riddlemay wrote:Wow. Talk about making sure that as few people as possible use the word "lamented" when they refer to the "late Terragusto"!

I have a friend who actually worked in the kitchen at one of the locations (I think there may have been two) and he did not have kind words to say about the closings and specifically how he and the rest of the staff were treated.

nsxtasy wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:Didn't Belden Corned Beef Center have a place on Howard for a while, too? In addition to their original Lincoln Park location on Belden?

I believe you are referring to the diner that was named Belden over at the Howard and Western shopping center. If so that is another old West Rogers Park haunt of mine my father would take me to as a child.

KajmacJohnson wrote:

riddlemay wrote:Wow. Talk about making sure that as few people as possible use the word "lamented" when they refer to the "late Terragusto"!

I have a friend who actually worked in the kitchen at one of the locations (I think there may have been two) and he did not have kind words to say about the closings and specifically how he and the rest of the staff were treated.

If the owner treated his employees like he did us common BYOBers, it wouldn't surprise me. I actaully really liked the food at Terragusto. But, the arrogance of staff and ownership during its busy years is what drove me not to return.

YourPalWill wrote:

If the owner treated his employees like he did us common BYOBers, it wouldn't surprise me. I actaully really liked the food at Terragusto. But, the arrogance of staff and ownership during its busy years is what drove me not to return.

Yes, I never went there but I heard some real not so great things in general. But he did tell me that when the restaurant closed it was a case of the owner not letting staff know exactly what was going on or what they were doing. My friend was under the impression it was going to be temporary. As time went on and he was not getting an answer or much of a response he had a bad feeling that he was going to end up the way he did: out of work.

KajmacJohnson wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:

If the owner treated his employees like he did us common BYOBers, it wouldn't surprise me. I actaully really liked the food at Terragusto. But, the arrogance of staff and ownership during its busy years is what drove me not to return.

Yes, I never went there but I heard some real not so great things in general. But he did tell me that when the restaurant closed it was a case of the owner not letting staff know exactly what was going on or what they were doing. My friend was under the impression it was going to be temporary. As time went on and he was not getting an answer or much of a response he had a bad feeling that he was going to end up the way he did: out of work.

Coincidentally, his new place opens up tonight in the old Caoba space:

http://twitter.com/#!/pennypollack/stat ... 1969388544

Ripasso
1619 N. Damen
773-342-8799.

spinynorman99 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Didn't Belden Corned Beef Center have a place on Howard for a while, too? In addition to their original Lincoln Park location on Belden?

The Belden was in that location at some point after the Pickle Barrel closed (I seem to recall them keeping the little tabletop barrels - but my memory may be messing with me).

The guy who bought the old Belden Corned Beef Center (officially on Clark actually) in the 1970s opened Belden North in 1981 in the old Pickle Barrel space on Western just south of Howard. In the '80s the same owner also ran Belden West on Golf Road in Des Plaines and Ricky's at the corner of Broadway & Belmont.

The Rib Joint has opened in a small strip mall on the NE corner Ridge Rd & Hohman Ave, in Munster,In

The Rib Joint
8241 Hohman Ave
Munster,In 46320
219-595-5574

Rene G wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Didn't Belden Corned Beef Center have a place on Howard for a while, too? In addition to their original Lincoln Park location on Belden?

The Belden was in that location at some point after the Pickle Barrel closed (I seem to recall them keeping the little tabletop barrels - but my memory may be messing with me).

The guy who bought the old Belden Corned Beef Center (officially on Clark actually) in the 1970s opened Belden North in 1981 in the old Pickle Barrel space on Western just south of Howard. In the '80s the same owner also ran Belden West on Golf Road in Des Plaines and Ricky's at the corner of Broadway & Belmont.

OMG, many a late night at Ricky's, late seventies/early eighties. Blast from the past.

Rene G wrote:The guy who bought the old Belden Corned Beef Center (officially on Clark actually) in the 1970s opened Belden North in 1981 in the old Pickle Barrel space on Western just south of Howard.

Belden North closed after a fire, in the late '80s or early '90s. I used to go there with a group almost every Thursday night.

The RIb Joint Food is great went there last night i could just drink there sauce by the boat loads .

Artie wrote:The Rib Joint has opened in a small strip mall on the NE corner Ridge Rd & Hohman Ave, in Munster,In

The Rib Joint
8241 Hohman Ave
Munster,In 46320
219-595-5574

spinynorman99 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Didn't Belden Corned Beef Center have a place on Howard for a while, too? In addition to their original Lincoln Park location on Belden?

The Belden was in that location at some point after the Pickle Barrel closed (I seem to recall them keeping the little tabletop barrels - but my memory may be messing with me).

At one time, the Belden Deli had four locations, one of which was on Howard and Western where the Pickle Barrel used to be. I believe you are correct in saying that they continued to use the little faux pickle barrels on the tables after PB closed.

Angelo's Taverna at 1612 N. Sedgwick, which closed in February of last year, has re-opened. New owner, new management, new menu and a renovated space. From what I saw of the menu it looks mostly Italian. Several appetizers, salads, entrees with pork or chicken and pastas. I'm sure I'll be trying it out soon as the old Angelo's was a place we frequented.

The former Osteria di Tramonto in the (cough) North Shore Westin in Wheeling (Milwaukee & Lake Cook roads) is now Saranello's.
Over a year ago all the restos at the hotel were supposed to stop being Tramonto-based, but it's still Tramonto's Steak and Seafood and RT lounge (sushi). I thought there was also a Gale Gand-based cafe, but the hotel's web page lists nothing of the sort.

JoelF wrote:Gale Gand-based cafe, but the hotel's web page lists nothing of the sort.

