alisonmackenzie wrote:Word is that Ben Pao is closing on September 10th. Apparently will morph into another LEYE enterprise.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/649949 ... oming.html

A little Roger's Park/Sheridan Road update:

BopNGrill is now open. Huzzah. The owner, Will, has to be one of the friendliest guys around. More importantly, he makes supremely bodacious Korean-inflected burgers and plates.
6604 N Sheridan Rd
(between Albion Ave & North Shore Ave)
Chicago, IL 60626


Sweet Atilla's Bakery (in the old Ennui space) is also open. Can't say they had much in stock at this point, but they do have a solid farmer's market circuit rep.
6981 N Sheridan Rd
(between Morse Ave & Lunt Ave)
Chicago, IL 60626


Also, SP Kebab has been open awhile, but hasn't yet got the love it deserves around here. Very nice Euro-kebabs (the Turkish sort you find on every street corner in Germany).
6808 N Sheridan Rd
(between Pratt Blvd & Farwell Ave)
Chicago, IL 60626

Dr. K wrote:A little Roger's Park/Sheridan Road update:

(snipped good stuff)

All three of those look right in my wheelhouse, and right in my area! Very nice...

Dave148 wrote:

alisonmackenzie wrote:Word is that Ben Pao is closing on September 10th. Apparently will morph into another LEYE enterprise.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/649949 ... oming.html

I hope they don't turn it into something like Tokio Pub. I always liked Ben Pao, but it seemed to fly under the radar.

Fresh Farms in Wheeling has completed its new building and moved into it. I didn't have a chance to stop, but it looks much larger, so perhaps it will be more like the Niles store.

The Oasis Cafe outpost at Wells and Van Buren has closed and been replaced by a Taco Burrito King.

Vinny wrote:The Oasis Cafe outpost at Wells and Van Buren has closed and been replaced by a Taco Burrito King.

Short-lived but it was fast becoming a Middle-Eastern corridor with Jaffa Bakery across the street, BenjyYehuda and I Dream of Falafel in spitting distance. Although Burrito King across from Burrito Buggy (and nearby Qdoba) also seems like overkill.

spinynorman99 wrote:

Vinny wrote:The Oasis Cafe outpost at Wells and Van Buren has closed and been replaced by a Taco Burrito King.

Short-lived but it was fast becoming a Middle-Eastern corridor with Jaffa Bakery across the street, BenjyYehuda and I Dream of Falafel in spitting distance. Although Burrito King across from Burrito Buggy (and nearby Qdoba) also seems like overkill.

Chipotle too, lol!!

The location on Rand Rd, just north of Arlington Heights Rd in Arlington Heights that was a Lone Star Steakhouse is now a Caribou Coffee/Jersey Mike's/Smash Burger location. I haven't read too much about Smash Burger yet, but it's the only one I'm interested in.

The Ginger's Ale House location has new signs -- A.J. Hudson's -- and a very BRIGHT blue facade. The windows are still papered over.

abe_froeman wrote: I haven't read too much about Smash Burger yet, but it's the only one I'm interested in.

Here's some Smashburger reviews from the other Chicago area locations.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=30455&hilit=Smashburger

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=31876&hilit=Smashburger

Jamie wrote:The Ginger's Ale House location has new signs -- A.J. Hudson's -- and a very BRIGHT blue facade. The windows are still papered over.

Weird, the "ginger" is back at Ginger's so I thought they'd keep the name the same. Guess not!

LikestoEatout wrote:

abe_froeman wrote: I haven't read too much about Smash Burger yet, but it's the only one I'm interested in.

Here's some Smashburger reviews from the other Chicago area locations.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=30455&hilit=Smashburger

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=31876&hilit=Smashburger

I'll try it when it opens (maybe give it a month to work out the kinks- sounds like there were some errors with the newbies)...I'm not really a fan of Five Guys, so someone saying in that first link that they like Five Guys better than Smashburger is a ringing endorsement to me!

I noted yesterday, while at the Lincoln Square farmers market, that the windows at Opart Thai House have been papered over. No indication on the website that anything is amiss, though. Bulletins as events warrant.

4658 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 989-8517

Per a thread on EveryBlock, they are doing some work on the kitchen and should reopen tomorrow.

http://chicago.everyblock.com/announcem ... t-4186537/

Sign in Opart Thai House window on Tuesday said they would be closed August 15-17.

Bleeding Heart Bakery & Cafe -- serving all-day brunch along with counter service coffee and pastries -- will open to the public at 6am on Monday, August 22. A ton more info available in the professional forum in this thread

Yes, I am the PR guy for Bleeding Heart Bakery & Cafe.

Didn't see this mentioned before, but I noticed the other day that Fusion Land in Palatine is gone. Website's still up but phone is disconnected.

