JoelF wrote:In the vacant lot just north of Bob Chinn's in Wheeling, there's been a For Sale sign for some time. It's now blank plastic sign covering an oddly-shaped small billboard... but there's a bit of Maurie and Flaurie peeking out.

So I'm guessing the Wheeling Superdawg is a go.

The wraps are off, the sign says "Opening Spring 2009"

not that exciting of an update, but apparently the Bennigan's in Chicago have already shuttered in the last few days, but they're all closing very soon.

http://www.wbbm780.com/Bennigan-s-Resta ... cy/2685636

Where will I go for Cajun Seafood Pasta now?

Just to defy the "LTH hates chains" misconception, I still get a craving every now and again for the Bennigan's monte cristo sandwich. Of course, it's hard to screw up anything that's been deep-fried like that, but it was actually pretty good.

Dining at chains goes against the very fiber of my restaurant-loving being, but I second the Bennigan's Monte Cristo love. That sandwich is good!

I second that. I've actually written an article about the Monte Cristo, I loved it so much. It's one of those foods that both delights and scares me (and my physician).

about chains....maybe this doesn't apply to those of you posting about your love for bennigan's monte cristo, but for me, i try to avoid eating in them not just because the food is usually mediocre and/or unhealthy, but mostly because i'd rather support a family run business and know money is going into the pockets of a small group of people, rather than providing huge profits to corporations and stockholders. justjoan

justjoan wrote:about chains....maybe this doesn't apply to those of you posting about your love for bennigan's monte cristo, but for me, i try to avoid eating in them not just because the food is usually mediocre and/or unhealthy, but mostly because i'd rather support a family run business and know money is going into the pockets of a small group of people, rather than providing huge profits to corporations and stockholders. justjoan

I concur and act the same...but the Monte Cristo is/was a genius sandwich.

This is the first I've heard about the Monte Cristo sandwich and after checking out the sandwich's Wikipedia page, I'm intrigued. With Bennigan's closing, does anyone know any other Chicago restaurants where I could try one?

Also, I'm eager to see what happens to the prime spot where Bennigan's was at Michigan and Adams. I'm hopeful that it will be something on par with The Gage and not a Chili's.

I'm curious as to why there was ever a Bennigan's at Michigan and Adams and another 1/2 mile north of there at Michigan and Lake. Was the demand for Monte Cristos such that was really necessary? I suppose not, given the closings.

I'm crossing my fingers for something good coming in at the Michigan/Lake location, since the building where I work. It would be really nice to have somewhere to go in the winter when I'm too lazy to pack a lunch and too cold to go anywhere outside of my building. But I suspect it will just be another random, generic chain.

fj123 wrote:With Bennigan's closing, does anyone know any other Chicago restaurants where I could try one?

I'm not a big fan of the Monte Cristo, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. You might want to try the over-the-top version at the Silver Palm. It's more like a donut than a sandwich.





Silver Palm
768 N Milwaukee Av
Chicago
312-666-9322

whiskeybent wrote:Just to defy the "LTH hates chains" misconception, I still get a craving every now and again for the Bennigan's monte cristo sandwich. Of course, it's hard to screw up anything that's been deep-fried like that, but it was actually pretty good.

Hard to screw up, yes, but Clarke's found a way. Their take on the monte cristo involved soaking the bread in butter until it was falling apart, then grilling it until the cheese was almost, but not quite, melted. Mystifying at the time, perplexing now.

The Bennigans on Michigan Ave, were the two largest grossing stores in the chain. They were both company owned, which is why they are closed, but the franchised stores are still open.

I have seen a report that S & A, a major franchisese of Bennigans might take over the Michigan Ave stores.

Sorry typing with one finger and lots of pain meds.

jimmya wrote:The Bennigans on Michigan Ave, were the two largest grossing stores in the chain. They were both company owned, which is why they are closed, but the franchised stores are still open.

I have seen a report that S & A, a major franchisese of Bennigans might take over the Michigan Ave stores.

Sorry typing with one finger and lots of pain meds.

