Naf Naf Grill will be opening another store near Fox Valley Mall (on the Rte 59 side) in early July. Sign is already up.

Oops! Since this is going to open in July, it's in the wrong thread....

Got Spaghetti? changed to Cucina Madonna in winter 2010, and is closed already. It will soon become The Garage (Bar & Sandwiches).

Hey, mods, can we open a new thread called Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings at 6145 N. Milwaukee?

riddlemay wrote:On Diversey near Orchard, roughly (or maybe even precisely) across the street from the new Trader Joe's, a new "Irish" "gastro" "pub" named, get this, Michael Diversey.

(I'm imagining they didn't make up the name entirely, i.e., Diversey Parkway is named for some actual guy named Michael Diversey, but I don't have my Chicago Street Names book handy.)

From Wikipedia:
Michael Diversey (born Diversy; 1810-1869) was an American beer brewer and owner of the Diversey Beer Brewery. Diversey was an immigrant from Illingen Saarland, Germany. He landed in the US in 1830 and went into partnership with English immigrant William Lill around 1841. The company changed its name and became the Lill & Diversey Brewery, also known simply as The Chicago Brewery. It was destroyed in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire.
Michael Diversey was a philanthropist. He was also a Chicago alderman (1844–45; 1856–1868). The Diversey Parkway in Chicago is named after him.

headcase wrote:Went by the Flash Taco/Underdog space on Damen, and it looked like the Underdog space has changed? I think it said "Heat"?

SSDD

new name, exact same place.

riddlemay wrote:Diversey Parkway is named for some actual guy named Michael Diversey, but I don't have my Chicago Street Names book handy.)

You are correct -
The street is named after nineteenth-century beer brewer Michael Diversey.

gleam wrote:

headcase wrote:Went by the Flash Taco/Underdog space on Damen, and it looked like the Underdog space has changed? I think it said "Heat"?

SSDD

new name, exact same place.

Yeah, I went by today on the way to the Map Room to check it out, and while they have updated the space (slightly, and I haven't been in in a long while), the menu was exactly the same. They did have flyers out saying that "Heat" will be opening on 6/6, proclaiming "Wild Game Sausages, Gourmet Dogs, Burgers and interesting sides."

They also list all of the common social media links, but nothing is live as of now::

Heatdbs.com
facebook.com/HeatChicago
Twitter @HeatChicago

For what it was worth, the chardog and fries I had were completely respectable at Underdog, the fries were borderline great. Crispy outside, soft inside; if they had a touch more color to them they would have been straight great.

SSDD

interesting. they rebranded the place maybe 6 months ago to "hell's kitchen" but kept everything the same. i guess they're taking it further this time.

i've always had perfectly respectable polish sausages/hot dogs at underdog, and the fries have recently gotten better. i still miss swank frank's onion rings, though.

Pie Lady wrote:I was hoping against that, but the video they posted on the site told me otherwise. I'm really not looking forward to this place opening in my 'hood.

It's sad that Niles now has two boobie restaurants. Booby's must be getting nervous!

JeanneBean wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:I was hoping against that, but the video they posted on the site told me otherwise. I'm really not looking forward to this place opening in my 'hood.

It's sad that Niles now has two boobie restaurants. Booby's must be getting nervous!

Years ago, we caught on to two crazy kids having some form of sexual encounter in the bathroom of what is now Lou Mitchell's. From the look of things the guy was not very impressive. What's my little 'burb coming to?!

tarte tatin wrote:

riddlemay wrote:On Diversey near Orchard, roughly (or maybe even precisely) across the street from the new Trader Joe's, a new "Irish" "gastro" "pub" named, get this, Michael Diversey.

(I'm imagining they didn't make up the name entirely, i.e., Diversey Parkway is named for some actual guy named Michael Diversey, but I don't have my Chicago Street Names book handy.)

