BR wrote:

RobK wrote:Noticed a sign this week in the old Hoanh Long space that said Coming Soon...Homestead...American Comfort Food at it's best.

6144 N Lincoln
Chicago, IL

I'm confused . . . because Hoanh Long is still open.

It moved a few doors north, iirc.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

BR wrote:

RobK wrote:Noticed a sign this week in the old Hoanh Long space that said Coming Soon...Homestead...American Comfort Food at it's best.

6144 N Lincoln
Chicago, IL

I'm confused . . . because Hoanh Long is still open.

It moved a few doors north, iirc.

=R=

I'm losing it - embarrassed to say I didn't even notice that the location was different.

BR wrote:

RobK wrote:Noticed a sign this week in the old Hoanh Long space that said Coming Soon...Homestead...American Comfort Food at it's best.

6144 N Lincoln
Chicago, IL

I'm confused . . . because Hoanh Long is still open.

Hoanh Long moved a few doors up the street to bigger quarters a year or so ago. I think the OP is talking about their original storefront location, which has been vacant since the move.

Pie Lady wrote:

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.

From the Skokie Review

Ted Angelopoulos, proprietor of Alexander’s, described the eatery as “similar to what Pat had,” but with a significantly upgraded venue. Angelopoulos and his family now own the popular Cafe Mozart in Evanston.The work at Alexander’s will include interior demolition, construction of two new bathrooms, replacement of existing ceiling and floor tiles, new walls, painting, plumbing, lighting, electrical and other significant structural improvements.

They're demolishing it all right. When I went by last week, they had the place gutted.

Apparently Tony Hu is opening Lao Mala today in the space where Lure Izakaya Pub used to be in the mall. This one isn't focusing on any region of China but instead on the spiciness. It sounds like it will be spicy Chinese street food.

Lao Mala
2017 S Wells

In other news, Koren Grieveson has left Avec (!), says Dish, via eater.com. Wow. Interesting (and some not-so-interesting) speculation abounds on Eater.

fropones wrote:Apparently Tony Hu is opening Lao Mala today in the space where Lure Izakaya Pub used to be in the mall. This one isn't focusing on any region of China but instead on the spiciness. It sounds like it will be spicy Chinese street food.

Lao Mala
2017 S Wells

And according to today's Chicago Magazine Dish newsletter, Lao Sze Chuan will be opening up in the former Marigold spot on Broadway, just north of Lawrence. Marigold of course will be moving to N. Clark St. in Andersonville. While I'm a big fan of Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown, I just can't help but think this "Lao" thing is getting a bit out of hand.

Spotted another new restaurant on the north end of Lincoln. Brand new awning over the old Matsu Shita space for The Drunken Pig. No other info and their website is not active yet.

The Drunken Pig
5854 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago
http://www.drunkenpigchicago.com

Wild Hare's former site slated to become taco restaurant.

The former Wild Hare reggae club in Wrigleyville is becoming a taco stand. But the Wild Hare lives on at a new Lincoln Park location.

The owners of Flaco's Tacos acquired the Wild Hare building at 3530 N. Clark St. from a trust established by the late Robert Lurie — a former partner of billionaire Sam Zell — and his wife, Ann. They plan to spend more than $1 million renovating the 9,730-square-foot building, which will likely be called “Flaco's,” according to Ed Hebson, one of the owners.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/a ... restaurant

I've heard it through the grapevine that Benjyehuda might be opening up another Loop location, although I'm not sure if my source is 100% certain. If they do, that's great news. The best fast Mediteranean food in the Loop IMO. The amount of food you get for the price is good too especially in their boxes.

marothisu wrote:I've heard it through the grapevine that Benjyehuda might be opening up another Loop location, although I'm not sure if my source is 100% certain. If they do, that's great news. The best fast Mediteranean food in the Loop IMO. The amount of food you get for the price is good too especially in their boxes.

They're opening on LaSalle, just south of Madison (where the old smoke shop was).

jesteinf wrote:They're opening on LaSalle, just south of Madison (where the old smoke shop was).

Yeah. 10 S LaSalle right? Good place. Am happy for them. They'll also be closer to my office which is great news

Micro-LTH: The area near and around North Avenue and Oak Park Avenue is seeing a little activity.

Smokin' M's 2nd outlet, in the space that was Jerk Grill (and before that North Avenue Burrito!) at North and Oak Park, opened about a week ago. I talked with one of the owners shortly before the actual opening, and he said they would not only have Q but Italian food--it seems there's a one time connection to Forest Park's Jimmy's and Smokin M, but right now it's just BBQ. I went in for tips the other day and did not walk away impressed. As so often, it's difficult for these kinda places to present good food with low initial demand. Still, they're working over live logs in a Chi-caw-go pit, so maybe they're's hope.