Gale's Coffee Bar, a pastry and coffee bar in the hotel closed quite a while ago.

nsxtasy wrote:

sundevilpeg wrote:Also, the Indian resto on the corner of Howard and Dodge (formerly a Thai place, and before that, a diner-ish joint) is now closed.

Bombay Kabab House. That's not a surprise, having to compete with Devon Avenue a mile and a half south and the very popular Mount Everest two miles north. We tried it once and weren't impressed.

I thought the buffet was decent, one of the better Indian buffets in the area. And the major advantage it had over the many Devon Avenue joints was 1) it didn't have to compete with 20 other places on the same block, and 2) it had a parking lot.

Sad to report that Palermo Bakery in Franklin Park has closed (I was unintentionally the last customer). The location on Harlem Ave. is still open.

Palermo Bakery (Closed)
3531 Rose St.
Franklin Park, IL 60131
847-349-5120

Palermo Bakery (Open)
3317 N. Harlem Ave.
Chicago, IL 60634
773-777-5957

And yet another casualty of the worst location on the NW side, Smokey Bears BBQ on 3809 N Harlem is closed. NOTHING has made it in that spot more than a couple months. I wonder why anyone would ever open in that spot again.

CLOSED: Al Madina at 2319 W. Devon, an unheralded and overlooked Indo-Pak restaurant that got lost in the sea of other such places along Devon.

Grazie! ( formerly Knickers ) on Oakton in Des Plaines is now closed. "For Rent" sign is posted.

JoelF wrote:Over a year ago all the restos at the hotel were supposed to stop being Tramonto-based, but it's still Tramonto's Steak and Seafood and RT lounge (sushi).

Yes, and I just got e-mail about an event Tramonto himself is doing there on Nov. 10 to promote his new book.

Also interesting that Saranello's is an LEYE restaurant.

2146 north wrote: the worst location on the NW side, Smokey Bears BBQ on 3809 N Harlem is closed..

I thought Jimmy G's BBQ was in that location last time I remembered it?

anthony and his brother Charlie from the Foster Ave. location opened up on Harlem then closed it down?

kenji wrote:

2146 north wrote: the worst location on the NW side, Smokey Bears BBQ on 3809 N Harlem is closed..

I thought Jimmy G's BBQ was in that location last time I remembered it?

anthony and his brother Charlie from the Foster Ave. location opened up on Harlem then closed it down?

That spot has been a revolving door, Yes for a few months it was Smokey Bears, but there is a sign AGAIN on it saying for rent. I was in Smokey Bears there once it was good, but on a Friday eve I was the only customer.

The new Hannah's Bretzel at 400 N. LaSalle in River North was open today. Huge lines, as they were giving out free lunch to the first 200 customers.

LAZ wrote:

JoelF wrote:
Also interesting that Saranello's is an LEYE restaurant.

Really? It'll probably be pretty good then. Melman knows how. I used to dig his Tucci Milan. But...he could've absolutely hit a slam-dunk home run in that spot had he gone with a re-creation of Fritz That's It. I would think the ticket per table would be adequate, but certainly not at 1974 prices!

But I've been saying nonstop since Osteria di Tramanto closed that this geographic nexus on Milwaukee Ave. would be perfect for us nostalgic 50-somethings that used to frequent Fritz & RJ Grunt's & JL Seafood & Lawrence of Oregano, etc.

Thoughts?

La Bombonera, the on-again/off-again Logan Square Cuban sammich joint, will be off again as of November 12th. Apparently Zacatecas Express, which occupied LB's current space, is fixing to move back in. No word yet whether the are seeking a new space to re-open (again).

La Bombonera
3658 W Diversey Ave
Chicago
(773) 394-1375

Deleece on Southport is now open at its new location, 3747 N. Southport, next to the Mercury Theater.

As I posted in the main thred, Happy Chef has closed its doors.

Happy Chef (R.I.P.)
2164 South Archer Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616

A couple of casualties in Andersonville today -- both Kingfisher and Mista (Just the Andersonville location, I believe) have shuttered:

Kingfisher
5721 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL

Mista Pizza
5351 North Clark
Chicago, IL

I never heard a good thing about Kingfisher, but, sniff, I will definitely miss the Mista wrap on the spinach tortilla, as well as Mista's pizzas ... Really great takeout dinners.

je_suis_ici wrote:A couple of casualties in Andersonville today -- both Kingfisher and Mista (Just the Andersonville location, I believe) have shuttered:

Kingfisher
5721 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL

Mista Pizza
5351 North Clark
Chicago, IL

I never heard a good thing about Kingfisher, but, sniff, I will definitely miss the Mista wrap on the spinach tortilla, as well as Mista's pizzas ... Really great takeout dinners.

Not particularly surprised about Kingfisher given the location on the north edge of the walking district and mixed reviews. Never checked out Mista, but there are so many pizza options in the area (Calo, Great Lake, Ranalli's, and Homemade all within a block), it was hard to find room for it.

Hopped Up wrote:

je_suis_ici wrote:A couple of casualties in Andersonville today -- both Kingfisher and Mista (Just the Andersonville location, I believe) have shuttered:

Kingfisher
5721 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL

Mista Pizza
5351 North Clark
Chicago, IL

I never heard a good thing about Kingfisher, but, sniff, I will definitely miss the Mista wrap on the spinach tortilla, as well as Mista's pizzas ... Really great takeout dinners.

Not particularly surprised about Kingfisher given the location on the north edge of the walking district and mixed reviews. Never checked out Mista, but there are so many pizza options in the area (Calo, Great Lake, Ranalli's, and Homemade all within a block), it was hard to find room for it.

By the sounds of it, Kingfisher worked better as a working-class Jefferson Park joint ala Pier 5736 (where/which they should have stayed) than an upscale Andersonville spot.