tarte tatin wrote:

nr706 wrote:Noticed today that my favorite Afghan restaurant, Kabul House, is moving two or three blocks west, to 3606 Dempster, still in Skokie. Not sure of timing, but seems imminent.

Unfortunately, that also means Kabul House will be closed for business until they can open their new location--and that won't be until September, I was told. According to Abdul, the ceiling at their current place collapsed, and they are unable to re-open there. He promises the same great food in much nicer surroundings in a couple of months!

He said the new place is where the Walgreen's Home Care place used to be. It's much larger than the old space. Here's hoping he has enough business to fill the new digs.

tapler wrote:Sheba Cafe seems to have closed. With their wildly uneven hours it used to be hard to tell whether Sheba was open or closed at any given time. But now all the furniture has been removed. Too bad. When they were on, the kitchen there was delivering my favorite Ethiopian food in town.

I'm really sorry to hear this. It was my favorite Ethiopian place, too. It's a fair distance from Arlington Heights, so I only got there a couple of times a year -- but everything was always fabulous. And I was planning on going in a couple of weeks -- so I just missed it (though glad to know before I drove in). Bummer.

bollygrl wrote:I am also a fan of Beard Papa's, and am excited to know that there will be a Chicago location soon. It's a must-stop whenever I'm near the West Village in NYC.

There's a new pizzeria going in across the street from Natalino's on Chicago Avenue. First Rockstar Dogs, then Natalino's and Mexique, now pizza . . . it's going to be impossible to park in my neighborhood pretty soon. Sorry I can't remember the name of the new joint - it wouldn't come up on a Google search, but it's two women's names, and I think one is Paula . . .

It's Paula and Monica's. And despite bizarre ass two way mirror front it's now open. Pretty good and definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood. It's owned by one of the guys who started Natalino's.

(Wait - I'd still like some good Thai, though. )

I'd love better/good Thai in Noble Square, that would totally rock my world.

Oak Mill just moved a few blocks west. They're now in St. Patricks' Plaza, the little strip mall with Diva hair salon, and and the famous DJ Marski. It's the block between Mango & Menard, south side, just west of IHOP and across the street from El Gordo.

Logan's Bar and Grill opened yesterday at the corner of California and Milwaukee. It's basically The Northside #2.

I heard the Logan has great food and is a really good time. Can't wait to check it out-it's in my 'hood!
Jen

Logan really is just Northside #2, but its space,although remarkably similar, is even cooler. Good burger, sandwiches, surprisingly good linguini, lots of good draft beers. Certainly not great food, but good, reasonable food in a very nice atmosphere. Did I mention how cool the space is?

The open tables to the street with the obligatory brown dog were Epcotesque. The place is so Wicker/Lincoln Park;it will be interesting to see how well Logan Square will welcome it.

In this week's Dish, it was reported that Old Oak Tap is opening in West Town. From Dish:

"John Manion (Mas) really gets around these days. He will run the kitchen at West Town’s beer-centric Old Oak Tap (2109 W. Chicago Ave.) when it opens in mid-August, says Chris Ongkiko (The Continental and Lava Lounge), a co-owner. “We aren’t looking for Bon Appétit to write about us,” says Ongkiko. “It’s high-end bar food. Gourmet sandwiches and salads. Not things you can get off a truck and throw into a deep fryer.” The place, which has three sets of double doors that’ll be open in good weather, will also serve 12 draft beers and 30 to 40 bottled beers. As for Manion’s role, Ongkiko describes it thusly: “John’s our consultant. It’s up to him to see that we are not doing anything too earth-shattering but that the quality and the freshness are high.”

Hmmm. . . . it sounds like they're setting the food bar both high and low . . .

Here's a strange one in Evanston. Omaggio, Uberburger, and La Petit Amelia have all shut down with a sign that reads (paraphrased, didn't have a camera to take a picture) "This restaurant will be closed starting July 23 until August 31st for summer vacation. It will reopen September 1st."

