ronnie_suburban wrote:Is City Park Grill still in business? They seem to have it dialed-in in the "give 'em what they want" category.
=R=

They are - though in a much smaller space. Basically, the north room no longer exists.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Portillo's isn't even as good as Michael's Chicago Style Red Hots. Seems like having one in HP would be redundant and unnecessary.

HP could easily support both. Stash's survived forever. Michael's does some things very well, but top to bottom, I think Portillo's is a superior stand, which pains me to say.

ronnie_suburban wrote:As for RUB, that's exactly what sells in HP: good-quality ingredients, prepared consistently, with no strong flavors, which might offend. This may explain why so many places don't make it in HP. They try to be unique and do too much. That's just not what the audience seems to want.

While I agree with the quality ingredients, I think you are underselling RUB. It's no Smoque, etc., but your description I think is more apt for HP's previous BBQ options...mainly Ravinia BBQ, BBQ Pit, and City Park Grill (yes, they are still in business), Bluegrass...all decent enough places, but nothing extraordinary.

Outside of Moderno/Royce, the other failed places were hardly unique or ambitious in my opinion.

I'm just saying it would be nice to have a few places that were crave worthy and moderately priced in a particular category. It's sad to consider Chipotle and Potbelly as two of the better dining options in the 60035.

AlexG wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Portillo's isn't even as good as Michael's Chicago Style Red Hots. Seems like having one in HP would be redundant and unnecessary.

HP could easily support both. Stash's survived forever. Michael's does some things very well, but top to bottom, I think Portillo's is a superior stand, which pains me to say.

ronnie_suburban wrote:As for RUB, that's exactly what sells in HP: good-quality ingredients, prepared consistently, with no strong flavors, which might offend. This may explain why so many places don't make it in HP. They try to be unique and do too much. That's just not what the audience seems to want.

While I agree with the quality ingredients, I think you are underselling RUB. It's no Smoque, etc., but your description I think is more apt for HP's previous BBQ options...mainly Ravinia BBQ, BBQ Pit, and City Park Grill (yes, they are still in business), Bluegrass...all decent enough places, but nothing extraordinary.

Outside of Moderno/Royce, the other failed places were hardly unique or ambitious in my opinion.


I'm just saying it would be nice to have a few places that were crave worthy and moderately priced in a particular category. It's sad to consider Chipotle and Potbelly as two of the better dining options in the 60035.

Bring back Arnie's North!

Longtime Chicago restaurateur Jerry Kleiner opened a Latin-themed restaurant in Downers Grove Oct. 15 with little fanfare.

The restaurant, Barbakoa, in a former Buona Beef on Butterfield Road, mixes global Spanish influences, with a menu that includes both paella and tacos.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ners-grove

ronnie_suburban wrote:Portillo's isn't even as good as Michael's Chicago Style Red Hots. Seems like having one in HP would be redundant and unnecessary.

As for RUB, that's exactly what sells in HP: good-quality ingredients, prepared consistently, with no strong flavors, which might offend. This may explain why so many places don't make it in HP. They try to be unique and do too much. That's just not what the audience seems to want.

=R=

Gotta disagree with you on that one my friend. I grew up with Nathan's aka Michael's and every one of my friends and family would go to Portillo's over Michael's now. It doesn't seem as good as it used to be back in the 80's when it was a favorite of ours. Portillo's beats them on most items I get, especially the Beef, onion rings, and fries.

Portillo's would never come into downtown HP, it's not the right fit, although I could see it doing really, really well. I thought the old Timbers location was a perfect one for them. Maybe on Skokie Blvd in Northbrook near Dundee would work or by Deerbrook. I know they wanted to go where On The Border was next to where Ed Debevic's was on Lake-Cook Rd, but Deerfield said no.

I like RUB's approach and the atmosphere. The sides are decent. The sauces are great. It's the no smoke flavor in the meat that annoys me. But on occasion, I do eat there, and I'm ok with it.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

According to this Patch snippet, In the Raw in Highland Park might be closed or they are taking a longer vacation than expected.

http://highlandpark.patch.com/groups/bu ... wsRef=true

Regards,

Confirmed by today's Dish column from Chicago Mag:
After a tumultuous legal battle earlier this year and an extended fall vacation, Highland Park café In the Raw (483 Central Ave.) has closed. Marcus Lemonis, owner of RV companies Camping World and Good Sam, had filed suit against the organic/vegan/gluten-free spot in January claiming the owners had reneged on his offer to back the restaurant.

Glunz Bavarian Haus has closed after 10½ years. An associate of mine and myself had had beers there a few weeks ago, on the day of the German-American parade on N. Lincoln Ave.

