chgoeditor wrote:

leek wrote:A cow-orker of mine who lives over there says that there are a few restaurants that will let you prepay, one is the ice cream place up towards Roscoe on Broadway.

There are two ice cream places in that vicinity, but I assume you're referring to Windy City Sweets. (Pacchugio or however it's spelled is a bit further away at the intersection of Broadway & Montrose.)

There is a shul right around the corner from Windy City Sweets (Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel, on Melrose), so perhaps Windy City Sweets offers the pre-pay as an amenity to ASBI's congregants who might like to stop in on their way home from services.

According to Nadig Press:
The Jefferson Park Grill is opening inside the former Freddy's Fast Food at 5364 W. Gale St. at the north end of the terminal.
Butterfield Kitchen is set to open this summer in the former doughnut shop in the terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave.
A new deli will be opening in the recently closed Krakus Sausage at 4772 N. Milwaukee. The operators of Gene's Sausage are working on plans to open a new retail store there.

Per Eater, Edzo's is expanding to Lincoln Park where Kim & Scott's Pretzel Cafe used to be. It should be a great addition to the area.

When you crave Eddie Lakin's burgers, you can't always make the trek up to Evanston. But come late fall or early winter, you'll only have to pop over to Lincoln Park because Lakin is set to open a second Edzo's Burger Shop in that neighborhood. Lakin just signed a lease at 2218 N Lincoln, which most recently housed Kim and Scott's Gourmet Pretzels, but is most famous for being the location of chef Louis Szathmáry's The Bakery Restaurant.

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/06/18/edzos-burger-shop-expanding-into-city-late-fall.php

I passed the spot that used to be Ken's Mandarin on McCormick today. There is a new awning up that says "Kam Kong Cafe",
and that it serves Pan-Asian food.

I wasn't able to find any info about it yet, though.

Article about all the new Frozen Yogurt places opening up in the suburbs...

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2012 ... 706199938/

Stopped by Harold's Chicken Shack at Clark and Morse in Rogers Park Sunday: Closed, dark, the fryers silent. Just called, no answer.
I'm growing concerned, and thought I'd put out an APB here.
Anyone have any intel?

According to the company's Facebook, City Island will reopen and they're hoping to do it around July 4th. They weren't open very long to begin with so let's hope they got their problems straightened out.

tcdup wrote:Distinctive Cork, a fun wine bar in Naperville, has closed. I guess it had a pretty good run.

City Island, Flavors for Life, a restaurant that was open for a couple of months in Naperville at the old Boston Blackie site, seems to have closed.

In The Raw is a 100% organic, all-natural RAW food restaurant and juice bar opening Friday, June 22, at 6:00 am.
483 Central Ave.
Highland Park, IL. 60035
(847) 432-9999
http://www.intherawhp.com

Prairie Joe's on Central in Evanston is now open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday with a burger and sandwich menu.

We had dinner at J.T.'s Bar and Grill in Cherry IL tonight, and the server told us that the Cherry Supper Club (across the street) has been having troubles and finally decided to close up for good last week. Hard times in the ol' mining town I guess...

Prairie Joe's on Central in Evanston is now open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday with a burger and sandwich menu.

Son of a gun! Great news. The only issue I've every really had with PJ is its heretofore very limited hours. Yay!

Sundevilpeg,

That is the way I reacted as well. I am, however, going to reserve judgment. I took a look at the menu and it didn't strike me as quite as eclectic as their breakfast and lunch menus. It seemed rather limited, but maybe they will have daily specials to keep it interesting. The first two items on the menu are burgers. Obviously, there are already quite a few people in Evanston these days making outstanding burgers. The menu is up on their website.

Also, in the evening, the restaurant is styled as "The Real Joe's," rather than "Prairie Joe's". I don't quite understand what that signifies, but then, the fact I don't quite understand everything about it is one of the things I like about the place.

It won't be long before we make it over there for dinner and I am looking forward to once again being pleasantly surprised by this place.

Article talking about Chick-Fil-A eyeing an opening in Vernon Hills...

http://vernonhills.suntimes.com/news/13 ... hills.html

I just got a phone call from Arami Restaurant...we were supposed to have dinner there on Saturday night for my daughter's birthday...they are closing until July 10. The executive chef has left for personal reasons and they are going to change the menu and reopen on the 10th. That's all I was told. So, where should we go instead? Kind of late notice for our party of 6:(

Diane wrote:I just got a phone call from Arami Restaurant...we were supposed to have dinner there on Saturday night for my daughter's birthday...they are closing until July 10. The executive chef has left for personal reasons and they are going to change the menu and reopen on the 10th. That's all I was told. So, where should we go instead? Kind of late notice for our party of 6:(

Does it have to be sushi? Have you tried Libertad in Skokie? It's one of our favorites and they have a nice outdoor patio.