Word on the street is the partner who owns the building all three are located in pulled all his money out suddenly. I feel really bad for all the servers and staff who came in Wed. only to be told they were out of work, ~50 plus people.

dug wrote:edgewater;"Bunz Bakery" is coming to thorndale near broadway,offering asian style buns with a variety of fillings as well as other baked goods.

also in edgewater.......and finally "Sweet Occasions" is "reportedly" opening by the end of this month on 1036 bryn mawr across from francesca's.

while we are still awaiting "sweet occasions" "bunz bakery" has now opened on 1136 west thorndale!
i happened by yesterday and the gravitational pull of a bakery combined with the aroma of fresh baked cookies in the air enticed me to go inside.
the case was partially filled with such goodies as chocolate chocolate chip cookies,mini muffins,bar-b-q pork filled bao's and custard filled bunz as well.they aslo serve coffee's,espresso,latte and cappuccino.
the enthusiastic and freindly staff were busy making new baked goods and i'm told more varieties are forthcoming.
welcome to the neighborhood!

Octarine wrote:Here's a strange one in Evanston. Omaggio, Uberburger, and La Petit Amelia have all shut down with a sign that reads (paraphrased, didn't have a camera to take a picture) "This restaurant will be closed starting July 23 until August 31st for summer vacation. It will reopen September 1st."

Word on the street is the partner who owns the building all three are located in pulled all his money out suddenly. I feel really bad for all the servers and staff who came in Wed. only to be told they were out of work, ~50 plus people.

A friend of mine worked at La Petit Amelia, for a short time, a couple of months ago. She told me there was absolutely no food in the LPA freezer, and the kitchen was getting all its ingredients from Omaggio. Having worked for many years in the business, she took this as a bad omen and got out while the getting was good. When I told her of the lengthy vacation, she was not surprised. She said those restaurants are heavily dependent on NU business, and lose money during the summer months.

I don't consider this a tragedy other than for the employees and the franchise investor, but the Papa Romeo pizza place near the Diversey el stop is gone now.

As long as the Papa Romeo's on Pulaski does not close, I'm okay with that.
That is my favorite pizza!!! And cheesy bread!!

Mana has opened on Division, menu looks nice, veggie.
1742 W. Division St., Chicago
Tel: (773) 342-1742

MLS wrote:Logan really is just Northside #2, but its space,although remarkably similar, is even cooler. Good burger, sandwiches, surprisingly good linguini, lots of good draft beers. Certainly not great food, but good, reasonable food in a very nice atmosphere. Did I mention how cool the space is?

The open tables to the street with the obligatory brown dog were Epcotesque. The place is so Wicker/Lincoln Park;it will be interesting to see how well Logan Square will welcome it.

Judging from the crowds there Tuesday and Wednesday it's being very warmly welcomed, I'm hoping to check it out this weekend.

Three restaurants in Carlson building close...

A place called Hot Woks Cool Sushi just opened up on Pulaski just south of Irving Park (next to the Kennedy).

I think Mana on Division is open! I ran by it today and it is a dark wood number, very sexy looking with low lights and bench seating. Although one note, the entire place was radiating a "hippish" smell? (Patchouli?) I think its suppose to be another high-end vegetarian place. I'm excited to try it since I adore tiny, hole-in-the-wall looking places, and the Dish report wasn't half bad.

Eaterlover wrote:Although one note, the entire place was radiating a "hippish" smell? (Patchouli?)

Yuk. I want to smell my food and drink, not patchouli! (or any other perfume for that matter). It's bad enough when people come in after pouring on some perfume right before going out, they have to pipe the stuff in???

Much like gin is a combination of various botanicals, patchouli is the distilled essence of Satan's various and sundry emissions.

Not that I have strong feelings on the subject but patchouli is an utter and complete deal breaker for me.

So on the Clark Street bus today, coming home from the Green Market (Corn has arrived!), i saw a sign in a store front just below Winnemac for a barbecue joint coming soon. Hillbilly something or other's Smoke House. (I was on a bus so it went by fast)

Considering that might mean actual barbecue in my hood -- I'm hopeful.

