abe_froeman wrote:

The GP wrote:El Norte Restaurant at 5600 N. Ridge Avenue, Chicago, closed its doors after dinner yesterday. The owners may reopen elsewhere and will announce on their Facebook page. El Norte was my preferred Mexican place near the house. Sigh.

Oh no! I loved their guacamole! I hope they find a new location!

That is surprising that they closed. Always seemed to have customers. Just walked by yesterday and no sign that they were closing. But they had offered a Groupon last week which is sometimes a bad sign. Too bad. Enjoyed it for late night Mexican.

Also, Zapatista . . . near Clark & Fullerton. . . closed recently.

I assume this pertains to just the Lincoln Park location, and not the other two locations (South Loop & Northbrook)? The facebook page and the website have conflicting information. Very confusing!

sundevilpeg wrote:

Also, Zapatista . . . near Clark & Fullerton. . . closed recently.

I assume this pertains to just the Lincoln Park location, and not the other two locations (South Loop & Northbrook)? The facebook page and the website have conflicting information. Very confusing!

Eater had some more info:

LINCOLN PARK—The Lincoln Park location of Zapatista at 444 W. Fullerton, closed about three weeks ago. A rep at the main office said it was just a "corporate decision," and that another location will open in Naperville in mid-November. The South Loop and Northbrook locations remain open. [EaterWire]

Hopped Up wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:

The GP wrote:El Norte Restaurant at 5600 N. Ridge Avenue, Chicago, closed its doors after dinner yesterday. The owners may reopen elsewhere and will announce on their Facebook page. El Norte was my preferred Mexican place near the house. Sigh.

Oh no! I loved their guacamole! I hope they find a new location!

That is surprising that they closed. Always seemed to have customers. Just walked by yesterday and no sign that they were closing. But they had offered a Groupon last week which is sometimes a bad sign. Too bad. Enjoyed it for late night Mexican.

It didn't have anything to do with business. Something with the landlord.

2 new options under construction in the Presidential Towers building at Clinton & Monroe:

Freshii: 8th store in Chicago proper
Sataza: Yet another take on the Chipotle/I Dream of Falafel/Roti/Falafill-style assembly line concept, now applied to Indian food. Personally, I can't eat Indian without naan so it will be a hard sell for me.

Chuck's Manufacturing is open for business at 230 N. Michigan Ave.

The founding chef of Sunda and two other alums of the “new Asian” restaurant are teaming up again to launch a new dining destination in the revamped Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect.
Earth & Ocean, opening February 2013, will be the beginning of the E&O Food & Drink restaurant project, with chef Rodelio Aglibot, Aeron Lancero and Paul Lee at the helm.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... t-prospect

Custom House Tavern, a Printers Row fixture since 2005, is closing after dinner service Wednesday.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121030/BLOGS09/121039956/custom-house-tavern-calling-it-quits

Evanston will get a taste of chicken and waffles before the end of the year.
The owners of Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles are working to get their newest restaurant open on Dempster Street by mid-December, said partner Rosemary Malone.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-evanston

Ovie, at the Northwestern, i.e. Ogilvy train station is now open. I searched for Ovie could find no mention so I hope this is not a repeat. Anyway, I looked at the menu, and honestly, it looks cookie cutter of any of the places along the river. Slighty upscale, fish and burgers and stuff. Carry out drinks and cheaper lunches.

I hope it does well, so it helps the French Market and the wonderful places in there keep going.

Ashkenaz Delicatessen is closing its Gold Coast location, making way for a new restaurant dishing up lobster rolls instead of corned beef sandwiches. Howard Cohan, the deli's owner, said he sold the business to a restaurateur named J Wolf for an undisclosed price. Mr. Wolf will take over the 1,000-square-foot space at 12 E. Cedar St. and plans to open a restaurant called Da Lobsta.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... i-to-close

That's what happens when you sell out to the Wolf.

Anyone been to That Burger Joint just down the street from Kaufman's in Skokie? It got lukewarm reviews on Yelp, but most of the complaints were about service the first week. I saw there menu, and it seemed like it was expensive to me. $6 for just a hamburger at a fast food place seems like a lot of money. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks, Nanccy

NFriday wrote:Anyone been to That Burger Joint just down the street from Kaufman's in Skokie? It got lukewarm reviews on Yelp, but most of the complaints were about service the first week. I saw there menu, and it seemed like it was expensive to me. $6 for just a hamburger at a fast food place seems like a lot of money. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks, Nanccy

I went the other day and left unimpressed. The burgers were cooked to oblivion and much too small for the size bun they use, though the bun is of good quality. Fries fared better. They were very thin, approximately the size of food service fast food chain fries, but were hand cut with bits of peel still attached.

I'll be heading just a few blocks east to Poochies the next time i get a burger craving in that neighborhood.

