Something called Yindee's is opening next to the Cork Lounge and the Ravenswood El on Addison. It's BYO, but if there are any clues as to what kind of place it is, I couldn't spot it.

Klopa may have changed its name to Winter Garden. Or they may actually have a winter garden (you know, like at the end of Kill Bill part 1), and just put up the banner for it over the part of the signage that says their name.

Tambreet wrote:They just had a Groupon until the end of May. I guess we should use that ASAP.

You should always use a Groupon immediately. Groupon is the third Kubler-Ross stage of business collapse:

Denial, Anger, Groupon, Depression & Acceptance.

ryanwc wrote:

Tambreet wrote:They just had a Groupon until the end of May. I guess we should use that ASAP.

You should always use a Groupon immediately. Groupon is the third Kubler-Ross stage of business collapse:

Denial, Anger, Groupon, Depression & Acceptance.

New version starts tonight in Chicago
$25 for $50 of modern American cuisine with Latin soul at Province

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/
http://spotlight.opentable.com/detailsGroupBuy.action

abe_froeman wrote:Not sure if it's been posted here or in the Kabul House thread, but the Elk Grove Village location is "temporarily closed"- discovered that tonight when we tried to go for dinner. Are there still possibilities of another location in Skokie, on Oakton, I think?

The location at 4949 Oakton in Skokie still has the "Coming Soon: Kabul House" banner, and today it looked like they may be slowly, slowly making progress. It appears they have installed booths in what was an empty space the last time I drove past--about 2 weeks ago.

I drove by the proposed Kabul House location last Sunday, and saw no evidence that much progress has been made over the summer. I did not see any building permits posted - a bad sign.

They were mentioned on a promotional coupon for the Skokie Backlot Bash. The text suggested they would be open by "mid-summer." By my count, that date is long gone.

I fear this is the pattern that was followed after the closing of their Dempster and McCormick location, where they were moving to Dempster and Monticello, until they appeared in Elk Grove instead.

I never understood why they left Skokie - they had steady business in a terrible location; a new location would have made a boatload of cash for them.

Speculation about a Red Lion near Rockwell and Lawrence several months ago may have had some basis. There is a Facebook page listing the address of 4749 North Rockwell, the former location of Cafe Blu among other restaurants.

Closed:

The Key Wester in Naperville this past Tuesday
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/nape ... 10.article


But rumor of Luigi House going next are unfounded:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/nape ... 10.article


Grand Opening this week:

Golden Corral in Aurora
AURORA IL 4270 E NEW YORK STREET


Still waiting to see what moves into the Lonestar, Blackies, Bertucci's, etc locations in this strip of Rt59 Aurora/Naperville

Was driving along McHenry Rd. in Wheeling and saw big red signage for Jazz Cafe where the Polish buffet/deli used to be. Didn't have time to stop and nothing other than name and location available from a Google search. A phone call revealed they have live music and Friday and Saturday and European/Russian cuisine.

Jazz Cafe
(847) 537-5299
250 Mchenry Rd
Wheeling, IL 60090

Mike G wrote:Something called Yindee's is opening next to the Cork Lounge and the Ravenswood El on Addison. It's BYO, but if there are any clues as to what kind of place it is, I couldn't spot it.

they've posted a menu in the window -- it's half thai, half sushi (there may have been a few japanese entrees as well). their prices seemed similar to other neighborhood takeout asian places.

there's no opening date posted yet, but judging by a peek through the window into the dining room, i suspect it's any day now.


-hanse

The place on Lincoln just north of Diversey that was Calliope Cafe, and then became Muqdisho, and then became Splice Kitchen, is now becoming Firepot.

The name is intriguing; maybe they will have success.

The former chelsea grill space (among others) has been under construction including a new facade. A small sign taped in the door's window:

DueLire
Vino and Cucina
4520 N. Lincoln

rfleisch1 wrote:I drove by the proposed Kabul House location last Sunday, and saw no evidence that much progress has been made over the summer. I did not see any building permits posted - a bad sign.

I just walked past the proposed location. The windows are now papered over and there's a building permit in the front door. I'm not getting too excited (yet) as I fell for that trick when they were supposed to be reopening on Dempster St.

That would be quite a coup, however, for downtown Skokie if Kabul House DID eventually open up in that location, because with J-Red (Jamaican) and Tub Tim Thai within a block, it would be the embryo of the international cuisine destination that Skokie's been striving for since the downtown reconstruction began many years ago. Here's hoping...

Sounds like a -thon to me.

There's a sign -- Coming Soon Sushi Roll Express in the old Delhi 6 space on Lincoln.

Pie Lady wrote:Sounds like a -thon to me.

Let's not forget to waddle east on Oakton for dessert at Village Creamery. Or we could start the a-thon at VC and head west.

Dave148 wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Sounds like a -thon to me.

Let's not forget to waddle east on Oakton for dessert at Village Creamery. Or we could start the a-thon at VC and head west.

I'd like to add my name to the list.

Spotted a couple of places "Coming Soon" in the loop...

Apparently we needed another fast casual Mediterranean joint:
Med Kitchen
219 W Washington
http://medkitcheneatery.com/

Given the dearth of quality hot dogs in the loop, this one is a lot more interesting, especially with the listed exotic/gourmet sausages:
Westminster Hot Dog
11 N Wells
http://westminsterhotdog.com/

Maybe sometime in the next decade we can get a casual burger spot...

Mods, please feel free to put this wherever you think it belongs, I did post it on the Great Lake Pizza thread as well, but they are going to close for a couple of weeks:

Great Lake Pizza is taking a breather. They will close after service on Saturday evening (September 18th) and if my memory is correct they will re-open on October 5.

