JP1121 wrote:Looks like someone else is going to try to make a go of the cursed space in Northfield that was last occupied by MK North and before that Brasserie T. Sounds like a pretty strange eclectic menu, but who knows.

Link:

http://www.northshoremag.com/cgi-bin/ns ... taste.html

Not just "someone else," but industry veterans Carlos and Debbie Nieto, who own both Carlos' Restaurant and Cafe Central in Highland Park. From what I've heard, they will be paying a substantially lower rent than the last few tenants.

=R=

Not just "someone else," but industry veterans Carlos and Debbie Nieto, who own both Carlos' Restaurant and Cafe Central in Highland Park. From what I've heard, they will be paying a substantially lower rent than the last few tenants.

Yep, I ate at Carlos some years back and though it was very good. I do think it is strange that the current web site highlights both Zagat and Chicago magazine ratings from 2006. I personally don't pay attention to ratings but clearly some people do, and highlighting reviews that old to me is like saying 3 years ago we were great and now,................well three years ago we were great!

link:
http://www.carlos-restaurant.com/

Dixie Kitchen on the south side will be closing on Sunday, according to the Reader. Obama's gonna be PISSED.

Pie Lady wrote:Dixie Kitchen on the south side will be closing on Sunday, according to the Reader. Obama's gonna be PISSED.

The Hyde Park / Harper Court location, that is (there's still another one further south, and of course the Evanston location).

The Hyde Park owners plan to move some of the menu items over to Calypso Cafe in the same courtyard, which is holding out on its lease for a larger payout from the University, which plans to turn the area into a mixed residential / retail development. You know the retail I want most in that space? A wonderful, popular, atmospheric southern / soul food restaurant. Oh, wait.

Oh yes, I didn't know Lansing was south.
Calypso will be closing in 2012 according to the website.

I see that Five Guys is opening another location at corner of Clark & Fullerton, in space formerly occupied by Ritz Camera...

Coming soon to Logan Square (former Abril space at Logan/Kedzie/Milwaukee):

Ciao, a Napoli Pizzeria

Call me intrigued by this new development.
Will post opening dates when more info is noted.

thanks,
miss ellen

abe_froeman wrote:

JoelF wrote:

Rene G wrote:There's a post over on Chowhound that says Hourglass will reopen December 1 at 9850 N Milwaukee in Des Plaines.

I was at Pita Inn right next door yesterday, and 9850 is indeed no longer El Sueno, but it's about to be yet another Korean BBQ with a name beginning with two esses, like "Ssabona" or something.

Yeah, I was trying to figure that one out, too- Ssaboo? Something like that.

When did Sphinx Cafe at Dempster & Milwaukee become something else? I just noticed it today, turning left onto eastbound Dempster and I couldn't even tell what the sign said, just that it was different.

Ssabona/Pita Inn is actually in Niles, if anyone is Google-mapping.
Sphinx is now Mango, a Mexican place that we have yet to try but surely will soon. This surprised Pie Dude since Sphinx was always jumpin' late Friday and Saturday nights. I thought they were lesser than Pita Inn but not bad.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:I loved the concept of Ethel's, but the chocolate was reminiscent of Hershey's - poor quality in a pretty package.

This reminds me that all Moonstruck outlets are gone now too, including the one in Oak Brook.

stevez wrote:There are signs up in the storefront just north of Latin Sandwich Cafe (or whatever they are calling it these days) on Elston & Irving. Either Brasa Roja or El Llano is going in there. Both names are on the signs, so maybe the El Llano folks are going to put in a hybrid version of both of their restaurants.

Looks like El Llano, as of last Wednesday. They're sure taking their time! I'm sad I never got in the original.

Dave148 wrote:Skokie Pita & Pizza at the infamous corner of Skokie/Lincoln/Howard has closed. To be replaced by the creatively named Coffee Beanery. I'm taking bets on this one.

Kickass! I have a punchcard from them. Free latte, here I come!

Pie Lady wrote:

stevez wrote:There are signs up in the storefront just north of Latin Sandwich Cafe (or whatever they are calling it these days) on Elston & Irving. Either Brasa Roja or El Llano is going in there. Both names are on the signs, so maybe the El Llano folks are going to put in a hybrid version of both of their restaurants.

Looks like El Llano, as of last Wednesday. They're sure taking their time! I'm sad I never got in the original.

The original what? Is the original El Llano closed? It didn't seem to be when I last walked by.

Kennyz wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:

stevez wrote:There are signs up in the storefront just north of Latin Sandwich Cafe (or whatever they are calling it these days) on Elston & Irving. Either Brasa Roja or El Llano is going in there. Both names are on the signs, so maybe the El Llano folks are going to put in a hybrid version of both of their restaurants.

Looks like El Llano, as of last Wednesday. They're sure taking their time! I'm sad I never got in the original.

The original what? Is the original El Llano closed? It didn't seem to be when I last walked by.

