Joe's Italian Villa closed on December 31 after losing their lease. They say they are searching for a new location.

Joe's Italian Villa Pizza
8807 S Harlem Ave
Bridgeview IL 60455

joesitalianvilla.com

marothisu wrote:Noticed a restaurant near Lawrence & Elston called Shibam City. Has it been open long? It's a Yemeni restaurant (how many of these does Chicago have, if any?) and has been getting some favorable online reviews I see.

Shibam City Restaurant
4807 N Kenneth Ave
(773) 993-0518

There's actually another Yemeni restaurant a block south of there, creatively named "Yemen Restaurant." Their proximity to each other makes me wonder if they're affiliated in some way. I ate there once (at Yemen that is); it was mildly interesting but I was a bit underwhelmed. I may try it again some day but I won't be hurrying to do so.

Yemen Restaurant
4748 N. Kenneth
(773) 777-8755

A place called "The Hat" is opening on the northwest corner of North and Ashland Avenues. The signs in the window read "Coming Soon" and "Chicago Street Food" with a logo of a chef's touque. I wonder if it's inspired by this Southern California institution: http://www.thehat.com/

The Hat is from the people behind the Hollywood Grill right across the street:

The Hat story from DNAinfo.com

I'm a bit disappointed because I had higher expectations from the phrase "Chicago street food" but I think that's my own issue.

Drover wrote:

marothisu wrote:Noticed a restaurant near Lawrence & Elston called Shibam City. Has it been open long? It's a Yemeni restaurant (how many of these does Chicago have, if any?) and has been getting some favorable online reviews I see.

Shibam City Restaurant
4807 N Kenneth Ave
(773) 993-0518

There's actually another Yemeni restaurant a block south of there, creatively named "Yemen Restaurant." Their proximity to each other makes me wonder if they're affiliated in some way. I ate there once (at Yemen that is); it was mildly interesting but I was a bit underwhelmed. I may try it again some day but I won't be hurrying to do so.

Yemen Restaurant
4748 N. Kenneth
(773) 777-8755

Yeah, another user pointed it out right after I posted the message you quoted. The new one has better reviews so far than the older one. I doubt they are related, but I bet there might be a small Yemeni population in that area now or something.

ld111134 wrote:A place called "The Hat" is opening on the northwest corner of North and Ashland Avenues. The signs in the window read "Coming Soon" and "Chicago Street Food" with a logo of a chef's touque. I wonder if it's inspired by this Southern California institution: http://www.thehat.com/

One could hope (and hope and . . .).

The Hat, Alhambra CA, Pastrami Burger


I wonder how long it will be before the Hollywood Grill people get a letter from lawyers representing The Hat®.

dmetech wrote:Joe's Italian Villa closed on December 31 after losing their lease. They say they are searching for a new location.

Joe's Italian Villa Pizza
8807 S Harlem Ave
Bridgeview IL 60455

joesitalianvilla.com

I used to live nearby. They had solid thin crust pizza. I hope they find a new location soon.

While driving by the soon-to-open King Pho (glad it's not the other way around) in the old Primo Canto space in Edgebrook, I noticed a flurry of activity last night. Interior looks mostly done. Hope they open soon. It's a good day for hots soup.

Chef Jared Van Camp and his partners in Element Collective (Nellcote, Kinmont) have teamed with Anne Owen (former publisher of Modern Luxury's Miami and Modern Luxury Brides magazines) to open Owen & Alchemy, a chef-driven, boutique juice bar.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -juice-bar

a chef-driven, boutique juice bar.

Oh man I have to go here just to people watch

Owen & Alchemy, a chef-driven, boutique juice bar.

I hope that the owners of Owen & Engine have contacted their legal representation about the name. That's way, way too close for comfort to their moniker, and trades on the locally-sourced fare at O&E. Deliberately riding on the name coattail of an unaffiliated Michelin Bib Gourmand place? Jared Van Kamp should know better than that.

Wonderburger Sale Falls Through, Restaurant to Reopen

The owners of the classic Mount Greenwood restaurant have decided to stay open while they seek another buyer.
Wonderburger is coming back.
The Mount Greenwood burger joint first opened in 1954 and was closed on Dec. 31 as the owners made a deal to sell the restaurant, well on Tuesday that deal fell through.
Owner Karen McCormick has decided to reopen the restaurant on Thursday, Jan. 8 and stay open while they remain up for sale, said her daughter Megan Dobbs.
It's news that Wonderburger's loyal customers are sure to be happy to hear.

