Townhouse, on Deerfield/Waukegan in the old Red Star Tavern space, served its last meal tonight. Too bad, I liked their burgers.

There's a sign up for a new place called Big Black Dog Grill and Tavern at the corner of Wilmette and Central in Wilmette. It's being set up by the same people who own Gilson's. Just down Central Street, another new place has just opened -- Dowize Bistro, which is Thai/pan-Asian.

Also, have been to Curt's Cafe on Central in Evanston (former Casteel Coffee location) a couple of times recently, and it is good. It's just breakfast/lunch/coffee with a limited menu -- around a half-dozen sandwiches and a few salads for lunch. But the food is good, inexpensive ($6 for any of the sandwiches), and the room is comfortable, light, and airy. Also they use local products -- Pita Inn humus, Bennigan's and Rose's for bakery, and Higher Grounds coffee. And they have a kick-ass new Rancilio espresso machine.

I'm happy to see all of these new local restaurants open in the neighborhood.

Pie Lady wrote:Tailgators in Edison Park is papered over.

They have been closed for at least a year. They were one of the worst examples of BBQ that I have ever had.

polster wrote:There is a new middle eastern place 'Wild Pita Mediterranean Grill' which is similar to naf naf and pita inn located on Waukegan Rd in Glenview. Wild Pita Mediterranean Grill had there opening this weekend and I tried the chicken shawarma wrap which i thought was better than pita inn and on par with Naf NAF grill.

Wild Pita Mediterranean Grill
1938 Waukegan Rd,
Glenview, IL 60025

I drove by here yesterday (on my way to dinner so didn't stop to try it) and thought this was not the most auspicious location for a new venture. You have to watch for the Wild Pita sign on the building, which is set back from the busy road, and then turn quickly into a small driveway--not easy to spot if you're focused on traffic. Not sure how many "I just spotted you as I was passing by" diners they will attract.

Also noticed while driving around yesterday:
Your Choice Thai Cuisine at 1417 Waukegan in Glenview (next to Trader Joe's) is gone. The signs in the window announce that Yuan Asian Bistro--serving Thai, sushi, and Asian--will be opening soon.

JK Sweets (720 1/2 Clark in Evanston), which was closed at the end of 2010 before re-opening "under new management" serving Japanese and Korean dishes, has its windows papered over again, with a sign indicating that they are closed for remodeling.

Himshikar, the seemingly always empty Nepali, Indian & Italian place on Cicero across from Whole Foods has removed Italian from its repertoire. When asked why, the owner said, "It was just too weird".

Himshikar
6031 N. Cicero
Chicago, IL 60646
773-481-2003

stevez wrote:Himshikar, the seemingly always empty Nepali, Indian & Italian place on Cicero across from Whole Foods has removed Italian from its repertoire. When asked why, the owner said, "It was just too weird".

Himshikar
6031 N. Cicero
Chicago, IL 60646
773-481-2003

Worked just fine on Seinfeld.

Opening in the spot formerly known as Pat's Place:

Alexander's Breakfast & Lunch
5025 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077

BR wrote:

stevez wrote:Himshikar, the seemingly always empty Nepali, Indian & Italian place on Cicero across from Whole Foods has removed Italian from its repertoire. When asked why, the owner said, "It was just too weird".

Himshikar
6031 N. Cicero
Chicago, IL 60646
773-481-2003

Worked just fine on Seinfeld.

That's a shame, I was planning on hosting an LTH dinner to try both. Oh well. I wonder if the Indian food is good.

Dave148 wrote:Opening in the spot formerly known as Pat's Place:

Alexander's Breakfast & Lunch
5025 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077

Does this look like another diner-type place? I love little diners, but since I usually eat lunch out on Mondays, I never got to Pat's. Plus, the overwhelming yellowness made me a bit ill. I wonder how this will impact Annie's, which is almost directly across the street.

Pie Lady wrote:

BR wrote:

stevez wrote:Himshikar, the seemingly always empty Nepali, Indian & Italian place on Cicero across from Whole Foods has removed Italian from its repertoire. When asked why, the owner said, "It was just too weird".

Himshikar
6031 N. Cicero
Chicago, IL 60646
773-481-2003

Worked just fine on Seinfeld.

That's a shame, I was planning on hosting an LTH dinner to try both. Oh well. I wonder if the Indian food is good.

Actually, if you're a lover of heat, the chili pakora served with homemade riata makes for a great snack. They don't mess around with these chilis, they are quite picante! Unfortunately, you cant get them parmigiana style any more.

Chili-Mac on Broadway and Briar is closing next month. Ahhh...20 years of drunken Blue Margarita memories...and some of the best people watching in town....I will miss it dearly....

ekreider wrote:The sign in Rapa Nui's window says Riviera Maya, Mexican Food, Coming Soon. Definitely not Chilean and no indication whether it really will be Mayan or just some more generic Mexican. . .

Well it looks to be open now. I had higher hopes when the awning went up because it mentioned something about "sea food" but it looks to be just another generic storefront tacqueria, a notion enforced by the scrolling LED sign in the window. I'll drop in to give it a try because it's in my neck of the woods but I'm not optimistic that it will stand out in any way from any of the dozens of other storefront tacquerias in area.

