The former Soprano's at Sheffield and George (vacant for some time) now has signs on it announcing Barcocina: Modern Mexican Kitchen.

There's another one in Fells Point in Baltimore. Might be pretty good, since it won a Baltimore Magazine "Best of Baltimore 2014" prize. We live in hope!

http://www.barcocina.com

Signs on the Sheffield location say "Hiring For All Major Positions."

Chicago Coffee House at 3452 W. Irving Park is now open.
http://chicago.everyblock.com/announcem ... e-6199716/

(This is also posted @ viewtopic.php?f=14&t=41725)

Taste of Trinidad has been open for a couple of months on Howard Street and is definitely worth trying. Like so many new, small ethnic (West Indian) restaurants, they might be out of some items but what they have will warrant another visit.

For lunch, we shared several menu items and all of them were things to have again. The Grilled Shrimp were outstanding – perfectly cooked and served with a very tasty, but light sauce. Photourie are West Indian fried dough balls, enhanced by two excellent dipping sauces that will remind you of the green and purple sauces you find in Indo-Pak restaurants. Plantains are light and not greasy. The Dhal Soup was also excellent.

For main dishes we had Curry Goat (not always on the menu) that surprised us by being not only flavorful but also very tender. The Jerk Chicken was a mild version and juicy. Both came with very good cabbage and peas-and-rice. All of this went well with Sorrel – a hibiscus-based drink that was surprisingly light.

Colin, the very personable owner/server promised that he would start an “Oxtail Hotline” and alert people by email when they anticipate having oxtails available. You can call to sign up or send a message from the website. That will encourage him to place an order.

All in all, a place to tiptoe through the entire menu. Great food and service. A pleasant room, nicely decorated. Ample street parking. We shall return.

Taste of Trinidad
2045 W. Howard Street – 60645
872-806-2115

www.thetasteoftrinidad.com

Sola Restaurant has been sold and will continue to serve its current menu for a month or two, before closing for the space for a reconcepting.

Drove by and noticed El Famous Burrito in Vernon Hills closed suddenly...surprised b/c it's been there for a long time.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

threadkiller wrote:DNAinfo reports that the Rush Street location of Heaven on Seven is closed effective this morning:

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150105 ... tly-closes

Given this mess, that doesn't suprise me in the least.

=R=

Turns out Jimmy Bannos Sr.'s decision to close the Rush Street Heaven on Seven restaurant wasn't by choice.

The longtime Chicago restaurateur was ordered by a circuit court judge in December to vacate the space in the building at 600 N. Michigan Ave. on Jan. 5 because of seven months of unpaid rent.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ush-street

The Japanese restaurant on Broadway that I'd previously mentioned is Shiawase Restaurant at 3422 N Broadway St. I haven't been there yet, but apparently they're open. Will try to check it out in the next week or so.

A non-Greek restaurant is bringing booze-infused bar food to Greektown. Tapworks opens Feb. 11 at 820 W. Jackson Blvd.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150209/BLOGS09/150209794/a-non-greek-restaurant-for-greektown

erinalexa wrote:Sola Restaurant has been sold and will continue to serve its current menu for a month or two, before closing for the space for a reconcepting.

Interesting. Is this public yet? How did you learn about it?

=R=

Strongbow Inn to close restaurant; banquets and brunches to continue

VALPARAISO | The owners of iconic region restaurant Strongbow Inn will close the dining room and bakery portion of the business on March 29.

Luke Oil Co., which purchased Strongbow in 2013, announced Tuesday that the banquet and events center — along with the Sunday and holiday brunch — will continue.

The Schaumburg location of Old Crow Smokehouse has closed down. Leaving only the Wrigleyville location operational. Huge sign on the door and the website only lists the Wrigleyville one.

Too bad as it was a decent option for ribs out in the burbs. The terrible location didn't help.

erinalexa wrote:

Sola Restaurant has been sold and will continue to serve its current menu for a month or two, before closing for the space for a reconcepting.

Interesting. Is this public yet? How did you learn about it?

=R=

It's noted on Carol Wallack's facebook page. See the 2/1/15 post by Brad Lauter, "Da Chef addressing her troops for the final time......," and the responses:

Carol Wallack: I did sell, but sola is open til April! Then I am moving on to a new chapter. Retirement!

sundevilpeg wrote:

erinalexa wrote:

Sola Restaurant has been sold and will continue to serve its current menu for a month or two, before closing for the space for a reconcepting.

Interesting. Is this public yet? How did you learn about it?

=R=

It's noted on Carol Wallack's facebook page. See the 2/1/15 post by Brad Lauter, "Da Chef addressing her troops for the final time......," and the responses:

Carol Wallack: I did sell, but sola is open til April! Then I am moving on to a new chapter. Retirement!

