In other Libertyville news, just a block or so down the street from the new Big Ed's BBQ/former Main Street Smokehouse, Mickey Finn's brewery has moved from 412 N. Milwaukee Avenue to larger digs at 345 N. Milwaukee. I gather it's open now serving food and will have beer brewing at the new place in May.

lsher wrote:Big Ed's BBQ has opened a new location in Libertyville. In the same place where Main Street Smoke house was located at 536 N. Milwaukee. Open everyday starting at 11:00 A.M.

Had lunch today and everything was good, including the burnt ends, brisket, and the fresh cut fries.

Is this the same Big Ed's that was in North Chicago?

Au revoir, Henri. Benvenuto, 10/6

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... 4288467I0U

AlexG wrote:Is this the same Big Ed's that was in North Chicago?

Yes, it is. The web site doesn't show the new (Libertyville) location yet; it only shows the Waukegan location.

Katie wrote:

AlexG wrote:Is this the same Big Ed's that was in North Chicago?

Yes, it is. The web site doesn't show the new (Libertyville) location yet; it only shows the Waukegan location.

Same owner, but the question is if the food is more like the original spot or the Bar and Grill in Waukegan.

The original served spare ribs and had tips all the time while the Bar and Grill's menu says baby back ribs and tips only on the weekends.

The MLK spot had an aquarium smoker and I was told they use a Southern Pride in Waukegan.

scottsol wrote:

Katie wrote:

AlexG wrote:Is this the same Big Ed's that was in North Chicago?

Yes, it is. The web site doesn't show the new (Libertyville) location yet; it only shows the Waukegan location.

Same owner, but the question is if the food is more like the original spot or the Bar and Grill in Waukegan.

The original served spare ribs and had tips all the time while the Bar and Grill's menu says baby back ribs and tips only on the weekends.

The MLK spot had an aquarium smoker and I was told they use a Southern Pride in Waukegan.

The Libertyville location has baby back ribs and rib tips all the time. I think they are using a Southern Pride. I have a Libertyville menu in hand if any one else has a question.

I don't have a photo of the sign in the door, but Indian Chipotle-wannabe Sataza at 28. South Clinton closed at the end of last week after about a 17-18 month run.

tem wrote:I don't have a photo of the sign in the door, but Indian Chipotle-wannabe Sataza at 28. South Clinton closed at the end of last week after about a 17-18 month run.

Very interesting. In other Loop kind of news similar to it - not sure if anybody posted it but the I Dream of Falafel at 112 W Monroe (Monroe & Clark) closed a few weeks ago.

Phil Stefani, the restaurateur behind the newly remodeled 437 Rush,Tavern on Rush, and other local haunts said yesterday he is opening a new bar and restaurant to be called Haven Social Club.

Mr. Stefani's daughter, Gina, who works for the family company, Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, is working on the new project, located at 601 N. Wells St.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ocial-club

lsher wrote: I have a Libertyville menu in hand if any one else has a question.

I have two questions: is the Libertyville location open on Mondays, and does it have a liquor license or is it BYOB or neither? The website still shows the hours and menu for the Waukegan location. If you know the answers, thanks.

Not the fanciest restaurant in the world (or even the best diner), but Johnny's Grill in Logan Square has closed. http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140502 ... ark-closes

Traditional greasy spoon that the Art Institute once incorporated into a Nighthawks poster for an Edward Hopper exhibit, it holds a special place in my heart for being the first restaurant I ever ate at in Chicago upon moving here (had a solid feta, tomato, and onion omelette while waiting for the real estate office to open so I could pick up my keys).

Katie wrote:

lsher wrote: I have a Libertyville menu in hand if any one else has a question.

I have two questions: is the Libertyville location open on Mondays, and does it have a liquor license or is it BYOB or neither? The website still shows the hours and menu for the Waukegan location. If you know the answers, thanks.

The Libertyville location is open seven days a week starting at 11 A.M. everyday. The do not have a liquor license. I am not sure if it is BYOB or not. The phone number is 847-281-7308.

Nooooo
At the corner of Addison & The Kennedy, they're building an Olive Garden.

Edwardo's Pizza Closes in Hyde Park after 34 Years

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140429 ... r-34-years

Dave148 wrote:

Edwardo's Pizza Closes in Hyde Park after 34 Years

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140429 ... r-34-years

So sad to see Edwardo's dying a slow death.

It looks like Troquet on Montrose has closed (temporarily?). I first noticed it when driving by, but couldn't tell for sure. Walked by the other night and it definitely was closed. Phone has been disconnected. An Eater post on April 24 predates my notice.

Troquet
1834 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 334-5664

The Cheeseburger in Paradise at Finley/Butterfield is no more.

Well, it being Sweet Baboo's birthday today, and him being a lover of ribs, I am, as you might imagine, PISSED OFF, to get over here to the new BIg Ed's location on Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville and find out that it is in fact CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Says so right on the door. Which is exactly the question I asked a few days ago, and got a different answer for.

Katie wrote:Well, it being Sweet Baboo's birthday today, and him being a lover of ribs, I am, as you might imagine, PISSED OFF, to get over here to the new BIg Ed's location on Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville and find out that it is in fact CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Says so right on the door. Which is exactly the question I asked a few days ago, and got a different answer for.