Drove down Kimball yesterday to see this newly opened:


Hot Dog Station
4742 N Kimball
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 588-2580

The Wellington in Arlington Heights last day of operation was 8/1.

2121 South Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Hts, IL 60005
847-439-6610

Woodfire Kabob opening soon in Buffalo Grove in the strip mall at Buffalo Grove Road and Aptakisic Road.

lsher wrote:Woodfire Kabob opening soon in Buffalo Grove in the strip mall at Buffalo Grove Road and Aptakisic Road.

Do you have any details on this place? Will it be Middle Eastern or...?

fropones wrote:

lsher wrote:Woodfire Kabob opening soon in Buffalo Grove in the strip mall at Buffalo Grove Road and Aptakisic Road.

Do you have any details on this place? Will it be Middle Eastern or...?

The sign in the window says Shish Kabob, Falafel, Hummus and many other items.

Found will be a new restaurant in the current Gio space:

Chicago Magazine's Dish wrote:After searching for a space in Andersonville for a year and a half, Amy Morton (Mirador, Blue Room) found what will be Found (1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston, no phone yet) nearer to her home in Evanston. The space will sport decor inspired by the 1920s to 1950s, described in greater detail in this Q&A at chicagomag.com. The locally focused menu ranges from drink-and-a-bite options to once-a-week-type meals. The name also refers to Morton’s sense of purpose, which she plans to demonstrate by hiring for entry-level positions from “marginalized communities.” She plans to found Found in October.

In Logan Square-
at Fullerton/Milwaukee there's lettering on
a window of a fmr. Realty Office (opposite Liberty Bank)
for a
Gaslight Coffee Roasters


looking forward to some "good" coffee in the 'hood!

Drover wrote:

ekreider wrote:The sign in Rapa Nui's window says Riviera Maya, Mexican Food, Coming Soon. Definitely not Chilean and no indication whether it really will be Mayan or just some more generic Mexican. . .

Well it looks to be open now. I had higher hopes when the awning went up because it mentioned something about "sea food" but it looks to be just another generic storefront tacqueria, a notion enforced by the scrolling LED sign in the window. I'll drop in to give it a try because it's in my neck of the woods but I'm not optimistic that it will stand out in any way from any of the dozens of other storefront tacquerias in area.

OK, so I checked this place out and despite its outward appearance it looks to be more than just another storefront tacqueria -- the menu has a fairly heavy emphasis on seafood and there is a whole section on the menu dedicated to "Riviera Mayan cuisine" or something like that, suggesting a regional focus.

The problem I encountered was that only a few of the menu items had English translations -- mostly for items you'll find in a "Mexican" restaurant designed to appeal more to American than Mexican audiences -- almost as if to say "we know you English-speaking folks really just want fajitas and burritos, so here's some menu items to appeal to your tastes while we serve the 'real' Mexican cuisine to our own countrymen." It would have been nice to know what else was on the menu besides the strereotypical dishes.

At the northeast corner of Clybourn and Fullerton, ground floor of a residential building, there are awnings and signs for "Polka" a European deli advertising pastries, sausages, and craft beers.
http://www.polkasausage.com

annak wrote:At the northeast corner of Clybourn and Fullerton, ground floor of a residential building, there are awnings and signs for "Polka" a European deli advertising pastries, sausages, and craft beers.
http://www.polkasausage.com

Here's the old location of Polka Sausage at 8753 S Commercial (photo from about 5 years ago). They closed seemingly in stages over quite a few years.

Jamaican Jerk Choice, which offers Caribbean cuisine including jerk chicken and curry goat, opened earlier this month at 15910 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

The 1,200-square-foot restaurant has a sister store in Calumet City.

Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.
http://www.southlandsavvy.com/2012/08/j ... inley.html
http://www.jamaicajerkchoice.com/

Hombre de Acero wrote:In Logan Square-
at Fullerton/Milwaukee there's lettering on
a window of a fmr. Realty Office (opposite Liberty Bank)
for a
Gaslight Coffee Roasters


looking forward to some "good" coffee in the 'hood!

Coffee? You must be mistaken. There is no coffee here.

(Odd name for a cafe, yes?)

KajmacJohnson wrote:I thought this place was closed. I passed by there around noon yesterday and saw the For Sale sign and the building was completely dark for a Saturday. I just assumed they were gone.

Tanzitaro, 6075 N. Milwaukee, is confirmed to be closed. This is very sad.

Lettuce Entertain You has leased the old Tilly's space on Halsted & Armitage for a new concept. No details yet, but it will be nice to see something take over that space that has sat vacant. Now if someone could just take the Boston Blackie's too.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20120803/CRED03/120809920/lettuce-entertain-you-leases-in-lincoln-park

City News Cafe is open at 4018 N. Cicero. There's live music tonight, and according to the website, damn good brownies.
http://www.citynewsstand.com/

Noticed tonight on my way to Metropolis for beans....in the old Gaztro-Wagon space:

BellyFull - Belizean and Jamaican Ethnic Blend
5973 N Clark
Chicago 60660

According to Yelp it has been there since June.

Crosby's Kitchen at Southport and Cornelia looked open this afternoon.

Yelp reports that the DelMonico in Illinois Center has been closed since July 3. Anyone know? I'd call, but they aren't ever open on weekends. If it's still open, how is it?