Anyone heard of this place called Network Cyber Bar & Grill? It's on Clark right north of Chicago (near Panang Thai). Had no idea it opened around a month ago. Really nice decor inside, and some interesting drinks (like the Mark Zuckerberg, Jerry Yang, and Steve Jobs). Domestic beer is $3 and import is $5, which I think is a good deal for the area. The Martinis are all over $10, but the average price on everything else is under $10 it seems. Looks like the head chef is Ken Robinson who did stuff in NYC, and was the personal chef to P Diddy, and also has Heat. Food menu looks decent too (http://www.networkcbg.com/#!food/c1jo3).

Had a few drinks and thought they were pretty good. Snapped this picture:
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-a ... 9195_n.jpg

Looks like they'll have a live jazz night too, and I guess their official opening isn't until the 16th or 17th. There's really no bars north of Chicago on Clark either except this so it's cool. There's something about charging stations/pads too and free wifi.

stevez wrote:

NFriday wrote:Anyone been to That Burger Joint just down the street from Kaufman's in Skokie? It got lukewarm reviews on Yelp, but most of the complaints were about service the first week. I saw there menu, and it seemed like it was expensive to me. $6 for just a hamburger at a fast food place seems like a lot of money. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks, Nanccy

I went the other day and left unimpressed. The burgers were cooked to oblivion and much too small for the size bun they use, though the bun is of good quality. Fries fared better. They were very thin, approximately the size of food service fast food chain fries, but were hand cut with bits of peel still attached.

I'll be heading just a few blocks east to Poochies the next time i get a burger craving in that neighborhood.

I was in there the week it opened, but I only had an order of fries (I had eaten at Pequod's earlier). They were pretty good. This place is another Epic Burger, Five Guys, Meatheads, Smashburger, M Burger, etc. People shouldn't compare it to the cheaper fast food joints. I'm surprised people aren't getting used to this by now. A burger meal with drink at these places is going to be around $12. Call it upscale fast food. Is it worth it? Maybe, maybe not.

Oberweis Dairy, who owns That Burger Joint, told Crain's they modeled their concept after Five Guys, so there you go. I'll go back to try the burger. I'd get a double though, better meat to bun ratio - they looked a little skinny.

Dave148 wrote:

Ashkenaz Delicatessen is closing its Gold Coast location, making way for a new restaurant dishing up lobster rolls instead of corned beef sandwiches. Howard Cohan, the deli's owner, said he sold the business to a restaurateur named J Wolf for an undisclosed price. Mr. Wolf will take over the 1,000-square-foot space at 12 E. Cedar St. and plans to open a restaurant called Da Lobsta.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... i-to-close

If it weren't for Manny's, there'd be no classic Jewish delis with authentic Chicago roots in the city outside of Frances' and The Bagel. Steve's Deli is OK, but it's an outpost of an out-of-state chain. Romanian Sausage isn't really a deli so much as a retail store that will prepare sandwiches to go. Not the same thing in my book as a proper sit-down place - or at least one with stools and a counter you can eat at.

I'm a little under 50, but there are times I miss the old days when Moe's Deli was on Rush Street where the 600 N. Michigan mall is now (I used to love their veal breast they'd have as a special occasionally), and Mort's Deli on Wabash. Except for fast food, you literally can't get a decent NY-style corn beef sandwich in the Michigan Avenue area anymore.

OTOH, we didn't have authentic Hunan or Thai food in those days. Progress is a tradeoff.

sdrucker wrote:

Dave148 wrote:

Ashkenaz Delicatessen is closing its Gold Coast location, making way for a new restaurant dishing up lobster rolls instead of corned beef sandwiches. Howard Cohan, the deli's owner, said he sold the business to a restaurateur named J Wolf for an undisclosed price. Mr. Wolf will take over the 1,000-square-foot space at 12 E. Cedar St. and plans to open a restaurant called Da Lobsta.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... i-to-close

If it weren't for Manny's, there'd be no classic Jewish delis with authentic Chicago roots in the city outside of Frances' and The Bagel. Steve's Deli is OK, but it's an outpost of an out-of-state chain. Romanian Sausage isn't really a deli so much as a retail store that will prepare sandwiches to go. Not the same thing in my book as a proper sit-down place - or at least one with stools and a counter you can eat at.

I'm a little under 50, but there are times I miss the old days when Moe's Deli was on Rush Street where the 600 N. Michigan mall is now (I used to love their veal breast they'd have as a special occasionally), and Mort's Deli on Wabash. Except for fast food, you literally can't get a decent NY-style corn beef sandwich in the Michigan Avenue area anymore.

OTOH, we didn't have authentic Hunan or Thai food in those days. Progress is a tradeoff.

I guess the saddest thing about this, for me, is that this business was over 100 years old--not at that location the whole time of course, but over 100 years in business. Not likely that "Da Lobster' will match that...