Wonderburger Grill
11045 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 238-7200

Red Eye reports that the folks behind Fountainhead will open a cider bar called Northman at the former Jury's/Copper House spot currently called Meantime at 4337 Lincoln, Cleetus Friedman will be overseeing the menu.

Looking for Turk’s Italian Beef? Get it at Sam’s Triple Crown

The Orland Park staple closed its doors after 18 years in business just before Thanksgiving.

The lights have been out and the equipment has been removed from Turk’s Italian Beef and Sausage in Orland Park since November.

The restaurant, known for it’s in-house made beef and giardiniera, has closed its doors at 14600 S. LaGrange Road after 18 years, according to their Facebook page.

But the signature beef lives on at Sam’s Triple Crown, 9201 W. 159th Street in Orland Hills. Turk’s Beef is on special Wednesdays for $4.99, according to Sam’s website.

When asked why the place closed, the LaGrange Road widening over the next three years was cited on the Facebook page.

Owners of Turk’s didn’t respond to a request for further comment.

Artie wrote:Looking for Turk’s Italian Beef? Get it at Sam’s Triple Crown

The Orland Park staple closed its doors after 18 years in business just before Thanksgiving.

The lights have been out and the equipment has been removed from Turk’s Italian Beef and Sausage in Orland Park since November.

The restaurant, known for it’s in-house made beef and giardiniera, has closed its doors at 14600 S. LaGrange Road after 18 years, according to their Facebook page.

But the signature beef lives on at Sam’s Triple Crown, 9201 W. 159th Street in Orland Hills. Turk’s Beef is on special Wednesdays for $4.99, according to Sam’s website.

When asked why the place closed, the LaGrange Road widening over the next three years was cited on the Facebook page.

Owners of Turk’s didn’t respond to a request for further comment.

big loss, another victim of "folks" who eat chain fast food & dont see anything wrong with it vs supporting family joints.

hadn't trekked over for a combo in a few months(been hooked on cold sandwiches & Freddies), now Im gonna have to head over to Sams.

thanks for the heads up

Le Pain Quotidien is bringing its egg frittatas and tartines to Chicago, inking a lease for an empty retail space in the Gold Coast.

The New York-based restaurant chain signed a 15-year lease for 1,953 square feet in a storefront at the northeast corner of State Street and Delaware Place, said Michael Reschke, CEO at Chicago-based Prime Group Inc., which owns the property.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... old-coast#

Dave148 wrote:

Le Pain Quotidien is bringing its egg frittatas and tartines to Chicago, inking a lease for an empty retail space in the Gold Coast.

The New York-based restaurant chain signed a 15-year lease for 1,953 square feet in a storefront at the northeast corner of State Street and Delaware Place, said Michael Reschke, CEO at Chicago-based Prime Group Inc., which owns the property.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... old-coast#

Totally decent chain. We have a consultant out East that has one in their building. Enjoy their food very much. And a good Arnold Palmer.

sundevilpeg wrote:
I hope that the owners of Owen & Engine have contacted their legal representation about the name. That's way, way too close for comfort to their moniker, and trades on the locally-sourced fare at O&E. Deliberately riding on the name coattail of an unaffiliated Michelin Bib Gourmand place? Jared Van Kamp should know better than that.

Whether or not O&E has a viable legal claim, it's pretty inappropriate to accuse Van Camp of unethical behavior absent knowledge of his thought process. It would also be inappropriate to level the same accusation against Anne Owen, co-owner of Owen & Alchemy.

MarlaCollins'Husband wrote:

sundevilpeg wrote:
I hope that the owners of Owen & Engine have contacted their legal representation about the name. That's way, way too close for comfort to their moniker, and trades on the locally-sourced fare at O&E. Deliberately riding on the name coattail of an unaffiliated Michelin Bib Gourmand place? Jared Van Kamp should know better than that.