More here - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... will-close

The largest fast food restaurant chain in the Philippines, with stores in the United States but none yet in Illinois, is set to come to Skokie. The Skokie Plan Commission Feb. 5 recommended five measures associated with new additions to the Touhy Marketplace shopping center, one of them a Jollibee restaurant.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/s ... story.html

Noticed when walking by last night that something called Dog House Grill has opened in the long empty Frech Choice space at 1534 N. Wells.

Pret a Manger at 1701 Shermer in Evanston has closed.

http://evanstonnow.com/story/business/bill-smith/2015-02-13/68756/sandwich-shop-bids-adieu?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

It seems like Pret a Manger was always busy. I never made it there. It was a little too pricy for me.

Telegram Sam wrote:Pret a Manger at 1701 Shermer in Evanston has closed.

I never saw very many people when I walked by that Pret a Manger. Not like the ones in the Loop, which seem to be busy throughout the day. I like their food, and the selection, and the availability of healthy options - the salads are quite good, the calories on everything are posted, the way you can get half a sandwich. The prices are reasonable too. I probably would have been a regular customer if I worked in downtown Evanston every day. But it seems like that's the issue. It's decent but not great - good enough to go if it's convenient for you, but not a destination you'd go out of your way for.

Pret a Manger at 1701 Shermer in Evanston has closed.

Shermer Road is in Northbrook. This closed location of Pret a Manger was on Sherman Avenue, a main north-south street in central Evanston.

Va Pensiero (AKA Pensiero Ristorante) is permanently closed. A contact at the adjoining Margarita Inn confirmed that the planned remodel to upgrade the space to ADA standards is not going to take place, and the restaurant kitchen will only be used for catering, and for continental breakfast use by the B&B's guests.

Chicago sommelier and restaurateur Alpana Singh's second restaurant opens this week across from the Art Institute.
Seven Lions will open Feb. 19 and serve a "a modern interpretation of American clubhouse fare" in a 12,000-square-foot space in the landmark Peoples Gas Building on Michigan Avenue. For many years, the space house a Bennigan's.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -this-week

Stopped by Olga's Deli for lunch yesterday to find that they were closed with a big green sign stating "License Suspended" on the door.

Failed inspection report

Pretty gross, but at least there weren't any turtles.

From the Crain's blurb on Seven Lions:

"a modern interpretation of American clubhouse fare"

includes dishes like lobster Cobb salad, lamb ribs, chicken and duck club sandwich, citrus-braised pork shank and a three-tiered relish tray.

The Milk Pail in East Dundee was serving a pheasant club sandwich (using pheasant they raised on-site) forty-plus years ago. What makes a 'chicken and duck club sandwich' a 'modern interpretation'?

According to their Facebook post, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken (from Memphis) will be opening an outpost in our fair city (among many others).

Since so many of you shared your enthusiasm about wanting Gus's in your neighborhood, here are the 2015 openings...
Atlanta, GA
St. Louis, MO
Los Angeles, CA
Ft. Worth, TX
Knoxville, TN
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Philadelphia, PA
There are more to come, but we have to take it slow to ensure you get the same quality and experience you have come to expect from Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken! As we progress, we will be sure to share locations and opening dates.

Gus's is probably my favorite fried chicken ever and I eat there almost every time I'm in Memphis (which is at least once a month for work), but I still don't know how I feel about this. I've eaten at most of the 'branches' in Memphis, and I don't feel quality suffers much at all, so i guess I'm hopeful.

I searched google and could not find any other info on location or date.

I hope David Hammond gets this in time: the White Castle at Addison and Kedzie is closed for remodeling.

ziggy wrote:According to their Facebook post, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken (from Memphis) will be opening an outpost in our fair city (among many others).

Since so many of you shared your enthusiasm about wanting Gus's in your neighborhood, here are the 2015 openings...
Atlanta, GA
St. Louis, MO
Los Angeles, CA
Ft. Worth, TX
Knoxville, TN
Kansas City, KS
Chicago, IL
Philadelphia, PA
There are more to come, but we have to take it slow to ensure you get the same quality and experience you have come to expect from Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken! As we progress, we will be sure to share locations and opening dates.

Gus's is probably my favorite fried chicken ever and I eat there almost every time I'm in Memphis (which is at least once a month for work), but I still don't know how I feel about this. I've eaten at most of the 'branches' in Memphis, and I don't feel quality suffers much at all, so i guess I'm hopeful.

I searched google and could not find any other info on location or date.

MMMMMMM. I love me some Gus'

Stephanie Izard is going to try her hand at Chinese cuisine.

The chef of the wildly popular Girl & the Goat and the smaller, more casual Little Goat Diner is preparing to open Duck Duck Goat sometime late this summer at 857 W. Fulton Market, a couple of blocks north of her two other restaurants.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -west-loop

fropones wrote:Stopped by Olga's Deli for lunch yesterday to find that they were closed with a big green sign stating "License Suspended" on the door.

Failed inspection report

Ummm, still closed? That inspection was on January 29th, it's Feb 20th today.

That sign was still up yesterday when I drove by.