A new south loop breakfast place just opened. It's called Waffles. Here's the Urban Daddy report with a link to the menu on the side. Some fancy, over the top, waffle combinations. Both sweet and savory.

http://www.urbandaddy.com/chi/food/1405 ... Restaurant

Update on Kabul Express:
The last two times I dined at Kabul House in Skokie (in June and again in late July), they told me that their new location (on Devon at Oakley in Chicago) would be open "in two weeks." As of yesterday, the windows are still papered over, but there is now a "Now Hiring" sign in the window. So maybe soon....

Matt Maroni's Morso is opening Tuesday:
http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2011/08/f ... penin.html

Meanwhile in the Tri-Village area...

In the old Cafe Laguardia West spot at North Ave and Oak Park Ave...



My Mother's Kitchen (Opening Soon!)

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At Des Plaines and Randolph...

M Hermann's - Steaks and Pasta is now DK Bottega and is supposed to be a similar menu but featuring more Italian.

I had a steak there when it was Hermann's and it was pretty good.

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Louie's Grill on Madison has expanded into the storefront to the east.

I hope they still have the lighthouses.

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Is Briejo Restaurant on Harrison closed?

Their website mentions "will be closed from June 29th until July 6th" and I believe they were in the block that had the falling bricks.

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Venturing a little further south...

Fabulous Freddie's on Harlem Ave of 31st St fame had closed the club/restaurant next door and transferred the reins over to Nico's Pizza.

Apparently this happened about 6 months ago and the new owner swears that the old location on 31st has completed their fire repairs and re-opened last Monday. I often drive along 31st on my way home and will confirm (and give one of their breaded steaks a whirl).

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It appears that the Berwyn/Cicero area is a Mecca for my beloved deep fried taco's (ala Jack in a Box) and I have been working through the area hot dog stands.

Map

Is Briejo Restaurant on Harrison closed?

From Wednesday Journal/oakpark.com:
Briejo Restaurant, 211 Harrison St., was shuttered on July 17, announcing its closing on Twitter: "Sad to say tonite was our last night. Went out on top helping a worthy cause. Thanks 2 everyone who supported us over the past 2½ years."

But contrary to prior reports, the restaurant is not closing for good. Jody Andre, a consultant to the restaurant, said Briejo has been sold to a different owner, whom she declined to name at this time. They've shut down the business and are reinventing it as a pub with a casual atmosphere, more TVs, cheaper prices and a larger list of microbrews.

They're shooting for a mid-September reopening, with a new name and new look. All gift certificates and Groupons will still be honored at the new establishment, according to Andre.

LO wrote:But contrary to prior reports, the restaurant is not closing for good. Jody Andre, a consultant to the restaurant, said Briejo has been sold to a different owner, whom she declined to name at this time. They've shut down the business and are reinventing it as a pub with a casual atmosphere, more TVs, cheaper prices and a larger list of microbrews.

They're shooting for a mid-September reopening, with a new name and new look.

Isn't that by definition "closing for good?" A new concept with a new owner and a new look is pretty much a new restaurant, leaving the earlier one "closed for good."

Isn't that by definition "closing for good?" A new concept with a new owner and a new look is pretty much a new restaurant, leaving the earlier one "closed for good."

^^^eggzactly!^^^

Panther in the Den wrote:Apparently this happened about 6 months ago and the new owner swears that the old location on 31st has completed their fire repairs and re-opened last Monday. I often drive along 31st on my way home and will confirm (and give one of their breaded steaks a whirl).

This is bull unfortunately, I live a block away from Freddie's and the repairs are still underway.

Was told by a relatively trustworthy source that the lovable, but dive-y Ravenswood Pub on Ravenswood Avenue north of Foster (in Chicago) has been purchsed by the good people who own Toons on Southport. That would be a huge upgrade.

I would just like to say that this deal is not completely done yet. I am working with a group of folks to acquire the Ravenswood Pub. Did not know this was public knowledge yet but tis the age we live in. Will be glad to update as the deal progressses. We are excited about doing some upgrades and adding a kitchen. Thanks Danny

It appears that the Thompson Center will be getting an M Burger. Not sure if that is news or not.... but me walking by the sign today was the first I knew of it.

Shasson wrote:Was told by a relatively trustworthy source that the lovable, but dive-y Ravenswood Pub on Ravenswood Avenue north of Foster (in Chicago) has been purchsed by the good people who own Toons on Southport. That would be a huge upgrade.

I love the current vibe of the place since it is so different from all the places 3 blocks east in Andersonville. The back room feels like someone's living room. But I can see that the scene is not for everyone, since it's usually filled with folks who enjoy a drink or 20. But I've had good times there on Bears game days when it's packed with people having fun.