Connie's Beef on Grand at 75th in Elmwood Park has closed. All of the signage is gone, only a single large hand written Thank You
sign in front. The beef was actually quite good but it lacked the one thing my favorite Beef's; Chickie's, Johnnie's and Al's on Taylor have in common, the juice/gravy is very hot (temperature). I found Connie's to be warm at best.

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere, but Johnny's Grill at State & Chestnut (838 N State) is closing on November 6th (EDIT). Unfortunate, they had some decent greasy type of food. They had some of the best gyros in the city I think. I wonder what will take its place, and hopefully it's food and it's good.

Portillo's would never come into downtown HP, it's not the right fit, although I could see it doing really, really well. I thought the old Timbers location was a perfect one for them.

Highland Park would embrace a Portillos, it'd just have to be the right location. Since the Timbers location is now a Chase bank, the Hwy.41 north area seems perfect. Bring it!

After tackling charcuterie at Old Town Social and pizza and pasta crafted from house-milled flour at Nellcote, Element Collective has set its focus on sustainable fish.

This winter, Element Collective's Chris Dexter, Chris Freeman, Jared Van Camp and John Warken, who also operate RM Champage Salon, will open Kinmont, a 6,200-square-foot restaurant taking over the shuttered Zealous space on Superior Street in River North.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... restaurant

tem wrote:Benjamin Brittsan then told me to F off and mind my own business and how his wife was happy that he wasn't trying to 'please people who didn't appreciate him'. Oy. Nice business sense, people.

Sounds like he is friends with the guy from Zealous, who blamed the people of Elmhurst when he moved to the city.

It looks like something is going on at Panozzo's:

http://www.sloopin.com/2013/10/panozzos ... being.html

New vegan place, loving heart, opening Uptown on 1 November 2013:

http://www.uptownupdate.com/2013/10/vegan-restaurant-to-open-in-former.htmlhttp://www.uptownupdate.com/2013/10/vegan-restaurant-to-open-in-former.html

Dudley's Dog House at 3930 W. MOntrose opened this last weekend. Mini-review: I like it. I got the Dudley Dog, which is a chilidog with beanless chili. It is definitely in the conversation for the best city-wide along with Portillo's. Fries are very good, fresh cut and fried with a dusting of seasoned salt. A surprise was the tamale, homemade with perfect masa and lots of beef inside. It was perfect.

This is a short walk from my house. I am going back this weekend for a shake and probably try the beef. It is tough to compete with Suzie's jest down the block but this place deserves a chance.

Dudley's Dog House
3930 W. Montrose

A banner on the front of the old Angelo's Taverna space on Sedgwick just north of North (1612 N. Sedgwick) says a new place called "The Sedgwick Stop" will be opening soon. A poster on the window indicates that it'll be a gastropub. I hope it does well, that building has a great patio area for the warmer months.

The Tratteria Roma space on Wells just south of North Ave. is undergoing some major renovation. Their sign is still up but the building was sold in a foreclosure sale earlier this year so I don't know if Tratteria Roma will be back after the renovations are complete or if something else will go in there. There is no mention of being closed for renovations on either their Facebook or web pages which is probably a bad sign.

The restaurant at Diversey and Pine Grove that once was The Grove, and then became Isabel's Restaurant, now has brown paper over the windows and a poster over the brown paper that announces--Yolk!

OK I said something earlier on this but it's out of stealth mode: In Lake Bluff, John Des Rosiers is opening a taqueria "with soul" (or as he told me, a "bad @ss taqueria" next Tuesday October 29 called The Sidedoor. Takeaway or eat-and-go counters only. Standard tacos or four chef-created ones including duck, fish, pork belly. Ten different salsas, spicy, smoky, or WTF In house made horchata, jamaica tea, chips & guac. Beer and margaritas.

I've talked with John a few times about the taqueria and I think it's re-energized him a bit after the Moderno/Royce thing. Have seen a sneak peek of the spot and i think it's going to be crowded with high school kids at lunch and after school, there's nothing else quite like it in Lake Bluff (other than his own Wisma, but that's not the same kind of food) or even much in Lake Forest. I'm sure he'll throw a few surprises in to keep it interesting too. The nearest taquerias are in Highwood to the south or North Chicago to the north.

If you've been in Inovasi on Thursdays, they have had taco night for a while. The chips & guac are very good, happy to be able to get them without the restaurant overhead for $3.80 Looking forward to how these tacos and salsas play out.

The Sidedoor
Center Avenue
Lake Bluff
847-295-1020
http://thesidedoor.us

sandman wrote:

Portillo's would never come into downtown HP, it's not the right fit, although I could see it doing really, really well. I thought the old Timbers location was a perfect one for them.

Highland Park would embrace a Portillos, it'd just have to be the right location. Since the Timbers location is now a Chase bank, the Hwy.41 north area seems perfect. Bring it!

I contacted Portillo's, they are not opening any restaurants in Illinois at this time. So that answers that! Time to bug Malnati's some more.