Diane wrote:I just got a phone call from Arami Restaurant...we were supposed to have dinner there on Saturday night for my daughter's birthday...they are closing until July 10. The executive chef has left for personal reasons and they are going to change the menu and reopen on the 10th. That's all I was told. So, where should we go instead? Kind of late notice for our party of 6:(

How about Avli?

Or Katsu, if you still want sushi.

spinynorman99 wrote:

Diane wrote:I just got a phone call from Arami Restaurant...we were supposed to have dinner there on Saturday night for my daughter's birthday...they are closing until July 10. The executive chef has left for personal reasons and they are going to change the menu and reopen on the 10th. That's all I was told. So, where should we go instead? Kind of late notice for our party of 6:(

Does it have to be sushi? Have you tried Libertad in Skokie? It's one of our favorites and they have a nice outdoor patio.

You're the second person in a week that has recommended Libertad!

She wanted to go into the city so that she can meet up with friends after dinner. I think we're going to go to La Sardine. I can get us in and I do love their menu.
Thanks for the suggestion. We really wanted to try Arami. Oh well!

Diane wrote:You're the second person in a week that has recommended Libertad!

For good reason; it's excellent. I've recommended it to several people and they have all become regulars.

spinynorman99 wrote:

Diane wrote:You're the second person in a week that has recommended Libertad!

For good reason; it's excellent. I've recommended it to several people and they have all become regulars.

I've had some decidedly good meals there but the last couple of times the food's been so bland I wondered if anyone had bothered to taste it (or use any seasonings) before sending it out.

=R=

I just got a phone call from Arami Restaurant...we were supposed to have dinner there on Saturday night for my daughter's birthday...they are closing until July 10. The executive chef has left for personal reasons and they are going to change the menu and reopen on the 10th. That's all I was told. So, where should we go instead? Kind of late notice for our party of 6:(

Bummer. We like Macku on Clybourn for a similar style of some creative interpretations and excellent, very fresh cuts.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:

Diane wrote:You're the second person in a week that has recommended Libertad!

For good reason; it's excellent. I've recommended it to several people and they have all become regulars.

I've had some decidedly good meals there but the last couple of times the food's been so bland I wondered if anyone had bothered to taste it (or use any seasonings) before sending it out.

=R=

We were last there 2 weeks ago and then about 2 weeks prior to that (and another 2 weeks prior to that) and our experience has been very consistent with our visits over the fall and winter. It's a small enough menu where you can try pretty much everything on it in a few visits and we have, for the most part. On our last visit they were working on the new menu so I'm going to have to stop by and see what they're changing for the summer.

J. W. Platek's in Richmond has morphed into Diamond Jim's Diner that will only be open for breakfast and lunch. No longer a supper club type place.

http://www.diamondjimsdiner.com/

The owner of the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago on Michigan Avenue is rolling out a new restaurant in the space China Grill vacated early this year amid a legal dispute. Chuck's Manufacturing, a contemporary American restaurant and bar, will open in August in ground-floor space at the hotel at 230 N. Michigan Ave

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/a ... rock-hotel

El Fua née Abeulo's (2007 S. Damen) has closed...maybe has been for a bit.

I see that they are opening up Chipotle in an outparcel right behind the Olive Garden at Lincolnwood Town Center. I guess they haven't seen the after effects of too much overexpansion since they opened up a location less than ten minutes drive away at Peterson and Lincoln. I guess they are becoming the new Subway, Jimmy Johns, Dunkin Donuts, etc: subpar food every few blocks down the same stretch of street. As if there wen't enough of those already.

More on Cugino's in Des Plaines. Saw the new sign on the way to Paradise Pup Monday. Called and I am sure Carl, one of Cuzzin's owners, answered and said same owners and menu. Just a corporate name change and new coat of paint. Didn't ask about hours, etc.

KajmacJohnson wrote:I see that they are opening up Chipotle in an outparcel right behind the Olive Garden at Lincolnwood Town Center. I guess they haven't seen the after effects of too much overexpansion since they opened up a location less than ten minutes drive away at Peterson and Lincoln. I guess they are becoming the new Subway, Jimmy Johns, Dunkin Donuts, etc: subpar food every few blocks down the same stretch of street. As if there wen't enough of those already.

Wait until the Super Walmart finishes building their store just west of there on Touhy. It also includes two banks, a medical building and quick serve restaurants on the property.

Yanni’s Greek restaurant in Arlington Heights closes on Sunday...

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2012 ... 706279646/

imsscott wrote:J. W. Platek's in Richmond has morphed into Diamond Jim's Diner that will only be open for breakfast and lunch. No longer a supper club type place.

http://www.diamondjimsdiner.com/

That's a bummer. Their beer was surprisingly good considering it seemed pretty much like an afterthought.