On the other hand, I've yet to try Thom's Turkey and BBQ, which took over the Kenny's space at Rossell and North (the closest restaurant to my house!). I'm sure I'll try soon.

Finally, not ready, nor not sure the time frame, but Serrelli's the anachronism of a store on North just west of Narragansett (6454 W.) is expanding and adding what they told me was "sandwiches", which includes, I was told their Italian beef, but not quite sure what else.

My little stretch of the world is turning into a regular Harwood Heights.

LPython wrote:Balkan Restaurant (aka Balkan Cafe) in Lincoln Square has closed. There's a for lease sign in the window and we hadn't been able to raise them on the phone for a few weeks before I saw that appear. It's a shame; the place had been there for years and was really freakin' delicious but gradually went downhill after new management took it over about a year (or longer?) ago. We're going to try out Restaurant Sarajevo down the street (2701 W Lawrence Ave) next time we get a cevapi craving.

Balkan Restaurant
2321 W Lawrence Ave
(773) 878-7764
http://www.thebalkancafe.com

You can also try Beograd Cafe which is a little to the west. Great cevapi, stuffed cabage and burek and one of my favorite Balkan flavored places.

2933 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-7575

From Crain's

The owners of the popular Chicago Cut Steakhouse in River North are opening a second restaurant in November, this one focused on high-end comfort food. “Our mothers made all these great American dishes and would search out value ingredients that would have some sort of flavor. We want to take those same dishes but make them with the best ingredients,” says David Flom, managing partner of the restaurant along with Matthew Moore.
The new restaurant will be called the Local, “because Chicagoans love local restaurants and we like the local people around us,” Mr. Flom says. It will be located in the Hilton Suites hotel at Delaware Street and Mies van der Rohe Way

Dave148 wrote:The new restaurant will be called the Local

Oh goodie, another restaurant whose name makes it virtually impossible to find information about them on internet search engines. You may as well name a restaurant Brunch, or Waffles. (Oh wait, we have those, too.)

nsxtasy wrote:

Dave148 wrote:The new restaurant will be called the Local

Oh goodie, another restaurant whose name makes it virtually impossible to find information about them on internet search engines. You may as well name a restaurant Brunch, or Waffles. (Oh wait, we have those, too.)

This makes me want to open a restaurant called "The", and serve high-end takes on low-brow junk food. Our signature dish will be freshly-fried Funyuns served in a newspaper cone.

nsxtasy wrote:

Dave148 wrote:The new restaurant will be called the Local

Oh goodie, another restaurant whose name makes it virtually impossible to find information about them on internet search engines. You may as well name a restaurant Brunch, or Waffles. (Oh wait, we have those, too.)

There was a bar also in River North that was featured on a show called Bar Rescue last year, part of the rescue was changing their name from "Blue Frog 22" to "The Local". Apparently the new name didn't work out very well as they changed it again shortly thereafter to "Blue Frog's Local 22".

Home Run Inn is opening another location in October at 10900 S. Western Ave.
http://www.homeruninnpizza.com/

Premise has closed, according to Mike Sula in the Reader:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/ar ... tered#more

That was fast! I feel bad for Runge.

Can't say I'm surprised. The empty dining room on the weekend night that we went is never a good sign.

... and what is up with...

Lalo's Mexican Restaurant
804 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park

Lalo's name on the sign and awning is covered over but the restaurant is still open. Even still have the Lunch Buffet sign out front.

Maybe a change of ownership?

The owner dropped the franchise

http://www.oakpark.com/News/Blogs/08-03 ... n_Oak_Park

Khaopaat wrote:This makes me want to open a restaurant called "The"

Makes possible a variation on "Who's On First?":

A: Let's go to The.
B: Let's go to the what?
A: Not the what. The.
B: What the...?

Etc.

Speaking of restaurant names you can't Google, how very timely:

Last April, Crofton on Wells shuttered after nearly 15 years in business and shortly thereafter, the restaurant went up for sale. The vacancy didn't last long because a team has come together and will open Community sometime this winter.

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/30/former-crofton-on-wells-space-to-become-community.php

Tickie's Belizean Restaurant ... this afternoon, windows were papered over, no answer on the phone number.

Coming soon to the former spot of Sweet Table by Feliz:

Libanais Baklava Bakery
4708 W. Touhy Ave.
Lincolnwood

Sign above the door says "Restaurant Bakery"

Someone needs to come replace that sandwich shop too!