Bornhofen sold his namesake butcher shop and retired.

The shop goes on, though, with some younger butchers behind the counter. All else seems constant -- marvelous cuts, jovial service, get-what-you-pay-for prices -- while the name is changing to Holzkopf's. Thank god, they still have plenty of meatloaf in the freezer.

Holzkopf's (nee Bornhofen's)
6155 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 580-8652

Has somebody posted this already? Seen in the former Pizza Hut location at H-Mart Niles:


Chicken Joy...makes me strangely happy....

7501 N Waukegan Road
Niles, IL 60714
(847) 581-1212

Just found out the Grotto On State will be closing on Dec 31st...

The owners are concentraiting on their new location in the Oak Brook Promenade, which is slated to open around March 2008. Chef Abraham Aguirre will be the Executive Chef at the Oak Brook location.

i was walking down armitage near map room and i see a sign that a new starbucks is opening up on the corner of hoyne and armitage. i wonder if that will have any impact on the newish wicked desserts which is about a block west on leavitt and armitage, and i don't know... i'm just wondering why starbucks picked that spot. i don't know if this is the wrong place to post this. my apologies if it is.

Looks like Lula's is finally going to expand, sort of. From Time Out:
Lula welcomes a baby, with another one on the way

The concept seems solid enough, though that seems like a high price point for the neighborhood. Honestly, given the choice between a $25 ossobucco and an $8 Skylark burger with tater tots, I might opt for the latter. We'll see!

Apparently Timo is closing.

Dish wrote:“I’ve been here ten years, including Thyme. Have had a really good run. I’m not going to renew the lease, but I’m going out with a bang.” –John Bubala on his decision to close Timo (464 N. Halsted St.; 312-226-4300) after a New Year’s Eve blowout

Apologies if this was mentioned here already.

Marshall K wrote:While picking up a Pizza at Spizzico across from Johnnie's in Elmwood Park last week, I saw that one of the small places next to New Star had closed (not sure which as there are several) The windows were papered over with a sign that read Coming Soon SushiNami.com. The web-site came up as a place in Georgia but none of the functions worked on the site. As there are no places for quality Sushi in the area one can only hope .

I goofed on the web site it is actually sushinami.net opening in the old Taco's & Tequila space at 7428 North.

Coming Soon. Featuring Contemporary Sushi and Japanese Cuisine. Premium Sake, Wine, Beer and Spirits.

Player's Grill in Highland Park had a fire and has been closed for several weeks. An outgoing voicemail says that rebuilding has begun and that they expect to reopen in early 2008.

=R=

Player's Grill
1855 Deerfield Rd
Highland Park, IL 60035
847 831-4445

RIP-- II Jacks, 1758 W. Grand.

BR wrote:Trust me, you're not really missing that much with Col-Ubas gone. It was decent but nothing more.

Above, I posted that Con Sabor Cubano is opening up at 2739 Lawrence, but I have no information on the ownership of the place.

I see what you're saying about Col-Ubas then, and about Con Sabor Cubano.

Guess I got confused when I first read that post about CSC.....

Hello all,

This might have already been posted but I didn't do a comprehensive search. In any case, as I was driving down Halsted in Lincoln Park the other day I noticed that the old Lincoln Town Gyros has been replaced with the "Smokehouse." Is this open yet and has anybody tried it?

Actually, I think it's called the Smoke Shack.

Wait, Lincoln Town Gyros is closed? When did that happen? Did they relocate? I loved that place for late night eats. Too bad.

ilmangiatore wrote:In any case, as I was driving down Halsted in Lincoln Park the other day I noticed that the old Lincoln Town Gyros has been replaced with the "Smokehouse." Is this open yet and has anybody tried it?

Actually, I think it's called the Smoke Shack.

I'd noticed the awning for Smoke Shack a couple weeks ago but the windows were still covered in paper. Today, I decided to drive by and see if it was open for lunch, and it is now open. Just got back from lunch there five minutes ago...

I had the pulled pork sandwich and fries. The pork was terrible! There was a big smoker right there behind the counter so the assumption would be that it's smoked on premises, but the pork seemed like it was the pre-sauced stuff in a tub you find in the grocery store. And then burnt when being heated up. It had a taste to almost like the charred outside of a roasted marshmallow, which is I guess is burnt sugar well beyond caramelization. There was no way to get a feel for the taste of the actual meat underneath.

The fries were no better -- soggy and limp -- some actually still cold, even though I'd seen them come straight out of the fryer. Slaw was pretty decent, similar to Smoque's w/ granny smith apple in it, as well.

The service was very poor. The guy ringing me in somehow charged me for the sandwich and a rootbeer float -- how does one mix that and a diet coke up? When I realized this, it took him 15 minutes to figure the refund and bring the difference to me. I also had to go back up because they forgot to give me the cole slaw that comes with a sandwich & side.

I work in a location in Lincoln Park (near Fullerton & Clybourn) that I can just as easily get to Honey1 or Smoque for lunch. No reason to add this to my lunch repretoire for now.

I was walking down Wells today and noticed a new little restaurant called Crepe Bistro. They sell both savory and sweet crepes. The menu looked great and the prices were extremely reasonable.

Has anyone here tried it? I haven't found much information about it on the web. But apparently it opened 2-3 months ago. I'm a big fan of savory crepes. So I hope this place is fantastic. A 20% off coupon can be found at http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/46260656/chicago_il/crepe_bistro.html. It expires on 1/30/08. So I'll be sure to check this place out when I come back to work in the new year.

Crepe Bistro
186 N. Wells St
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 269-0300

Grizzly's Lodge:

Drove by last night, windows are covered up. Phone disconnected.

Mas will be no mas.

New sushi joint opening (already opened?) in the former Habeebi's space, called Shinobu.

Shinobu
1131 W Bryn Mawr

The now shuttered La Mora in Roscoe Village has a sign on it indicating a liquor license has been applied for by Village Restaurant Inc. I did a Google on this with no luck. Anyone know what other restaurants may be affiliated with this corporation?

The Village Tap is a decent bar with better-than-average pub grub across the street and down the block from La Mora. Could be a connection.

I called Village Hut (Zupdi) in Glendale Heights and got a "number disconnected" message? Anybody know if it's closed or has a new number?

Anyone know what is happening to or what the plan is for Delray Farms at the corner of Foster and Broadway?

forzagto wrote:Anyone know what is happening to or what the plan is for Delray Farms at the corner of Foster and Broadway?

I have this fantasy that Edgewater Produce moves from its Clark St. location to the former Delray space. HarvesTime has really flourished since they expanded and I think they would do very well at Foster and Broadway. Anyone want to start up an online petition?

I was told a new restaurant is opening just south of Dempster on Chicago Avenue in Evanston. Details were few - except that it is the newest venture from Bistro Campagne/Campignola owner.
Anyone know any additional information?

I have heard rumblings that the ex-La Mora is going to be a John's Place.

whiskeybent wrote:Grizzly's Lodge:

Drove by last night, windows are covered up. Phone disconnected.

Lordamercy, finally.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:

whiskeybent wrote:Grizzly's Lodge:

Drove by last night, windows are covered up. Phone disconnected.

Lordamercy, finally.

A classic case of ambition far outweighing execution.
It sounded like such a great idea on paper.