rmtraut wrote:

Drover wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:I don't remember. We were just walking by last Saturday when I noticed it. Julius has quite a few competitors lately; two on Southport and Irving, Ass Coffee further north on Southport, and Cafe something across the street. But they do have the big sweets menu, and savories too, if I'm not mistaken. The other places are primarily coffee.

"Ass coffee"??

That doesn't sound very appealing.

It's actually Bad Ass Coffee, and is a chain out of Hawaii. It may as well be called Ass Coffee. The other place I believe Pie Lady was alluding to is Café Tola. It's a "cute" little coffee place with some pretty darn good empanadas. I've actually been meaning to get back for a visit.

Yes, those are both the places I meant. I am terrible with names.

Recently opened in downtown Skokie:

Cafe Hanah
4907 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 423-2090
www.cafehanah.com

Interesting concept - they serve natural and organic teas and coffees, fresh fruit bubble tea and other beverages as well as freshly-made sushi and frozen yogurt.

Restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff shows no signs of slowing down. He's opening Green Street Smoked Meats and a ramen bar in West Loop just months after opening Dillman's and being part of a group that bought the old Maxim's restaurant space for $1.37 million, reports Tasting Table.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... a-meltdown

"Just Grapes", wine shop (+ artisan beer & spirits) formerly of 560 W. Washington, newly (as of August 16) reopened at new location.

1149 N. State
10-7 Mon-Thurs
10-8 Fri-Sat
12-5 Sun
(312) 255-9463

chgoeditor wrote:Sai Cafe appears to be moving to the NW corner of Sheffield & Armitage. There is a new "sai cafe" sign directly over the door and the windows at the new spot (which I believe was previously a clothing store) are papered over. Based on a valet parking sight, I have every reason to believe the existing location is still open.

I don't have any info on whether or not they're moving, or whether there is a new sign or not, but they've had a sign over the Rugby entrance for a long time. Rugby closed at least 6 months ago.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=sheffiel ... 3,,0,-5.64

Sign for El Tinajon opening soon in the old Shiraz space at 4425 West Montrose.

There has not been much mention here recently on their Roscoe Village location, but my recollection is that they were a decent Guatemalan option. Farther back they had two locations with the other one on Western Avenue in Lincoln Square where Thai Oscar is now.

Smassey wrote:Koda Bistro has closed. I learned this from a colleague whose son worked there and it is confirmed on their website, http://www.kodabistro.com. It will be interesting to see where Chef Aaron Browning lands.

I believe Chef Browning is currently at Tavernita

Grand Tour will be opening on Montrose by Western in the near future; former chef/owner of Socca (Roger Herring)will be running the kitchen. Looks very promising:

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2013/ ... pening.php

Gonzo70 wrote:Grand Tour will be opening on Montrose by Western in the near future; former chef/owner of Socca (Roger Herring)will be running the kitchen. Looks very promising:

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2013/ ... pening.php

Good luck to them. That's been a pretty unlucky address - I wish them well as that spot has been an eyesore for so long now.

lodasi wrote:According to my sister, a sign outside of the former Arby's in Warrenville, says will be replaced with a Hardee's. No idea of when it will be opening.

Hardee's
4405 Winfield Rd
Warrenville, IL

Interesting, I don't think that there are many, if any, Hardee's in Chicagoland.

There is a Hardee's in Bolingbrook that has opened. Quite a few years back the group that had the franchise for Chicagoland got in to trouble and they all closed. Checkers had the same thing happen to them.

Just drove past Red Flame Pizza on Clybourn to see it shuttered. Not terribly surprised or saddened - after a promising start, we'd had two pretty bad experiences there with both food and service. Was pretty empty every time I'd driven past in the last year. Hopefully someone is able to do something with the space as its nice and close to us

The old Custom House (SW corner of Congress & Dearborn) will be opening
soon as another "Meli"

Honey Butter Fried Chicken opens this Saturday per the Chicagoist.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken
3361 N Elston Ave
Chicago IL

Buzz (burgers, barrels and beer) near Irving, Damen, Lincoln intersection opened recently. I just walked past it yesterday after a haircut. Per Twitter, they opened on September 10th. I couldn't find a website using Google, but there is a MenuPage and FourSquare sites. Looks trendy with a Ramen burger and everything!

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/buzz/

https://foursquare.com/v/buzz-----burge ... c0f32d53a6

https://twitter.com/buzzbarchicago

Buzz
1935 W Irving Park Rd
(773) 880-9810

Original Maxwell Street Style Grill in Lincolnwood will be closing Saturday September 14th.

jay2021 wrote:Original Maxwell Street Style Grill in Lincolnwood will be closing Saturday September 14th.