Hi all,

Thought I would add a new addition of Vietnamese in the Northbrook / Glenview area.

This restaurant just opened today, 9/17 - Noodles "Pho" U @ 2532 Waukegan Rd., Glenview IL. Its right next a Jewel-Osco. The owners told me that they also have restaurants on Halsted in Chicago and in Lombard. Its advertised as a "Vietnamese Noodle House & Pan Asian Food". Anyways, I went there for the grand opening and tried of course tried their Pho, with eye round steak, brisket, flank, tendon & beef ball. Normally favorite is Dung Gia in Des Plaines for suburban Pho, but this was a good substitute. The soup itself was not bad, although I like it at Dung Gia & Pho Xe Tang (Tank Noodle) more. Noodles itself were good. My wife tried the Shrimp & Pork Vermicelli, which was tasty - pork was very soft but slightly crispy on the outside & had good flavor, shrimps were grilled/cooked well. Overall I thought my experience was good - I would definitely come back here and recommend the place for those in the area want a "quick fix" of Pho/Vietnamese and don't want to drive to Argyle or otherwise for it.

They have of course other items on the menu, but I thought I'd try what they should be best at - Vietnamese food.

Hope that helps!
mike

michan wrote:Noodles "Pho" U

Who was it around here who was keeping a list of the worst restaurant names?

nsxtasy wrote:

michan wrote:Noodles "Pho" U

Who was it around here who was keeping a list of the worst restaurant names?

This does NOT top the Money Shot. If you know how it's used that imagery doesn't work with food consumption. (yeah I'm bracing for it).

Another coming arrival to the loop: Freshii to open at 111 W Jackson this fall. Signs up in the window on Jackson.

Vinny wrote:Another coming arrival to the loop: Freshii to open at 111 W Jackson this fall. Signs up in the window on Jackson.

Wasn't there a similar franchise concept on Jackson between Wells and Franklin (a location that now houses a panini place)? If I recall correctly, the franchisee dropped the franchise affiliation after only a few months, and then turned the place into a standard burger-sandwiches-salads joint which promptly tanked. There's also a Freshii's in the Equinox Club at 200 West Monroe.

one more burger option in downtown Evanston, looks like Five Guys is opening a few doors down from the Barnes & Nobles on Church st.

nsxtasy wrote:

michan wrote:Noodles "Pho" U

Who was it around here who was keeping a list of the worst restaurant names?

Dung Gia is right up there, too. Still, it's nice to see Vietnamese cuisine outside Uptown and Glendale Heights.

FYI...Dung Gia was named to commemorate owner David Tran's & his wife's parents. We've followed them over the last 20 years from Annam Express in Skokie to Annam Cafe in Evanston & now Des Plaines, and the quality & freshness of their fare hasn't diminished one whit.

It's true, LAZ, once you get north of Hoanh Long (Lincoln/McCormick) & Ben Tre (Kedzie/Touhy)--both real solid places in their own right--unless I'm missing something there isn't anything that remotely resembles authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Tons of Thai places in north & northwest suburbia, however, which is somewhat curious.

mtgl wrote:By way of confirmation, I took a spin up by Top Notch West. Note how the Sunday hours had been scratched out--it normally said closed, but there was a sign inside the restaurant saying they had been open on Sundays recently. Couldn't get a good pic of that, though. Anyhow, please obey the sign and patronize the other location.

Take it down a notch
After 22 years, Top Notch Beefburgers has shut its doors in Oak Lawn.

The burger joint at 95th Street and Cicero Avenue closed about three weeks ago because of dwindling sales, according to Top Notch office manager Jim Quigley.

But fans of Top Notch's fare don't need to fret. There are no plans to close the location in Chicago's Beverly community, located a little over three miles away at 2116 W. 95th St.

Closing the restaurant in Oak Lawn has boosted patronage of the Beverly location, Quigley said.

"We're doing a lot better from closing over there," Quigley said from the Beverly store. "Everyone who wants our burgers just comes over here now."

This spot opened Labor day weekend. Stopped in and they have great little wings. Gil is the ower and a really nice guy. Sauces are hot to mild and some unique ones like chedder bacon. Definately worth a visit or two or three or more...

RAB wrote:Passed this spot the other day on California, just north of Lincoln. I actually am Cravin' some wings, so I'm looking forward to trying it when it opens "soon."


Or maybe I should try to talk Ronna into hitting Toons tonight. That's even sooner.

Cravin' Chicago Wings
5750 N. California
Chicago, IL. 60659
773-944-0662

--Rich

jnm123 wrote:FYI...Dung Gia was named to commemorate owner David Tran's & his wife's parents. We've followed them over the last 20 years from Annam Express in Skokie to Annam Cafe in Evanston & now Des Plaines, and the quality & freshness of their fare hasn't diminished one whit.

It's true, LAZ, once you get north of Hoanh Long (Lincoln/McCormick) & Ben Tre (Kedzie/Touhy)--both real solid places in their own right--unless I'm missing something there isn't anything that remotely resembles authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Tons of Thai places in north & northwest suburbia, however, which is somewhat curious.

Oh, yes, the the food is great, and I know where the name comes from. But it reminds me of the apocryphal story about why Chevy had trouble in Mexico with its marketing of the Nova. ("No va" means "it doesn't go" in Spanish.) "Dung" is just not an appetizing image in English.

There's a Vietnamese community and a number of restaurants in the Glendale Heights/Lombard area. And, speaking of, er, unusual names, the tiny Pho U next to Chaihanna in Buffalo Grove (23 E. Dundee Road, 847/353-3333).