Bill Kim just announced he is opening a restaurant with Michael Jordan, Belly Q. Anyone have any details on this? http://www.bellyqchicago.com/

Belly Q! Wowza! Think it's planned for the One Sixty Blue space?

annak wrote:Belly Q! Wowza! Think it's planned for the One Sixty Blue space?

Yes it is - http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/ ... -space.php

Jeez, nice Saw-like website.

seebee wrote:

TCK wrote:

seebee wrote:My beloved Salerno's On Grove is suddenly no more as of a few weeks ago. Rumored to re-open only a block or two away though. You can go ahead and keep ordering your pizzas from the second best option in the vicinity at Villa Nova without interruption.

I AM JUST KIDDING ABOUT VILLA NOVA, RELAX.

Just called in an order and everything was successful so they must be back open.

What number do you call to order?

I was wrong. It was the Oak Park location.

Pie Lady wrote:Jeez, nice Saw-like website.

I had to go there to find out what you were talking about, and yes, I'm afraid. Very afraid.

riddlemay wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Jeez, nice Saw-like website.

I had to go there to find out what you were talking about, and yes, I'm afraid. Very afraid.

At BellyQ, restaurant eats you!

AngrySarah wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Jeez, nice Saw-like website.

I had to go there to find out what you were talking about, and yes, I'm afraid. Very afraid.

At BellyQ, restaurant eats you!

Less scary news: Casteel Coffee is reopening at a new location, for shizz this time. From their email: Thanks to all of you who have purchased some of our merchandise. Much less for us to have to move to our NEW LOCATION! Yes, to dispel the many rumors and conflict with previous information, we have decided to relocate Casteel Coffee. We are going to move forward with our plans to expand our cafe seating and introduce folk and bluegrass music along with children's programming. We will be once again welcoming Joel Frankel and Helen Rosenberg into our Casteel Family for this new venue. For those of you who can remember back a couple of decades, we are really going back to our roots of The Bean Counter days. In addition to the music and programming, we will hold monthly cupping events and have a brand new shop roaster. We are all very excited about our future. We will announce our new location on Central Street shortly. Our hope is to open sometime in April.

And Hartigan's is papered over, but never fear...they are closed for the winter and will reopen in 45 days.

Pie Lady wrote:And Hartigan's is papered over, but never fear...they are closed for the winter and will reopen in 45 days.

Hartigan's doesn't normally close in the winter; they have done so this winter because they're remodeling. They will re-open on March 1, according to their website.

AngrySarah wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Jeez, nice Saw-like website.

I had to go there to find out what you were talking about, and yes, I'm afraid. Very afraid.

At BellyQ, restaurant eats you!

Isn't that a promo still from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

Isn't that a promo still from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

Pitmaster Leatherface?

Ivy's, a hotdog, hamburger, and fry place is opening in Edgebrook on Devon, next to the Ace. From the looks of things, it looks a notch above your typical hotdog joint. Should be a great fit for the neighborhood!

I learned a couple of weeks ago that a new restaurant is going in the old Cafe Luciano on Green Bay Rd. in Evanston. It is the same owners of Montarra Grill in Algonquin. I have never been there (too far) but the reviews on Open Table are very positive. I was told it was going to be an American Bistro. Has anyone heard anything?

According to anther website Sweets and Savories has closed. No shocker to me as I never understood the love for this place.
http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2012/01/s ... oth_c.html

north shore foodie wrote:I learned a couple of weeks ago that a new restaurant is going in the old Cafe Luciano on Green Bay Rd. in Evanston. It is the same owners of Montarra Grill in Algonquin. I have never been there (too far) but the reviews on Open Table are very positive. I was told it was going to be an American Bistro. Has anyone heard anything?

If I remember correctly from an article I read a long time ago, the chef will be Troy Graves of Meritage and Eve. I like his style of cooking and it will be nice to have a restaurant in that space again.

JLenart wrote:According to anther website Sweets and Savories has closed. No shocker to me as I never understood the love for this place.

The long-ago love needs to be looked at with a historical perspective to understand it. When it was popular and frequently recommended here, about five years ago, the worst of the recession had not yet hit. At that time, it was unusual for a restaurant to offer an upscale experience, with creative cuisine, at a moderate price; a nice dinner typically ran around $100/pp inclusive of tax/tip and moderate alcohol. There weren't a lot of places where you could spend under $75/pp and get a comparable experience, but S&S was one of them. My own recollection of that time was that the food was good but not exceptional, with inconsistent service, but that it represented an excellent value.

Since then, due in part to the economic recession, the restaurant scene has exploded with more moderately-priced but upscale/creative experiences at places like GT Fish, Sable, Girl & the Goat, Inovasi, and many others. Granted, the quality at S&S has been erratic since then, adding to its problems (and diminishing its love), and I don't mean to ignore that decline. But the simple fact is that its business model is no longer as unusual as it was five years ago.