Thank goodness! I've never tasted such bland sausages in my life. I guess Bunny Hutch was just too much for them.

jacketpotato wrote:Buzz (burgers, barrels and beer) near Irving, Damen, Lincoln intersection opened recently. I just walked past it yesterday after a haircut. Per Twitter, they opened on September 10th. I couldn't find a website using Google, but there is a MenuPage and FourSquare sites. Looks trendy with a Ramen burger and everything!

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/buzz/

https://foursquare.com/v/buzz-----burge ... c0f32d53a6

https://twitter.com/buzzbarchicago

Buzz
1935 W Irving Park Rd
(773) 880-9810

I went past here last night in a cab and was wondering what the new sign was. I let my ramen burger obsessed hipster friends know.

Benjamin Tapas just announced on their Facebook page that they are closed for business. That was really fast. I liked their new incarnation.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benjamin-Restaurant/139976162740491?hc_location=timeline

Ravenswood Q opening at the former Café 28 space..... the trend continues.

http://chicago.eater.com/tags/ravenswood-q

1800 W Irving Park Rd
(at Ravenswood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613

Also, right next door is Anna's Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar. I've heard good things from my West Loop working friends, where they have another location.

http://www.annasbistro.com/
1804-06 w. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL

Last night was the grand opening of Tortuga's Cantina, a refreshingly upscale-ish pan-Latin joint on Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park, a strip that is saturated with (often mediocre) hole-in-the-wall taquerias.

3224 W Lawrence Ave.
(773) 961-8414
https://www.facebook.com/TortugasCantinaChicago

Buzz
1935 W Irving Park Rd
(773) 880-9810

I went past here last night in a cab and was wondering what the new sign was. I let my ramen burger obsessed hipster friends know.

Or advise them of this questionable menu item:

Hipster Poutine
house made frites, bbq pork, cheese curds, pbr gravy, pickled peppers, fried egg

Ravenswood Q opening at the former Café 28 space..... the trend continues.

http://chicago.eater.com/tags/ravenswood-q

1800 W Irving Park Rd
(at Ravenswood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613

Whoa - LARRY TUCKER IS RETURNING TO NORTH CENTER! Seriously, this is a big deal. Yes, that's the same fabulous NN Smokehouse Larry Tucker!

Coming in November to Lake Bluff, The Sidedoor.
http://thesidedoor.us

The website is just a teaser..More as I find out.

[Edited 9/18 as it turns out I had non-public info...would delete altogether if I could. I believe I'll have more to post soon]

Crazy Calabrese, a wood-fired pizza joint, recently opened in the old Caponies space in Dunning (Caponies moved up onto Irving Park Rd.)

Crazy Calabrese
3350 N Harlem Ave
773-887-4002
http://www.crazycalabrese.com/

sundevilpeg wrote:

Ravenswood Q opening at the former Café 28 space..... the trend continues.

http://chicago.eater.com/tags/ravenswood-q

1800 W Irving Park Rd
(at Ravenswood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613

Whoa - LARRY TUCKER IS RETURNING TO NORTH CENTER! Seriously, this is a big deal. Yes, that's the same fabulous NN Smokehouse Larry Tucker!

Yay! Loved that place!!

Yesterday I noticed in the window of the Ice3 kitchen (for the Ice-Cubed ice cream truck) they were touting an experience called "The Octagon Mode". I get the impression it will be a pop-up restaurant held in their kitchen space which isn't normally open to the public. They have a menu on their website. They haven't communicated any dates or prices yet.


The Octagon Mode
1509 W Lawrence Ave (maybe?)
(between Ashland Ave & Clark St)
Chicago, IL 60640
Neighborhood: Ravenswood
http://www.theoctagonmode.com

Honey Butter Fried Chicago is finally open tonight. We went last night for their soft opening, and it was really good. They seemed to have their act together and the staff were great. The chicken was, of course, phenomenal.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken
http://www.honeybutter.com/‎
3361 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60618

Now open, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner:

Doc B's Fresh Kitchen
100 E. Walton St.
(312) 880-1475

"Casual comfort food", with some nicely thought out local sources (Bow Truss Coffee Roasters, Publican Quality Meats).

Links to preview articles etc. at http://www.docbsfreshkitchen.com

For the last month or two they have been refurbishing the old Murphy's Hot Dog stand at Montrose and Harding. The other day a small sign says that the new stand is called "Dudley's Dog House" and a small logo that appears to feature none other than Cuddly Dudley himself!

Murphy's was vile. Since this is very close to Maison AS I sure hope we got a winner.