JoelF wrote:The current space of Moderno will close on the 22nd, but reopen on January 8 as Royce, an American concept with Inovasi and Moderno's farm-to-table philosophy, including burgers with grass-fed beef

I'm excited if that means Royce will ape Inovasi's Tuesday night burger program.

The Hop Haus gastropub in River North is closing after being taken over by its landlord, which plans to open a new restaurant in the space next year.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/a ... new-eatery

According to the 12/20/12 Evanston Roundtable, Chicken and Waffles--at 2424 West Dempster--is close to completing construction and on track to open "by year end."

Also, Ward 8, a cocktail lounge and small plates restaurant, opened 12/12/12 at 629 West Howard in Evanston. The owners are former bartenders at In Fine Spirits in Andersonville.
Phone: 773/369-4911

Per Evanston Patch: "To give the bar a community feel, Cody Modeer [owner] plans to host rotating arts exhibits and eventually hopes to show movies in the back. As for the alcohol, he said the pair will focus on quality local spirits. Eighty percent of their alcohol choices are local, he said, including spirits from Evanston-based FEW Spirits and North Shore Distillery in Lake Bluff.... 
Ward Eight is one of the businesses that have benefited from tax-increment financing (TIF) along Howard Street, in an area that was designated as a TIF district in 2004. Council members voted in February to spend up to $100,000 in tax increment financing for improvements to the building where Ward Eight is located. The city also agreed to loan Ward Eight $130,000 toward setup costs as part of a Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development."  

One of Hyde Park's few upscale restaurants is throwing in the towel in January. Park 52 sent out a notice announcing a January 9, 2013 closing party and thanking patrons and the University of Chicago for their support, according to a Dec. 19 article in the Hyde Park Herald. The reasons given for the decision were “business and personal obligations.”

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... in-january

JoelF wrote:The current space of Moderno will close on the 22nd, but reopen on January 8 as Royce, an American concept with Inovasi and Moderno's farm-to-table philosophy, including burgers with grass-fed beef

This article in Eater has more about that transformation, and includes their new menus:

Moderno Reconcepting, Becoming Royce Next Month

tarte tatin wrote:Also, Ward 8, a cocktail lounge and small plates restaurant, opened 12/12/12 at 629 West Howard in Evanston. The owners are former bartenders at In Fine Spirits in Andersonville.
Phone: 773/369-4911

Very cool. I look forward to trying this place. Ward Eight both describes their location within the Evanston political map and is also the name of an old cocktail.

Saddened to say that it appears that a Twin Peaks restaurant is opening in the old Claim Jumper space in Wheeling (Milwaukee and Lake Cook). Twin Peaks has nothing to do with David Lynch or pie.

iahawk89 wrote:Twin Peaks has nothing to do with David Lynch or pie.

Damn.

Aquas Tortas is open at 618-1/2 Church St. in Devon. According to my sources, it is Tanzitaro's new concept. I am looking forward to it.

Don't bother looking it up on Google Maps...there's a beer truck in the way.

Stupid beer truck

Pie Lady wrote:

iahawk89 wrote:Twin Peaks has nothing to do with David Lynch or pie.

Damn.

Aquas Tortas is open at 618-1/2 Church St. in Devon. According to my sources, it is Tanzitaro's new concept. I am looking forward to it.

Don't bother looking it up on Google Maps...there's a beer truck in the way.

I think it's 618 1/2 Church Street in Evanston (not Devon) where the ridiculously named Uber Burger was. No doubt the Evanston Lunch Group will check it out one of these months.

EvA wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:

iahawk89 wrote:Twin Peaks has nothing to do with David Lynch or pie.

Damn.

Aquas Tortas is open at 618-1/2 Church St. in Devon. According to my sources, it is Tanzitaro's new concept. I am looking forward to it.

Don't bother looking it up on Google Maps...there's a beer truck in the way.

I think it's 618 1/2 Church Street in Evanston (not Devon) where the ridiculously named Uber Burger was. No doubt the Evanston Lunch Group will check it out one of these months.

Yes, that's what I meant. Thanks.