Whether or not O&E has a viable legal claim, it's pretty inappropriate to accuse Van Camp of unethical behavior absent knowledge of his thought process. It would also be inappropriate to level the same accusation against Anne Owen, co-owner of Owen & Alchemy.

That wouldn't bode well for my buddy Lenny Alinea's plans to open his "Alinea Hot Dogs" food truck.

The Northman, a cider focused bar, will open at the Copper House (formerly Jury's). I'm intrigued.....

The Northman
4337 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

Chara the new Mediterranean resturant with a Greek flair has opened in Oak Park. It's in the old Papaspiros place. My wife and I went there tonight. All the preparations looked and tasted just like the old Papaspiros. When I asked the waiter if the chef was the same, he confessed that it was but added that the owners and management were new. Now it seems strange to me that they took almost 9 months to open this resturant and it is basically the same old resturant. Across the street the old owner of Papaspiros have been remodeling a smaller space for almost a year. They plan on opening their own new Greek resturant. I was wondering why it was taking so long. I think I found out. Someone stole their chef.


Chara
733 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
708.383.8888

Dave148 wrote:

Le Pain Quotidien is bringing its egg frittatas and tartines to Chicago, inking a lease for an empty retail space in the Gold Coast.

The New York-based restaurant chain signed a 15-year lease for 1,953 square feet in a storefront at the northeast corner of State Street and Delaware Place, said Michael Reschke, CEO at Chicago-based Prime Group Inc., which owns the property.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... old-coast#

Very interesting. I live very close to this and was wondering when someone was going to take this space. Not cheap real estate at all. I'm glad it's food - will be interested to see how good it is even though it's a chain. Hopefully they will have outdoor seating in the summer. That street in the summer always has good outdoor seating and with Cru closing and looking to re-conceptualize (hopefully soon) it could be even better.

Whether or not O&E has a viable legal claim, it's pretty inappropriate to accuse Van Camp of unethical behavior absent knowledge of his thought process. It would also be inappropriate to level the same accusation against Anne Owen, co-owner of Owen & Alchemy.

I completely disagree with you on multiple levels. Trademark infringement, and in the same market and business, is inappropriate.

Ok, let's please leave the legal matter digression by the side of the road and move on.

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators

dradeli wrote:Chara the new Mediterranean resturant with a Greek flair has opened in Oak Park. It's in the old Papaspiros place. My wife and I went there tonight. All the preparations looked and tasted just like the old Papaspiros. When I asked the waiter if the chef was the same, he confessed that it was but added that the owners and management were new. Now it seems strange to me that they took almost 9 months to open this resturant and it is basically the same old resturant. Across the street the old owner of Papaspiros have been remodeling a smaller space for almost a year. They plan on opening their own new Greek resturant. I was wondering why it was taking so long. I think I found out. Someone stole their chef.


Chara
733 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60301
708.383.8888

Here's hoping they re-open the basement bar.

Woodie's Flat has opened in the old Trattoria Roma space at 1535 N. Wells. The reviews I've seen look positive.

JoelF wrote:Red Eye reports that the folks behind Fountainhead will open a cider bar called Northman at the former Jury's/Copper House spot currently called Meantime at 4337 Lincoln, Cleetus Friedman will be overseeing the menu.

We walked by there recently and it was still called Copper House and appeared to be open. When did it morph into Meantime?

Speaking of Le Pain Quotidien..I was browsing through the building permit data and noticed a buildout under their name for the French Market as well, issued yesterday...

I've been to Le Pain Quotidien many times in New York. For me, it's all about the bread, as the rest of the fare seems just average. We love it for breakfast where you get a basket with slices of 5-6 kinds of bread and several spreads to put on. All of the breads are, to me, quite nice.

Jonah

Dave148 wrote:Le Pain Quotidien is bringing its egg frittatas and tartines to Chicago, inking a lease for an empty retail space in the Gold Coast.

The New York-based restaurant chain signed a 15-year lease for 1,953 square feet in a storefront at the northeast corner of State Street and Delaware Place, said Michael Reschke, CEO at Chicago-based Prime Group Inc., which owns the property.

Is this a sit-down place (like a diner) where servers take your order, a fast-food place (like Pret a Manger) where you wait in line and most of the food is pre-made, or something in between (like Panera Bread or Corner Bakery) where you order in line but they make food to order?