From Wikipedia:
Michael Diversey (born Diversy; 1810-1869) was an American beer brewer and owner of the Diversey Beer Brewery. Diversey was an immigrant from Illingen Saarland, Germany. He landed in the US in 1830 and went into partnership with English immigrant William Lill around 1841. The company changed its name and became the Lill & Diversey Brewery, also known simply as The Chicago Brewery. It was destroyed in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire.
Michael Diversey was a philanthropist. He was also a Chicago alderman (1844–45; 1856–1868). The Diversey Parkway in Chicago is named after him.

Thanks, tt. A little more detail about the place, gleaned on a walk that took me past it yesterday afternoon--a waitress serving one of the sidewalk tables filled me in:

The place is staffed and owned by the same folks as when it went by the name Firkin & Pheasant. F&P was part of a national chain, and this location was a franchise. (Part of "The Firkin Group of Pubs USA," I learn from Google.) The owners of the franchise bought their freedom from the national chain (or perhaps just exercised their right to divorce it) and renamed the place Michael Diversey in May.

We actually went in once when it was F&P (despite every fiber in my body arguing against it) and found it to be not bad. The three of us each enjoyed what we had, and the service was friendly. So (and I realize this is faint praise, but I mean it a little more positively than that) I concluded that one could do worse when looking for something to eat along that stretch.

Michael Diversey
670 Diversey Parkway
Chicago

interesting. they rebranded the place maybe 6 months ago to "hell's kitchen" but kept everything the same. i guess they're taking it further this time.

I would assume that multiple trademark issues came up. In addition to the Fox/Gordon Ramsay screamfest, there is a long-established Minneapolis restaurant of the same name.

Tap House Grill is opening in the spot formerly known as Sage Grill in Highwood. http://www.taphousegrills.com/

Spotted at 553 W Diversey (or thereabouts): a coming soon sign for 2 Sparrows, which advertises itself as a breakfast, lunch & brunch spot. No info on their website.

Also, I notice that the sign for Pizza Persona (mentioned upthread & in the former Aladdin's space on Diversey) notes that customers should "think of a Chipotle-style line for pizza." Given that it's next door to a Chipotle, it makes me wonder if there's any connection between the two.

Anyone have an update on Tore's Italian Beef? I stopped by yesterday and there was a "closed" sign in the window, but just the kind of small sign that usually means, closed at the moment, not seriously closed. Not the best Italian Beef in the region, but usually pretty good and at a location where I sometimes find myself. I ended up instead at Branko's on Fullerton just east of Ashland, because I saw their sign said Italian Beef and I had developed a hankering. I really wanted to like it because it was clearly family owned and very friendly, but the sandwich was not great, bland and undistinguished, and too dry despite my asking to have it dipped twice (she just dipped the very bottom, which made it fall apart without being really juicy.)

From Today's Tasting Table:

"Bodega No. 5
Five is the magic number at this new café beneath Mercat a la Planxa, which serves salads, flatbreads and sandwiches for $5 each. A more robust (and more expensive) dinner menu is available after 5 p.m"

Looking forward to trying it out. Affordable and worthwhile lunch option downtown is always a bonus.

A re-opening.

NOMI Garden Lounge.

Slammin' Saturday night around 10:30. Pretty much the same set-up but with a new 30 foot bar. Good thing 'cause the tables were not available. Very good cocktails: Whiskey Smash for my wife and a Manhattan for me.

Then again yesterday for an early dinner (5:30 PM). Beautiful, if not a tad chilly evening. We had the Prime Beef Tartar, Nomi Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Pappardelle Pasta and Steak Frites. Tartar was one of the best I’ve every tasted. Rolls we’re excellent and expensive, just like I remembered them. Pasta and Steak Frites were good, not great.

Had an Americano and a riff on a G & T. Both great and refreshing. My wife had the Pimm’s Cup (her first) and loved it.

Spoke to the manager who told us that the formal Nomi restaurant has been changed a bit. Less formal, no dress code, less stuffy.

Hong Kong Chef -third floor Mallers-closed two weeks ago. No new place yet. They said they wanted a ground floor space. Soy sauce was left on the tables...

Oh no! After our LTH Loop lunch there, I went back with some folks from the office and we had a wonderful dinner at Hong Kong Cafe including a luscious asparagus dish they did for us since they had gotten some great asparagus at the market in the morning.