You called the restaurant and they told you they were open on a day that they aren't?

boudreaulicious wrote:

Katie wrote:Well, it being Sweet Baboo's birthday today, and him being a lover of ribs, I am, as you might imagine, PISSED OFF, to get over here to the new BIg Ed's location on Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville and find out that it is in fact CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Says so right on the door. Which is exactly the question I asked a few days ago, and got a different answer for.

You called the restaurant and they told you they were open on a day that they aren't?

I think Katie is referring to above post #72.

Yes. Trust but verify. Always call yourself. Lesson learned.

My enthusiasm for having Big Ed's move to Libertyville will probably return when they update the website with the hours and menu for that location.

Hot Doug's will close on Oct 3
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/5 ... -80118756/

The GP wrote:It looks like Troquet on Montrose has closed (temporarily?). I first noticed it when driving by, but couldn't tell for sure. Walked by the other night and it definitely was closed. Phone has been disconnected. An Eater post on April 24 predates my notice.

Troquet
1834 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 334-5664

That's really a shame. I had a terrific lunch there about a month ago.

I think this is my first time reporting an opening: Pho House just opened a few days ago in Libertyville, in the same shopping center as Baker's Square and Burt's Deli. I just stopped by to pick up a menu yesterday; haven't eaten there yet. This is the northernmost Chicago-area pho location that I know of.

In addition to the usual Chinese restaurant suspects, their menu has a Vietnamese section (appetizers, banh mi, pho, etc.) and a few Thai items. Pho is also on the lunch special menu. To celebrate their grand opening, prices are 10% off through 5/31/14.

Pho House
1183 S. Milwaukee Ave
Libertyville, IL 60048
(847) 984-2776
Mon-Thur 11-2:30 and 4:30-9:30
Fri-Sun 11-10
www.phohousemenu.com

City Dough at Wellington and Sheffield has the windows papered over with a sign saying "exciting changes coming soon". Nothing on their website or social media about closing and Yelp says nothing.

CITY DOUGH RESTAURANT
2955 N. SHEFFIELD
773-747-3100

Katie wrote:Well, it being Sweet Baboo's birthday today, and him being a lover of ribs, I am, as you might imagine, PISSED OFF, to get over here to the new BIg Ed's location on Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville and find out that it is in fact CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Says so right on the door. Which is exactly the question I asked a few days ago, and got a different answer for.

Katie and anyone else I mislead here with the wrong information, I am responsible and feel horrible. I really thought I had read the hours on the door correctly that they were open everyday of the week. You have every reason to be pissed at me. I don't know what else to say.

lsher wrote:

Katie wrote:Well, it being Sweet Baboo's birthday today, and him being a lover of ribs, I am, as you might imagine, PISSED OFF, to get over here to the new BIg Ed's location on Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville and find out that it is in fact CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Says so right on the door. Which is exactly the question I asked a few days ago, and got a different answer for.

Katie and anyone else I mislead here with the wrong information, I am responsible and feel horrible. I really thought I had read the hours on the door correctly that they were open everyday of the week. You have every reason to be pissed at me. I don't know what else to say.

Please, it could happen to anyone. If you don't take the time to call a place directly before you go there, anything can happen. I've even been misinformed before by Google. Lesson learned. Even if you'd read the sign and reported it here correctly, that doesn't mean that things couldn't have changed between when you visited and when the next LTHer attempts to.

I've often been perplexed by the threads here that attempt to document days and hours of operations, daily specials, etc. It's a great thought but since accuracy is just about impossible to maintain (many places don't even update such information on their own websites), it seems like a relatively poor use of our space.

Even in this ultra-connected day and age, "phone first" is still great advice.

=R=

No big deal, isher. I do wish Big Ed's would get its website up to date. As I said myself, perhaps it is always safest to phone first, but to be realistic, I think these days most people find it more convenient to consult web sites using their smartphones than having to call places up.

Case in point, this evening I called a place nearby to place a carry-out order. The first time I called, the phone rang about 10 times, and then someone picked up the phone, didn't say anything, and hung up on me. Only partially daunted, I called back. The second time, someone answered on the fifth ring and took my order. Geez. And when I got there, the place wasn't busy at all, so I'm not clear on why they can hardly be bothered to answer their phone during business hours.

Anyway, back to O, C, C, & G.

Sugar Beet, the Oak Park food co-op, has a signs up in the old Comcast building on Madison just West of Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park.
The signs says coming in 2015.
Very excited about this.

The first Le Pain Quotidien opened today at 135 N. Clinton St. Not actually in the French Market, it's located just to the north, with a door to the sidewalk near the French Market's outdoor seating. After lunch in the French Market, I stopped in to check it out It's got kind of an industrial feel, in an old warehouse way with wire mesh glass in the doors and reclaimed wood everywhere. There was a full wall of windows between the dining area & bakery so that the production was in full view.

Since I'd already had lunch, I ended up buying a baguette to go along with dinner. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed by it. While it looked pretty and artisan, it had a spongy, airy texture that almost reminds me of those awful passover rolls. There was none of the flavor Maillard effect char flavor from baking. I'll assume a bakery getting its legs takes time like a BBQ joint getting used to a new smoker, so I won't write them off fully just yet, but it was underwhelming at any price and especially at the $3.50 they charge. The ones behind the counter at Mariano's are much better. Taking a look at their website, I wonder if it's their unique starter they use, that they claim makes their bread easier to digest and with a higher mineral content (I was going to say it tasted almost eggy) and lower carb content.

The pastries looked pretty and the menu sounded interesting... a mix of quiches, salads, sandwiches, etc. Will certainly give it a try for lunch one day.