Anyone heard anything about this place?

An Uncle Joe's Jerk has opened in Hyde Park. I'd say this is one of the very best things in the neighborhood.

1461 E. Hyde Park blvd. (51st & Harper)
(773) 241-5550

Fujisan wrote:A place called Hot Woks Cool Sushi just opened up on Pulaski just south of Irving Park (next to the Kennedy).

Just a few doors up from Smoque no less. That alone will probably catch the attention of a few LTHers...

Octarine wrote:Much like gin is a combination of various botanicals, patchouli is the distilled essence of Satan's various and sundry emissions.

Not that I have strong feelings on the subject but patchouli is an utter and complete deal breaker for me.

I used to play in a band with a singer who was hopelessly stuck in the sixties. My wife's comment,a dismissive "She probably likes patchouli."

Walking to the train this morning I noticed signs on the windows of Il Fiasco at 5101 N Clark Street (previously Rioja) that they are closing for renovations and will be reopening as Tapas Las Ramblas "within a month". I'm sad to see the restaurant change again, I liked Il Fiasco. It was nice to have a decent neighborhood pasta place so close (La Donna doesn't count, I strongly dislike that place). I've only lived here two years, but from what I've seen that corner seems doomed to change restaurants quite often.

Annabelle wrote:Walking to the train this morning I noticed signs on the windows of Il Fiasco at 5101 N Clark Street (previously Rioja) that they are closing for renovations and will be reopening as Tapas Las Ramblas "within a month". I'm sad to see the restaurant change again, I liked Il Fiasco. It was nice to have a decent neighborhood pasta place so close (La Donna doesn't count, I strongly dislike that place). I've only lived here two years, but from what I've seen that corner seems doomed to change restaurants quite often.

And I wouldn't get too comfortable w/ Tapas Las Ramblas . . . it'll also be something new in about a year.

BR wrote:And I wouldn't get too comfortable w/ Tapas Las Ramblas . . . it'll also be something new in about a year.

Most likely it will. I keep hoping something really great will land there, a future GNR maybe. Mostly because I can see their front door from my livingroom windows and it would be so nice to have something really, really good that close to home. Not that there aren't other good places nearby, but nothing else quite that close. But if the past is any indication it will turn over again within a year or two and become something else. Alas.

Annabelle wrote:Walking to the train this morning I noticed signs on the windows of Il Fiasco at 5101 N Clark Street (previously Rioja) that they are closing for renovations and will be reopening as Tapas Las Ramblas "within a month". I'm sad to see the restaurant change again, I liked Il Fiasco. It was nice to have a decent neighborhood pasta place so close (La Donna doesn't count, I strongly dislike that place). I've only lived here two years, but from what I've seen that corner seems doomed to change restaurants quite often.

And Rioja wasn't there that long either -- in 2003 it was still Atlantique (a seafood place), which itself hadn't opened more than a couple years earlier.

Signs posted Wednesday on the doors at Omaggio, Uber Burger and La Petite Amelia said the restaurants were closing "for summer vacation" and would re-open on Sept. 1.

But the shutdown reportedly took employees by surprise and left an estimated 50 people out of a job.

The restaurants are all owned by Robert LaPata and are located in the Carlson Building at Church Street and Orrington Avenue. Building owner Cameel Halim of Wilmette Real Estate Co. is reportedly a major investor in the three dining spots.

A knowledgeable source in the Evanston business community said it's believed a financial disagreement between Halim and LaPata may have led to the closures.

Calls this morning to Halim and LaPata were not immediately returned.

Summer can be a slow time for downtown restaurants, since few students are on the nearby Northwestern University campus.

and I was just considering a Turkey Burger and onion rings for lunch at Uber Burger today... Guess that is out the window.

Construction on iScream on Milwaukee continues, and I despair of being able to pick up a cone while the weather is still warm. I feel like I should take the owner aside and give them a bit of friendly advice, namely, "Try to coordinate things so you can open before the first frost."