I hope they find a new spot soon - it was certainly empty at dinner time when we were there.

Oh no! Can't believe Hong Kong Cafe closed! I had christened it the new go-to place for office events! What will we do now? Any indication when and where it might come back? Though I don't see how they could duplicate the ambiance...

Does anyone else have the feeling this damned recession is sweeping away far too much of the known world? (though if they are looking for ground floor space, this one might not be a recession casualty)

Water Tower Food Court Slated for Major Expansion

More Randhurst Village news.
Leases are not yet signed but two other restaurants will be joining the row across from the new AMC theaters that they've already leased to Tony Sacco's Coal Fired Pizza and Billy Goat:

BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon -- a TGI McBennifriend's-like chain mostly located in the mid-atlantic, with units in Texas, Michigan, Ohio and now two in IL (the other's in Naperville). Anybody know anything about them?

Vida Cantina -- I think this is the right link. If so, they only have places in Charlotte and St. Louis. I'm optimistic about this menu: lump crab nachos, tacos of carnitas, green chile brisket, mains include barbacoa, tortilla pie, mushroom enchiladas, chicken tinga. My guess is they compete head-to-head with Zapatista.

Venus, the Cypriot place in Greektown, has closed.

Opening in the former Cyberia space at 701 N. Wells in river north:

Tawakal Kafe
Kosher & Zabiha Halal
701 N. Wells

Window says that they will be open 7 days a week, 10am-10p

Things look close to ready to go but I haven't seen an opening date yet.

Apparently Wednesdays (and possibly Tuesdays?) are slow at Little Bucharest, so they're thinking of closing on those two days. But they will soon be opening a new location downtown (Wacker between Dearborn & LaSalle area).

3661 North Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618-4325
(773) 604-8500

mmm wrote:Opening in the former Cyberia space at 701 N. Wells in river north:

Tawakal Kafe
Kosher & Zabiha Halal
701 N. Wells

Window says that they will be open 7 days a week, 10am-10p

Things look close to ready to go but I haven't seen an opening date yet.

Chicago's first Kosher-Halal Indo-Pak spot? Too cool.

Korean Seoul Food Cafe in West Loop shuttered.

Korean Seoul Food Cafe
560 W Van Buren St
Chicago, IL 60661

--Rich

Has anyone been to the new place near Lawrence and California? It's in the same spot where that Cuban joint was for a bit. I think it's called New Asia(n) Kitchen and supposedly has Pho. It hasn't been open long and I can not find anything about it online--it's not even on google maps.

Whipple Street wrote:Has anyone been to the new place near Lawrence and California? It's in the same spot where that Cuban joint was for a bit. I think it's called New Asia(n) Kitchen and supposedly has Pho. It hasn't been open long and I can not find anything about it online--it's not even on google maps.

Sometimes you have to take one for the team. Go forth and be the adventurer who comes back with all the details!

Regards,

Rustic House -- a new American Bistro from the chef/owners of Gemini Bistro--has opened in Lincoln Park:

Rustic House

1967 N Halsted
Chicago, IL

http://www.rustichousechicago.com/

DMChicago wrote:A re-opening.

NOMI Garden Lounge.

Slammin' Saturday night around 10:30. Pretty much the same set-up but with a new 30 foot bar. Good thing 'cause the tables were not available. Very good cocktails: Whiskey Smash for my wife and a Manhattan for me.

Then again yesterday for an early dinner (5:30 PM). Beautiful, if not a tad chilly evening. We had the Prime Beef Tartar, Nomi Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Pappardelle Pasta and Steak Frites. Tartar was one of the best I’ve every tasted. Rolls we’re excellent and expensive, just like I remembered them. Pasta and Steak Frites were good, not great.

Had an Americano and a riff on a G & T. Both great and refreshing. My wife had the Pimm’s Cup (her first) and loved it.

Spoke to the manager who told us that the formal Nomi restaurant has been changed a bit. Less formal, no dress code, less stuffy.

Do you know if they still have the afternoon tea? My google skills are failing me.