From the Chicago Tribune's web site:

Michael Hughlett and Trine Tsouderos wrote:Many Bennigan's restaurants in Chicago and across the country abruptly closed Tuesday after the company that owns the chain filed for bankruptcy.

S & A Restaurant Corp and some of its affiliates, which are popularly known as Bennigan's, Steak & Ale and Tavern restaurants, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, said a statement from Plano, Texas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group, which ultimately owns all three restaurant chains.

The statement didn't disclose the number of restaurants that are closing. Sheryl Randolph, a spokeswoman for Metromedia Restaurant Group, said the closure doesn't affect franchisee-owned outlets.

Not mentioned in the piece but provided in the link to the story from the Trib's home page, is the information that 21 local stores are affected.

Many Chicago-area Bennigan's to close

=R=

Rene G wrote:I'm not a big fan of the Monte Cristo, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. You might want to try the over-the-top version at the Silver Palm. It's more like a donut than a sandwich.

Looks perfect. Do they serve it with strawberry jam?

I too, am a fan of Bennigan's Monte Cristo, so I hope some local stores stay open.

I have adored that sandwich ever since I first tasted one years ago at the Michigan Union in Ann Arbor (in the la-di-dah faculty club that I only got to go to with my boss). The bit of historical research I've done seems to indicate that the French-toast version of this sandwich is the original, and you see it that way at a lot of diners, but I agree with Suzy Creamcheese that this method is inferior to deep frying.

The best Monte Cristos I've had were at the Blue Bayou at Disneyland, which I understand was hugely responsible for popularizing the deep-fried sandwich, but that may be partly due to atmosphere ... the Pirates of the Caribbean ride runs through the restaurant.

I'll have to check out the the Silver Palm.

I just called Bennigan's Bryn Mawr, Niles, Deerfield and Schaumburg locations, and no one answered at any of them, so I'm guessing they have closed. Here's hoping a franchisee takes over some of them.

Just a friendly reminder: this thread is meant for quick posts rather than long discussions.

Not that I really fancy myself spending time policing, but that was the original intent.

Text from Il Fiasco e-letter:

Dear Friends,
Beginning Sunday, July 27th, Il Fiasco is closed for renovations and will reopen as Tapas Las Ramblas within a month. We will keep you posted on our progress and with our official reopening date. Also, we want to inform you that all gift certificates from Il Fiasco will be honored at Tapas Las Ramblas. Thank you for your patronage and we look forward to seeing you soon!

All the best,
Michael and Natalie Moore (owners)
Nannette Patterson (manager)


-EOM

Jessewolfe1 wrote:Beginning Sunday, July 27th, Il Fiasco is closed for renovations and will reopen as Tapas Las Ramblas within a month. We will keep you posted on our progress and with our official reopening date. Also, we want to inform you that all gift certificates from Il Fiasco will be honored at Tapas Las Ramblas.

Sounds like that corner might be a Location of the Damned.

LAZ wrote:I too, am a fan of Bennigan's Monte Cristo, so I hope some local stores stay open.

LAZ,

Three or four years ago Evil Ronnie, a man who knows his way around a fork, waxed poetic about Bennigan's Monte Cristo to the extent I went to the Niles location the next day. Retrospectively, I should not have gone within minutes of opening, but if you had seen Evil's eyes light up when he described the glory known as Monte Cristo you would have been first in the door as well. The fryer was not yet up to speed and the resulting oil soaked mess would have done Joseph Hazelwood proud.

LAZ wrote:I'll have to check out the the Silver Palm.

I'm a fan of Silver Palm/Matchbox, but the Bennign's experience may have eternally soiled the deep fried Monte Cristo.

Enjoy,
Gary

LAZ wrote:I too, am a fan of Bennigan's Monte Cristo, so I hope some local stores stay open.

According to the Trib, the nearest franchise-owned (and still open) Bennigan's locations are Elgin or NW Indiana.

The same article was opining over the hard times casual dining is having, and indicated that Baker's Square has also filed for bankru
ptcy protection (but has not closed their stores).