Ashkenaz had great whitefish and lox spread--I used to go very regularly when I lived in the neighborhood during and after law school. Not sure I've been since Mr. Cohan took over--I vaguely remember the news that he bought the place. Hopefully I'll be able to stop in before they close their doors.

Tic Toc Grill, 8010 N Waukegan Rd., Niles, is gone. Phone number not accepting calls, website gone, "for lease" sign in the window. This is not surprising since it was impossible to see.

sdrucker wrote:If it weren't for Manny's, there'd be no classic Jewish delis with authentic Chicago roots in the city outside of Frances' and The Bagel.

I would add Eleven City Diner. I won't make any claims for it in terms of where it ranks among Chicago's delis (although I have enjoyed some things there), but I think if you divorce the question from one of goodness/badness and just look at what category the place belongs to, it is a deli, it is Jewish, and it does have authentic Chicago roots.

Ashkenaz will be missed.

Ashkanaz was singlehandedly responsible for my life long love affair with duck. Growing up, our family would eat dinner at the Morse Ave. location at least 3 times/month and the roast duck was my default order once my Dad let me try a bite of his.

When one door closes....

Kaufman's Deli in Skokie reopened today in their larger space that now includes seating.

The GP wrote:El Norte Restaurant at 5600 N. Ridge Avenue, Chicago, closed its doors after dinner yesterday. The owners may reopen elsewhere and will announce on their Facebook page. El Norte was my preferred Mexican place near the house. Sigh.

Me too. I always had mixed experiences with the taqueria across the street from it, and always preferred El Norte. I hope they are able to relocate in the neighborhood somewhere. Supposedly, one post I saw on the Neighborhoodland(or whatever that website is called where you can suggest ideas for neighborhood redevelopments?) site said that El Norte's owner felt pressure to move out by the new owner, and they chose to do so? I know the other 2 tenants on the first floor(Good News Only art studio, and Little Buds Theater Company) recently chose to not renew their leases in that building, and that this building recently got a new owner who was soliciting ideas on that site for new businesses to go into the 1st floor spaces. I keep hoping that an independent 24 hour restaurant would open there that wasn't too expensive(like El Norte was), but who knows what'll happen.

Marigold looks like it's moving closer and closer to opening in the former Ole Ole space on Clark. The new sign is now up as of 2-3 days ago, and a now hiring sign was put into the window in late October. When I peered into the little that wasn't papered over, I could tell some of the new light fixtures were installed inside, and it looked like the interior was close to finishing. Maybe it'll open later this month?

Found, the new Amy Morton restaurant in Evanston (in the former Gio space), is now open, according to Eater.

seebee wrote:I spied with my little bespectacled eye a new Middle Eastern joint named "Falafelji" on Harlem just south of Pershing (while I was getting some char grilled carne asada and killer roasted chile de arbol salsa at Zacatacos down that way.) More, well, any Middle Eastern food in that area is very welcome, in my opinion. Thai is essentially covered, Mexican, Italian, Pizza...covered. Indian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese...yikes. Though Chinatown and Yilin are within striking distance, the Mid eastern Joints on south harlem are just about striking distance as well. Edible sushi is kind of hit or miss, and I'm talking about going to the same place and being hit or miss one day to the next. Middle Eastern tho, I'm excited to see there. 3910 South Harlem.

I think they might of opened today...

Lou Malnati's will open at 5261 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Carryout and delivery. It opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 11 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
---------------------------
Home Run Inn will open at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, for carryout orders only at its latest location at 10900 S. Western Ave. in Chicago’s Beverly community.

“The grand opening for the dining room will be 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13,” said Jamie Wagner, restaurant marketing manager for Home Run Inn.

The restaurant chain, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, will eventually be open daily for lunch, but will have reduced hours when it first opens, she said.

“We’ll be closed on Mondays at the beginning,” she said adding the dining room also would be closed for lunch during the week but would be open starting at noon on weekends.
http://oaklawn.patch.com/articles/busin ... tc00000001

Per the Hinsdale Patch, Zak's Place (home of a good burger) is shuttering after tomorrow. http://hinsdale.patch.com/articles/zak-s-place-in-hinsdale-closing-its-doors-saturday-night.

Rich Melman details new River North hotel restaurant - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... z2BpgqAoBM

Rich Melman details new River North hotel restaurant - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... z2BpgqAoBM

. . . using the word "details" in the loosest possible sense, apart from the participants in the project. . .

This might be old news but House of Fine Chocolates on Broadway in Lake View looks to have closed.

send9 wrote:This might be old news but House of Fine Chocolates on Broadway in Lake View looks to have closed.

Fudge.

Drove by Stash's of Highland Park this evening (which also includes 2nd Street Bistro and 2nd Street Enoteca) and there was a sign saying something to the effect of "Closed. Thank you for 44 years". An d this was 2 weeks after the had Wedeals for all three restaurants. Wow.