PS I can't resist answering the "what's going on in HP" question (sorry bfolds). It's very simple. The rents are driving the businesses out. Not just restaurants. And even the ones you think are successful will disappear soon if things don't change. (in the same vein as Corner Bakery)

pudgym29 wrote:Glunz Bavarian Haus has closed after 10½ years. An associate of mine and myself had had beers there a few weeks ago, on the day of the German-American parade on N. Lincoln Ave.

Kinda bummed to hear that in one sense. I thought it was gutsy to open a German restaurant at a time when the city was losing many of its old stand-by German joints. On the other hand, it seemed a bit too "slick," the food was just "OK," and I sure have no love for the Glunz booze empire.

Meanwhile, Roadhouse 66 at 3330 N. Clark is in the process of burning to the ground as I type this...

edb60035 wrote:PS I can't resist answering the "what's going on in HP" question (sorry bfolds). It's very simple. The rents are driving the businesses out. Not just restaurants. And even the ones you think are successful will disappear soon if things don't change. (in the same vein as Corner Bakery)

I have a feeling this is the issue in Hinsdale as well.

Hi,

Blaming landlords is a scapegoat. Sure rents may be high, so are their expenses and property taxes. It is not uncommon people move to Highland Park to educate their children, then move once they graduate Highland Park High School. The population of Highland Park has actually shrunk.

I rarely went to Corner Bakery, though I usually did with friends who "loved it." I would eat lunch, they would nurse a coffee. This happened with several friends up and down the financial tier.

I remember there was a restaurant in the location where Las Palmas is today. Very popular in the 70's and perhaps into the 80's that closed. A friend had the owner as a client, who inquired why they closed. The issue was people coming, lingering and not turning over tables. Some people would share meals or linger over coffee. There was simply not enough revenue per table, though always filled. I would suggest this likely happened to Corner Bakery due to my limited experience with my friends.

I think there is more going on under the surface than simply an issue of rents.

Regards,

Drover wrote:Meanwhile, Roadhouse 66 at 3330 N. Clark is in the process of burning to the ground as I type this...

... and took Thai Classic with it.

North Avenue Grill has re-opened on the South-West corner of Harlem and North Avenue.




The new space is crampt as ever but nicely dinerish



This is Pablo - if Pablo is cooking, you're IN, like 10


This double cheeseburger with bacon and fries was under $5.

And these are the best fries you're gonna get anywhere - crispy, crunchy exterior and pillow soft in the middle. I'd put these up against Mr. D's - they're that good.

If you couldn't tell - I'm an instant fan

Pablo looks familiar. Did he used to cook at Depot Diner?

zoid wrote:North Avenue Grill has re-opened on the South-West corner of Harlem and North Avenue.

You mean "Gossage Grill" has re-opened. Common mistake.

That place will always just be a new re-incarnation of "Gossage Grill."

seebee wrote:

zoid wrote:North Avenue Grill has re-opened on the South-West corner of Harlem and North Avenue.

You mean "Gossage Grill" has re-opened. Common mistake.

That place will always just be a new re-incarnation of "Gossage Grill."

My Bride and I also made a visit there not long after they opened.

There was an older gent working the grill that had a real talent and was a joy to watch. I had the Cry Baby which is the triple cheese burger. When asked where the name came from they mentioned "it is so good, you will cry when you taste it". The cook also had a way with Grilled Onions.

Also interesting to note, the owner (who was in residence with his wife when we were there) is the same owner of...

Mangia Fresca
2556 S Archer Ave, Chicago
(312) 225-7100
http://www.mangiafresca.com

When asked if he lived in the area or why out here and he was vague and while he does not live in the area he really did not answer.

I did ask if he was planning to bring his breaded steak sandwich to this location. Nope.

Panther in the Den wrote:

seebee wrote:

zoid wrote:North Avenue Grill has re-opened on the South-West corner of Harlem and North Avenue.

You mean "Gossage Grill" has re-opened. Common mistake.

That place will always just be a new re-incarnation of "Gossage Grill."

My Bride and I also made a visit there not long after they opened.

There was an older gent working the grill that had a real talent and was a joy to watch. I had the Cry Baby which is the triple cheese burger. When asked where the name came from they mentioned "it is so good, you will cry when you taste it". The cook also had a way with Grilled Onions.

Also interesting to note, the owner (who was in residence with his wife when we were there) is the same owner of...

Mangia Fresca
2556 S Archer Ave, Chicago
(312) 225-7100
http://www.mangiafresca.com

When asked if he lived in the area or why out here and he was vague and while he does not live in the area he really did not answer.

I did ask if he was planning to bring his breaded steak sandwich to this location. Nope.

I swear - me, Panther, and seebee must be just steps behind each other at times