Redfish:

Found floating in the tank.

You can get your Monte Cristo just 20 steps off Michigan Avenue, half-way between the two shuttered Bennigan's, at Old Timers Restaurant. 75 E. Lake St.

walked by Duchamp last night... they were having a private opening party. i was admiring their outdoor patio when it struck me that the place was brand new...

from metromix:

The trio from Lumen (Jason Freiman, Peter Gogarty and Nick Podesta) and Michael Taus (chef-owner of Zealous) are teaming up to open this globally-influenced contemporary American spot in Bucktown's former Meritage space July 31

they go on to say it's asian and french influenced... small & large plates, topping out at $19.
not supposed to be as upscale as their previous places, they're having sunday afternoon BBQs

Duchamp
2118 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647-4571
773-235-6434
http://www.duchamp-chicago.com

(there's also rumors for a new restaurant not too far north of there by some big name chicago chefs... i'm sure we'll hear more on that soon)

Ann Fisher wrote:You can get your Monte Cristo just 20 steps off Michigan Avenue, half-way between the two shuttered Bennigan's, at Old Timers Restaurant. 75 E. Lake St.

Is that a deep-fried Monte Cristo? Or the pan-fried French toast kind? A lot of diners offer the latter, but I don't think it's as good.

My life shall be a sad pathetic shadow of it's true potential until I get to try a deep fried Monte Cristo likethe one at the Silver Palm.

A handwritten sign in a window on the 3600 block of West Montrose announces the pending opening of "The Flying Chicken" Colombian Cuisine, only a few blocks from the mother of all Columbia Chicken joints.

dddane wrote:[snip]
Duchamp
2118 N. Damen Ave.
[snip]
(there's also rumors for a new restaurant not too far north of there by some big name chicago chefs... i'm sure we'll hear more on that soon)

My guess is that it's going to be where Il Covo was until yesterday (2152 N. Damen Ave. it's all papered over, and there's a half rain-erased message chalked on the sidewalk... "More Info Soon!")

Not that anyone will miss it, but PJ Clarke's on Armitage is dead. A couple of weeks ago, there was a court order on the door for eviction and payment of $300K+ in back rent. It looks like they tried to take as much of the junk off the walls as they could before leaving.

[quote="Sam Harmon"]$300K+ in back rent. quote]

wow...that is alot of back rent

leek wrote:

dddane wrote:[snip]
Duchamp
2118 N. Damen Ave.
[snip]
(there's also rumors for a new restaurant not too far north of there by some big name chicago chefs... i'm sure we'll hear more on that soon)

My guess is that it's going to be where Il Covo was until yesterday (2152 N. Damen Ave. it's all papered over, and there's a half rain-erased message chalked on the sidewalk... "More Info Soon!")

did you see on toc?
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/out ... ut/?p=5951


On the table: The Bristol
Posted in Restaurants and bars by Heather Shouse on July 28th, 2008
After a bit of speculation and generic “Bucktown” references from other local blogs, we got the scoop on the location for The Bristol, the highly anticipated collaboration between former one sixtyblue GM John Ross, former N9ne GM Phillip Walters and chef Chris Pandel, an alum of NYC’s Café Boulud and Rick Tramonto’s arsenal of eateries. The Bristol will open in the former Il Covo space (2152 N Damen Ave) in mid-September. Il Covo will serve their last meal tomorrow.

Bristol stuff I’m psyched for includes:

* A bar snacks menu of things like dill and sea salt “monkey bread” pull-aparts
* A “5th Quarter” charcuterie chalkboard, listing house-cured sausages, smoked terrines and roasted marrow bones
* A brunch menu (slated to start in October) that includes biscuits with honey butter and sausage gravy
* Entrees that average under $20
* A cocktail list by star bartender Debbie Peek that ranges from Moscow Mule era classics to seasonal, contemporary creations like a pear and elderflower combo
* A wine list packed with biodynamic and organic picks

…and six taps pouring local brews, one dedicated to cask ale.

2152 N Damen Ave between Shakespeare and Webster Aves