Sorry, I meant I was sorry I didn't get in Latin Sandwich Cafe, because I thought El Llano was replacing it. In fact, LSC and El Llano are two different things. Didn't mean to freak you out.

Sorry, I meant I was sorry I didn't get in Latin Sandwich Cafe, because I thought El Llano was replacing it. In fact, LSC and El Llano are two different things. Didn't mean to freak you out

gotcha. Latin Sandwich Cafe is still very much open. It is now called Rapa Nui, but it is pretty much the same place it always was. No need to be sad you never got in the original - it is still there for you. As is the El Llano on Lincoln a block south of Irving.

Another new restaurant is currently under construction in Oak Park at the old S3 spot at 814 S. Oak Park Ave.

Word on the street (from a self-proclaimed owner) is that it will be a sushi bar.

Looks like the Bucktown Soup Cafe is set to open any moment at 1840 N Damen.

http://www.bucktownsoupcafe.com

Kedzie Update

The gyro place next door to Salaam has closed. On the other hand, the vaunted south side institution, Nablus Sweets, is opening in the space formerly occupied by City Noor Kebab.

montwyn wrote:Another new restaurant is currently under construction in Oak Park at the old S3 spot at 814 S. Oak Park Ave.

Word on the street (from a self-proclaimed owner) is that it will be a sushi bar.

It's close, so I wish it success, but along with Indian, Starbucks, ice cream parlors, and popcorn (yes, there are multiple popcorn shops within ten blocks, none getting close to even the worst Garrett location), sushi is somewhat oversaturated in the area. As Hammond always says, we need more auteur-driven, creative spots - the landscape in Oak Park proper should be better than it is.

Santander wrote:

montwyn wrote:Another new restaurant is currently under construction in Oak Park at the old S3 spot at 814 S. Oak Park Ave.

Word on the street (from a self-proclaimed owner) is that it will be a sushi bar.


It's close, so I wish it success, but along with Indian, Starbucks, ice cream parlors, and popcorn (yes, there are multiple popcorn shops within ten blocks, none getting close to even the worst Garrett location), sushi is somewhat oversaturated in the area. As Hammond always says, we need more auteur-driven, creative spots - the landscape in Oak Park proper should be better than it is.

Like S3.

There is a "coming soon" sign up at 3099 Ogden in Lisle (the old Grand Mandarin / Landee spot) for a "Sushi / Hibachi" place. I think sushi is getting oversaturated in this area as well!

Harold's Chicken on 17th just north of Roosevelt Rd is gone. Building and all.

Harold's Chicken Shack (RIP)
2139 S 17th Ave, Broadview

Closed: OMG Korean on Lincoln, across from the mall with Borders.
Opening "soon": Alcatraz Mexican in the same spot (could not find address of either one online, but it's about 6300 North)

Closed: Bailey's in Park Ridge, also D. Bob's across the street
10 N. Cumberland and 827 W. Touhy, respectively.

Reopened: Sugar Bowl @ 1494 Miner St., Des Plaines—we'll be going next weekend so I'll keep you posted!

Still waiting for Smokey's BBQ at 5430 Northwest Highway to open, and for Lin's @ 6556 N. Milwaukee to reopen—it's been closed for 2 years!

Rockstar Dogs appears to be closed. That was fast.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:Rockstar Dogs appears to be closed. That was fast.

Which one? The one on Ashland/Chicago closed a while ago, but last I heard the one on Armitage was still going strong. edit: Although Time Out has it marked as closed, too.

Definitely the one on Ashland and Chicago, I just saw it, and thought the same thing...Boy, that was quick.

The Rockstar Dogs on Armitage is also closed.

They seem to be reopening as "the Dog joint" in July. I don't know if they sold the business to new owners or are re-concepting.

Apparently the Iggy's ("Iggy3" or whatever they were calling it) at the corner of Chicago & Dearborn closed last year (August 2008). It was very promptly replaced by Redline Café, which was apparently a generic "everything to everyone" sort of place (pasta, wings, pizza, sandwiches, burgers...all appeared on the menu), which closed earlier this year.

Walking by yesterday, I noticed that the interior has been redecorated, the tables are all set, and the kitchen was being worked on. Judging by the chrome pizza stands sitting on each table, I'm guessing some sort of a pizza place is in the works.

I haven't been able to find any info, but the place looks like it's just some signage away from opening.

Drove by the corner of Pfingsten and Dundee in Northbrook yesterday and on the NE corner where the Shell station used to be was new construction that looked very restaurantesque. Anyone know what is going in there?

The Schaumburg outposts of Davis Street Fish Market and Pete Miller are apparently no more. There is a sign up announcing a wildberry location.
http://www.wildberrycafe.com/location.html

In a prime corner location formerly occupied by Abril many moons ago-
Ciao
a Napoli Pizzaria
is announcing their plans to open by a sign in the window
on Kedzie and Milwaukee across for the CTA Blue Line Station in Logan Square.