Those who wish to view the main S&S discussion, with comments from that time, can do so here.

My perspective is of 5 years ago. Fair food, sub par wine list, bad service. That was my take on it over several visits.

Diane wrote:

north shore foodie wrote:I learned a couple of weeks ago that a new restaurant is going in the old Cafe Luciano on Green Bay Rd. in Evanston. It is the same owners of Montarra Grill in Algonquin. I have never been there (too far) but the reviews on Open Table are very positive. I was told it was going to be an American Bistro. Has anyone heard anything?

If I remember correctly from an article I read a long time ago, the chef will be Troy Graves of Meritage and Eve. I like his style of cooking and it will be nice to have a restaurant in that space again.

Troy Graves is no longer with Montarra -- the original chef decided to come back (unfortunate, as the former's food was much more interesting IMO -- the locals were mostly too concerned about bitching about replaced menu items than experimenting with anything new). I'd be amazed if Troy had anything to do with the new venture given his unceremonious replacement by the guy he had originally taken over for...

north shore foodie wrote:I learned a couple of weeks ago that a new restaurant is going in the old Cafe Luciano on Green Bay Rd. in Evanston. It is the same owners of Montarra Grill in Algonquin. I have never been there (too far) but the reviews on Open Table are very positive. I was told it was going to be an American Bistro. Has anyone heard anything?

I heard it was going to be a Greek place.

=R=

cgs027 wrote:

Diane wrote:

north shore foodie wrote:I learned a couple of weeks ago that a new restaurant is going in the old Cafe Luciano on Green Bay Rd. in Evanston. It is the same owners of Montarra Grill in Algonquin. I have never been there (too far) but the reviews on Open Table are very positive. I was told it was going to be an American Bistro. Has anyone heard anything?

If I remember correctly from an article I read a long time ago, the chef will be Troy Graves of Meritage and Eve. I like his style of cooking and it will be nice to have a restaurant in that space again.

Troy Graves is no longer with Montarra -- the original chef decided to come back (unfortunate, as the former's food was much more interesting IMO -- the locals were mostly too concerned about bitching about replaced menu items than experimenting with anything new). I'd be amazed if Troy had anything to do with the new venture given his unceremonious replacement by the guy he had originally taken over for...

Ahhh...I knew Troy was chef there and I know I read someplace (?) that he was going to be the head chef somewhere on the North Shore so I incorrectly put two and two together.

Just learned that what used to be Opart's in Wilmette is now Thai Inbox. Sorry, but I don't know any other details.

=R=

Thai Inbox
143 Skokie Blvd
Wilmette, IL 60091
847 853-9898
www.thai-inbox.com

Read on the Trib online that the Apple Haus in Long Grove has closed its doors.

http://triblocal.com/buffalo-grove/2012 ... huts-down/

That's it. Come 'n' git us, Mayans...life has no meaning without apple doughnuts.

Oh no. I am a little teary. I never got to try the apple cider donuts because I was always dieting or they were out. Now I'll never know the joy.

Didn't see it already listed...When I walked by J. Wellington's, a BYOB burger spot at about 2100 W North Ave, last week, the entire space looked hastily cleared out. An article in the Red Eye mentioned that they lost their lease but were looking for a new location.

http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/redeye-closed-in-2011-restaurants-and-bars-20120103,0,1623702.photogallery

I tried the burgers once and found them OK, but nothing too special considering the rash of burger places that popped up over the last few years. And the space was absolutely freezing cold, without so much as a beer available to keep me warm. Not the environment in which I'd want to leisure my way through a few drinks. (Alcohol does a great deal to improve my feelings about a place.)

It looks like Jared Van Camp from Old Town Social is opening another place on Randolph. I hadn't heard anything about it until I saw this article from the Chicagoist.
Seems like it could be an interesting joint... nothing wrong with wood-fired pizza and meat! And the "at cost" truffle service sounds interesting!
They are shooting for late-Feb for a soft opening and early-March for the Grand Opening. I guess we'll see...

Diane wrote:Ahhh...I knew Troy was chef there and I know I read someplace (?) that he was going to be the head chef somewhere on the North Shore so I incorrectly put two and two together.

Eater says that Graves is currently consulting on new menus at Cantina 46 in River North.

Saw a sign on Clark St. in Andersonville just north of Ole Ole that they are putting in a Jerry's Sandwiches in the Spring. http://www.jerryssandwiches.com

nsxtasy wrote:

Diane wrote:Ahhh...I knew Troy was chef there and I know I read someplace (?) that he was going to be the head chef somewhere on the North Shore so I incorrectly put two and two together.

Eater says that Graves is currently consulting on new menus at Cantina 46 in River North.

Thanks! Good to know.

Gulliver's in Glenview Closed. The Village Inn across the Street is accepting all their coupons.