BR wrote:

riddlemay wrote:Re Va Sua:

“Everyone knows Vietnamese food is not very high end,” Chan said. “You can pick it up anywhere—take it out. But this will be about 80 percent Vietnamese and 20 percent French, with the presentation being more French, and us including more cream and those elements.”

"Everyone knows?" Did anyone tell Pasteur and Le Colonial? I hope Va Sua proves an asset to the neighborhood, but this quote from the head-chef/owner starts them off on the wrong foot, IMO.

When the 3,000-square-foot restaurant opens on Friday, Chan says they’ll just be serving dinners between 5-11 p.m. and will be BYOB. Later, when Vu Sua’s liquor license is approved, it’ll have a full bar until 1 p.m., dishing up late-night bar food after 11 p.m.

Full bar until 1 p.m.! Drink up at lunch, guys!

In fairness, when he says it's not high end, he's talking about the cuisine, and not the Chicago Vietnamese food scene (and in some ways you can throw Embeya into the Pasteur/Le Colonial mix, although they probably stray the farthest from traditional Vietnamese, from what I understand).

Also, I'm guessing the 1pm bar issue is a typo, so let's not go crazy here.

Yeah, the 1 p.m. thing is clearly the writer's blunder--but one of my least favorite blunders.

Nobu plans hotel, restaurant on Randolph Street

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130320/CRED03/130319725/nobu-plans-hotel-restaurant-on-randolph-street

BR wrote:In fairness, when he says it's not high end, he's talking about the cuisine, and not the Chicago Vietnamese food scene (and in some ways you can throw Embeya into the Pasteur/Le Colonial mix, although they probably stray the farthest from traditional Vietnamese, from what I understand).

Plus, Pasteur and Le Colonial are also Vietnamese-French also.

riddlemay wrote:Re Va Sua:

“Everyone knows Vietnamese food is not very high end,” Chan said. “You can pick it up anywhere—take it out. But this will be about 80 percent Vietnamese and 20 percent French, with the presentation being more French, and us including more cream and those elements.”

"Everyone knows?" Did anyone tell Pasteur and Le Colonial? I hope Va Sua proves an asset to the neighborhood, but this quote from the head-chef/owner starts them off on the wrong foot, IMO.

When the 3,000-square-foot restaurant opens on Friday, Chan says they’ll just be serving dinners between 5-11 p.m. and will be BYOB. Later, when Vu Sua’s liquor license is approved, it’ll have a full bar until 1 p.m., dishing up late-night bar food after 11 p.m.

Full bar until 1 p.m.! Drink up at lunch, guys!

I did find it a little strange that he's not even acknowledging that Le Colonial and Pasteur exist (and send the Patch editor a tweet saying as much). That said, if they food is in the same league as Le Colonial or the Pasteur of old, I'll be happy to have them in the neighborhood.

HASH officially opened its doors for business today.

http://hashchicago.com/
1357 N. Western
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 931-4479
Hours: 8am - 4pm daily

Did a search and couldn't find anything on Leadbelly, a new burger place opening in Portage Park at 5739 W Irving Park Rd (formerly Carreno's Pizza, if I'm not mistaken).

According to their website, grand opening is on Saturday, March 23rd, but I haven't called to verify.

As a long-time resident of Portage Park, I'm excited: http://leadbellyburgers.com/

Leadbelly
5739 W Irving Pk Rd
Chicago, IL 60634
773 283-7880
Tu-We-Th 5-10
Fr-Sa 5-11
Su 11-4

Re Va Sua, I suspect he meant to say "everyone thinks that Vietnamese food is not...", i.e., he's arguing against a stereotype. I wouldn't take the word "everyone" literally, either.

Katie wrote:Re Va Sua, I suspect he meant to say "everyone thinks that Vietnamese food is not...", i.e., he's arguing against a stereotype. I wouldn't take the word "everyone" literally, either.