Just stopped at NY Bagel and Bialy for the first time in a few months, to discover Libanais, a Lebanese bakery (that also carries a bunch of French-style pastries, including buche de Noel by order) had opened up in the same tiny strip mall. The owner said he used to own one of the largest bakeries in Beirut. We bought a few things, and would have bought more if we didn't already have so many holiday goodies in the house already: some croissants (cheese, chocolate, and zaatar, which I'd never seen before, but my Lebanese-born husband assures me is a fairly standard item), and some halawat el jeben, a cheese pastry to be served with syrup that I'd also never tried before. The jovial proprietor assured me that everything in the shop is under two million calories. The other items will not be eaten until tomorrow, but the chocolate-dipped cookie with ground pistachios the proprietor gave me to sample was quite tasty.

http://libanaissweets.com/
4708 W. Touhy
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-329-5060

Longtime Avondale Mexican spot La Finca is no more. Signs in the window indicate the forthcoming of Honey Butter Fried Chicken. The "Coming Soon" website describes it as "[a] new Chicago restaurant from the chefs at Sunday Dinner." Here's to hoping they do something more useful with the slab of concrete behind the place than throw a couple tables on it and call it a patio like the previous tenants did.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken
3361 N Elston Ave
http://www.honeybutterfriedchicken.com

Eva Luna wrote:Just stopped at NY Bagel and Bialy for the first time in a few months, to discover Libanais, a Lebanese bakery (that also carries a bunch of French-style pastries, including buche de Noel by order) had opened up in the same tiny strip mall. The owner said he used to own one of the largest bakeries in Beirut. We bought a few things, and would have bought more if we didn't already have so many holiday goodies in the house already: some croissants (cheese, chocolate, and zaatar, which I'd never seen before, but my Lebanese-born husband assures me is a fairly standard item), and some halawat el jeben, a cheese pastry to be served with syrup that I'd also never tried before. The jovial proprietor assured me that everything in the shop is under two million calories. The other items will not be eaten until tomorrow, but the chocolate-dipped cookie with ground pistachios the proprietor gave me to sample was quite tasty.

http://libanaissweets.com/
4708 W. Touhy
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-329-5060

The zaatar croissants sound bizarre enough to try. Are they actual croissants vs. a zaatar pita pie, and if so, what else are they stuffed with? Zaatar on top of the croissant would be pretty messy , and if it's used as a filling, you'd probably need a binding ingredient I'd think.

While out driving yesterday & trying to avoid penetrating any mall area, I passed Opa! Estiatorio in Vernon Hills (on Lakeview Parkway just north of Town Line Rd.). The sign on the door said 'This location will be closing on December 31, 2012. We have enjoyed serving our customers for the past eight years.'

One always wonders why, besides the obvious lack of business. Opa! was a big place with a beautiful winding patio that seemed to always be packed in the summertime, and I always thought that their food quality was top-notch, pretty darn close in preparation technique to Athena in Greektown. Their avgolemono soup was stellar, their grilled sea bass served whole and filleted at the table was wonderful, and the variety of lamb dishes offered would always have me thinking.

Competition is fierce, folks. Frequent the places you like, or accept the fact that they might not be there tomorrow.

sdrucker wrote:The zaatar croissants sound bizarre enough to try. Are they actual croissants vs. a zaatar pita pie, and if so, what else are they stuffed with? Zaatar on top of the croissant would be pretty messy , and if it's used as a filling, you'd probably need a binding ingredient I'd think.

They are actual croissants, and the zaatar is the filling. Coffee is brewing, so I will give them a try shortly.

UPDATE: I'd guess the zaatar is bound with olive oil, which is AFAIK the same way it's usually stuck to the top of pita. All quite tasty croissants. We'll be back there for sure - we didn't try any of the fancier pastries or any of the extensive baklava/maamoul selection (though we live in Albany Park, so it's not like we'd normally make a special schlep for any of those).

jnm123 wrote:While out driving yesterday & trying to avoid penetrating any mall area, I passed Opa! Estiatorio in Vernon Hills (on Lakeview Parkway just north of Town Line Rd.). The sign on the door said 'This location will be closing on December 31, 2012. We have enjoyed serving our customers for the past eight years.'

