In NYC the Le Pain Quitodien has seating with waiter service as well as a take out line.

Playa Escondida's windows were papered over as I walked by yesterday. 3900 N block of Cicero Ave:

https://plus.google.com/105053045124657 ... l=us&hl=en

Updates on new restaurants in Evanston:

A new place from Brian Huston (The Publican) and John Kim (Brothers K) will open in the former Lulu's spot. They are aiming for mid-May, but I expect delays.

Speaking of which, Lao Sze Chuan Evanston is now supposed to open in January. But they also said August and then November, so we'll see.

Several decent-looking chains coming; mix of local and national:
Harold's Chicken Shack on Howard (as previously reported on the forum)
LYFE Kitchen on Orrington
DMK Burger Bar and Fish Bar, in former Fraiche space on Noyes

http://evanston.patch.com/groups/small-business/p/6-new-restaurants-opening-soon-in-evanston:

Does Boltwood sound a lot like Farmhouse?

bw77 wrote:Does Boltwood sound a lot like Farmhouse?

Yes, that was my first thought as well. But if this means that we can get some good Publican-style charcuterie and roasted meats in Evanston, then I'm all for it.

Bergstein's NY Delicatessen Opens Monday in Hyde Park

HYDE PARK — Bergstein’s NY Delicatessen is ready to start serving up fresh-cut corned beef to Hyde Parkers.

“We will be opening our doors Monday,” said Billy Davis, who started the deli in south suburban Chicago Heights with his father.

With business license in hand Friday, Davis said the deli at 1160 E. 55th St. will start out slow during its first week, offering a limited menu during shortened hours from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

He said he’s going to spend some time with his staff on the more complicated sandwiches before expanding the menu for an official opening in the coming weeks.

A friend told me Lovell's is opening a casual place in highwood. any info?

Lovells is definitely opening a casual place in the old Bacio deli spot in the strip mall. There is a sign up, but it looks like the build out will still take a while.

-Will

Here's the scoop on Jay Lovell's new eponymous restaurant in Highwood. Sounds intriguing, especially the Pie Happy Hour.

AlexG wrote:Sounds intriguing, especially the Pie Happy Hour.

Dude!
My father-in-law just moved to Evanston. What a great excuse for pie! I mean, to visit him.

It would appear that The Saloon on Chestnut in Chicago is closed. This is not good news.

TC

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... /140119900

TCouch wrote:This is not good news.

This blows, to be exact.

Chicago Distilling opened last weekend.

Chicago Distilling Company
2359 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago

La Bocca della Verita in Lincoln Square has closed.

Chanterelle wrote:La Bocca della Verita in Lincoln Square has closed.

Though the owner has indicated a plan to relocate: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20131230 ... oln-square

Scheduled to open in Jan, the Peckish Pig is coming to 623 W Howard in Evanston (a few storefronts east of Ward 8 ).

article from Chicago Mag

Central Standard tavern at Kinzie and Wells downtown is papered over and closed. That didn't last long. Signs in the window say something new is coming to the space in the summer.

Not sure if this has already been posted -- Chickpea in Ukrainian Village has closed. I will miss it.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140113 ... s-shutters

riddlemay wrote:

TCouch wrote:This is not good news.

This blows, to be exact.

No doubt. As an employee of a company located in the Hancock, the Saloon was a go to. An old friend who was always there for you with a food coma inducing steak sandwich for lunch or a great place for a beer/martini after work. It will be missed.

Commbrkdwn wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

TCouch wrote:This is not good news.

This blows, to be exact.

No doubt. As an employee of a company located in the Hancock, the Saloon was a go to. An old friend who was always there for you with a food coma inducing steak sandwich for lunch or a great place for a beer/martini after work. It will be missed.

Yeah. My Wednesday lunch pals and I would hit it on the average of once a month in our rotation. The prime-rib sandwich was really well-priced for how good it was. Everything was good there. But I guess our patronage was not enough by itself to keep them in business. Darn it.

I noticed there's a new Central Asian restaurant in the space of the former Passion Cafe at 1143 N Wells, near Division & Wells. Called Cafe Central Asia

http://www.centralasiacafe.biz
1143 N Wells
(312) 624-8699

I discovered yesterday that as of the new year, Pinch Spice Market has closed the doors at its Bucktown retail location. Looks like they intend to continue to sell some product through wholesale delivery and other channels. Details here.
--Rich

marothisu wrote:I noticed there's a new Central Asian restaurant in the space of the former Passion Cafe at 1143 N Wells, near Division & Wells. Called Cafe Central Asia

http://www.centralasiacafe.biz
1143 N Wells
(312) 624-8699

Yes, in the location of the late, great La Sera (the closest thing we had to Near North Side Ethiopian) and Passion Café, which never quite solidified being a niche for Turkish food. Are they open yet?

The website is still skeletal, but the hours are interesting. Are they really open from only 10 AM to 2 PM on Friday (the left side of their "opening hours" section, or closed on Wednesday and Sunday (the right side)?

Wonder if this is basically a cabbie's restaurant....not that there's anything wrong with that...

A new coffee shop and bakery is opening soon on the southwest corner of Chicago and LaSalle in River North. Called Think Simple Foods, they've already got their Facebook page up at https://www.facebook.com/ThinkSimpleFoods.

The venerable P & S Coffee Shop at Touhy and Western is closed. There is a big sign on the front door thanking customers for 50 years of service.

D.C. Sarnies on Lake Cook in Deerfield is closing Saturday, Feb. 8.

Kind of a shame. Above average casual food, good burgers, great beer list, kid friendly.

As reported in the Skokie Patch, Village Creamery closing.
http://skokie.patch.com/groups/business ... has-closed

Another unexpected closing, no reason given.

cito wrote:As reported in the Skokie Patch, Village Creamery closing.
http://skokie.patch.com/groups/business ... has-closed

Another unexpected closing, no reason given.

This is a shame but it's their Skokie store only, NOT their Niles location, which remains open.

=R=

The Block 37 mall has landed two tenants to serve up something in short supply at the Loop mall: food.
Los Angeles-based CIM Group, Block 37's owner, confirmed it has leased space there to a group led by Chicago's Lawless family, which is behind the popular downtown restaurants the Gage and Henri, and the dining company led by Richard Sandoval, a celebrity chef known for his innovative Latin cuisine.

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

The Kitchen is coming to Chicago.

The Boulder, Colo.-based restaurant company co-founded by Kimbal Musk (he's the brother of Tesla Motors Inc. founder Elon Musk) has signed a lease for 316 N. Clark St. in River North. The restaurant is expected to open later this year.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... estaurant#