Possibly. It still strikes me as a strange quote (if the quote is accurate), even if he meant to say "most people" instead of "everyone." He shouldn't care about addressing most people, he should care about his target market. And his target market are the very people who have been to Pasteur, Le Colonial, or Embeya and will therefore know quite well that Vietnamese food can be "high end" (to use his phrase).

omnivore wrote:Did a search and couldn't find anything on Leadbelly, a new burger place opening in Portage Park at 5739 W Irving Park Rd (formerly Carreno's Pizza, if I'm not mistaken).

According to their website, grand opening is on Saturday, March 23rd, but I haven't called to verify.

As a long-time resident of Portage Park, I'm excited: http://leadbellyburgers.com/

Leadbelly
5739 W Irving Pk Rd
Chicago, IL 60634
773 283-7880
Tu-We-Th 5-10
Fr-Sa 5-11
Su 11-4

A burger place that is open only one day a week (Sunday) for lunch?
God bless 'em if they can succeed with those very limited hours.

cito wrote:

omnivore wrote:Tu-We-Th 5-10
Fr-Sa 5-11
Su 11-4

A burger place that is open only one day a week (Sunday) for lunch?
God bless 'em if they can succeed with those very limited hours.

Panther in the Den wrote:

cito wrote:

omnivore wrote:Tu-We-Th 5-10
Fr-Sa 5-11
Su 11-4

A burger place that is open only one day a week (Sunday) for lunch?
God bless 'em if they can succeed with those very limited hours.

Like I said, they are only open one day for lunch. The 5 o'clock time is P.M not A.M

I love how they have a coupon at the bottom of the page for $2.00 off a T-shirt. You expect me to promote your restaurant and I have to pay you for the shirt as well?

Ram4 wrote:I love how they have a coupon at the bottom of the page for $2.00 off a T-shirt. You expect me to promote your restaurant and I have to pay you for the shirt as well?

You do realize that you have a coupon for plus size bras in your signature, no?

Give 'em a break...it's not like Little Goat selling shirts despite their Boka bucks. This looks like a humble opening in an area in need of some more modern restaurants. I wish them luck.

Maison Brasserie closing on March 30th, according to The Chicagoist. http://chicagoist.com/2013/03/21/maison ... he_end.php

Ursiform wrote:Maison Brasserie closing on March 30th, according to The Chicagoist. http://chicagoist.com/2013/03/21/maison ... he_end.php

We were there last Saturday and had a really nice dinner. It's a beautiful space and the staff was really attentive. The hostess told us about the closing as we were leaving. Sad!

The Chicago French Market posted this on their FB page today.


"Lillie’s Q is opening today in the CFM with a limited menu and until they sell out. Pulled pork and coleslaw!"

Leopold is closing at the end of the month.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 0090.story

omnivore wrote:Did a search and couldn't find anything on Leadbelly, a new burger place opening in Portage Park at 5739 W Irving Park Rd (formerly Carreno's Pizza, if I'm not mistaken).

According to their website, grand opening is on Saturday, March 23rd, but I haven't called to verify.

As a long-time resident of Portage Park, I'm excited: http://leadbellyburgers.com/

Leadbelly
5739 W Irving Pk Rd
Chicago, IL 60634
773 283-7880
Tu-We-Th 5-10
Fr-Sa 5-11
Su 11-4

A guy from our local reddit went for the grand opening and just posted a great review:

http://www.reddit.com/r/greatNWside/com ... a_side_of/

Little Goat Bread is coming to the Chicago French Market at 131 N. Clinton St. Stephanie Izard, who co-owns Little Goat Bread, aims to open a 22-foot stall in early May between John des Rosiers' Wisma and Fumare Meats in early May.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130325/BLOGS09/130329873/little-goat-bread-coming-to-chicago-french-market

Hi all,

Q-1 has come to a close and this thread is now locked. For 2013's Q-2 Openings and Closings, please see this thread:

Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings - April - June 2013

Thanks,

=R=
for the moderators