One always wonders why, besides the obvious lack of business. Opa! was a big place with a beautiful winding patio that seemed to always be packed in the summertime, and I always thought that their food quality was top-notch, pretty darn close in preparation technique to Athena in Greektown. Their avgolemono soup was stellar, their grilled sea bass served whole and filleted at the table was wonderful, and the variety of lamb dishes offered would always have me thinking.

Competition is fierce, folks. Frequent the places you like, or accept the fact that they might not be there tomorrow.

Yeah, I posted this earlier in the thread and I was about to post an update. I stopped in for dinner and they said they are moving to Oakbrook. On the other side of the sign saying "This location will be closing..." (facing indoors) has the new Oakbrook address. You would think they would put the new address where people can see it from the outside too. Anyway the waiter said they are moving to a busier area. He said during the fall and winter months business drops significantly which is hurting them. Looks like the outdoor seating area is good for their spring and summer months. A shame b/c I agree, I really like their food.

Eva Luna wrote:

sdrucker wrote:The zaatar croissants sound bizarre enough to try. Are they actual croissants vs. a zaatar pita pie, and if so, what else are they stuffed with? Zaatar on top of the croissant would be pretty messy , and if it's used as a filling, you'd probably need a binding ingredient I'd think.

They are actual croissants, and the zaatar is the filling. Coffee is brewing, so I will give them a try shortly.

UPDATE: I'd guess the zaatar is bound with olive oil, which is AFAIK the same way it's usually stuck to the top of pita. All quite tasty croissants. We'll be back there for sure - we didn't try any of the fancier pastries or any of the extensive baklava/maamoul selection (though we live in Albany Park, so it's not like we'd normally make a special schlep for any of those).

His baklavas are very good. There are pistachio, almond and walnut varieties in different preparations.

The former site of Crazy Jaws now has a "Coming Soon: Las Fuentes" banner. I couldn't find anything on whether it's related to any of the other Las Fuentes around town.

9001 Waukegan Road
Morton Grove, IL 60053-2112

Wild Orchid Thai Bistro in Crystal Lake closed awhile back. Just discovered that it was closed while shopping nearby. Had been there several times and always enjoyed it but at least we still have Krystal Thai in the neighborhood.

http://crystallake.patch.com/articles/good-bye-thai-wild-orchid-thai-bistro-closing

That was my favorite over Krystal. My list of favorites that crossed the rainbow bridge this year is frighteningly long.

"Mercadito" is taking over the old Hop Haus space on Franklin..via Eater...same owners of Tavernita, Little Market Brasserie.....national restaurant group

concept not official, name almost official...5am liquor license came with the space, so it will be a beverage-focused River-Northy type of place (as expected)

open by the end of summer

Opening Saturday the 29th:

MH Fish House
670 N. Bank Lane
Lake Forest
(847) 234-8802
http://mhfishhouse.com/

Same owners as Market House.

Pompeii at Sheffield/Wellington has closed in the last couple days, per the signs on the doors/window.

slacker wrote:Pompeii at Sheffield/Wellington has closed in the last couple days, per the signs on the doors/window.

Oh wow. That's the last place I ever thought would go.

I had my problems with them at times, but I always "overcame" them, because the niche they occupied was so useful. Decent (not fabulous, but decent) Italianate fare in a quick, no-fuss, convenient, neighborhood setting. They always did a lot of business from the doctors and nurses at Illinois Masonic. I'd have thought that would be enough to keep them in business even if a single neighborhood person never walked in the door (which they did).

Moderators - any thought to having a dedicated "Openings, Closings....." thread for the City and a separate dedicated thread for the Suburbs?

Open...

La Majada Express
7601 Lake St, River Forest
(708) 771-5720

Driving by it looks simple but I hope it will be a step up from Ino's.

Eggsperience Pancakes & Cafe to open in the former California Pizza Kitchen at 939 W. North Ave.

Highland Fresh Produce has opened. Open daily 7AM-9PM
3311 W. 45th St
Highland,IN
219-924-7386

Cafe Soroni, just south of the Jefferson Park terminal, is closed. The owner seemed pretty pissed that I called.