I've gone to that KFC about once every two years. Most recently for a neighborhood block party this summer where everybody brought something. I wasn't the only neighbor who thought of bringing that, by the way.

The quality (Original Recipe) was still pretty decent for what it was. Meaning close to how KFC always was if not as wonderful as I thought it was in my twenties, so if you like that, the Diversey/Halsted was doing a creditable version.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Drover wrote:Nuevo Leon destroyed in a fire: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151202 ... f-business

Horribly overrated IMO but a pillar of the community nonetheless.

Nothing like kicking 'em when they're down.

=R=

I think this post deserves an eyeroll as well.

I hope LTH strives for open and honest opinions on food instead of social niceties toward businesses*.

*I don't think the post of above was rude.

PopcornMegaphone wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Drover wrote:Nuevo Leon destroyed in a fire: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151202 ... f-business

Horribly overrated IMO but a pillar of the community nonetheless.

Nothing like kicking 'em when they're down.

=R=

I think this post deserves an eyeroll as well.

I hope LTH strives for open and honest opinions on food instead of social niceties toward businesses*.

*I don't think the post of above was rude.

No stifling intended. I've posted plenty of negative opinions here. Just thought it was an odd time to offer such an opinion.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Drover wrote:Nuevo Leon destroyed in a fire: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151202 ... f-business

Horribly overrated IMO but a pillar of the community nonetheless.

Nothing like kicking 'em when they're down.

=R=

Oh wah. I'm not obligated to heap praise on them just because they're "down." Between the insurance check and the value of the property if they opt to rebuild elsewhere or not rebuild at all, they'll be just fine.

No praise needed, but no negative comment needed either. As far as the possible financial implications, are you privy to their insurance coverage? In any case, if you had ever lost all you had in a fire, you would know that there is a lot more gone than things that can be repurchased.

scottsol wrote:No praise needed, but no negative comment needed either. As far as the possible financial implications, are you privy to their insurance coverage? In any case, if you had ever lost all you had in a fire, you would know that there is a lot more gone than things that can be repurchased.

Including jobs for 40 people, just in time for the holidays.

scottsol wrote:No praise needed, but no negative comment needed either. As far as the possible financial implications, are you privy to their insurance coverage? In any case, if you had ever lost all you had in a fire, you would know that there is a lot more gone than things that can be repurchased.

Good grief. You people are acting like I danced with glee at the news when it was the exact opposite despite the fact that I don't care for the place. And you don't get to tell me what my posts need or don't need. Worry about your own posts and I'll take care of mine.

Finally, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume they have insurance. These folks aren't exactly business novices so I'm betting it's a safe assumption. At any rate one need not be privy to their detailed finances to speculate they have the resources to rebuild seeing how they immediately announced they intend to do just that.

Drover wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Drover wrote:Nuevo Leon destroyed in a fire: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151202 ... f-business

Horribly overrated IMO but a pillar of the community nonetheless.

Nothing like kicking 'em when they're down.

=R=

Oh wah. I'm not obligated to heap praise on them just because they're "down." Between the insurance check and the value of the property if they opt to rebuild elsewhere or not rebuild at all, they'll be just fine.

I agree - horribly overrated but a pillar of the community. I feel really bad for them regardless of how overrated I think they are. Really sucks what happened.

Hi- Nuveo Leon was just mentioned on the news tonight. Apparently somebody has started an online fundraiser for the employees. It also mentioned that some of the employees have already been offered a job by several other restaurants. Yes, they are probably going to get a fair amount of insurance money, but you never get what you think you deserve, and it takes you forever to get your money, because the insurance companies want to pay as little as possible

So it appears that Thai Avenue is no more, and that a new restaurant from one of Spoon Thai's owners is opening in the space (4949 N. Broadway), featuring a style of Thai street food. Having found Thai Avenue to be good on occasion but wildly inconsistent, I look forward to giving this apparently unnamed place a try when it opens.


http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/3/9845 ... ptown-thai

Last night The Portage announced it will be closing at the end of December. https://www.facebook.com/theportagechic ... 9680948710

Serai in Logan Square is doing a soft opening this week (with 15% off) on Tuesday thru Thursday. This place offers food from a few regions of Asia but they focus on SE Asia, specifically Malaysia but also Singapore and Indonesia. They have the distinction, currently, of being the only restaurant in the city of Chicago that specializes in Malaysian food which the US, and Chicago, needs more of. They will also have some food from China, Thailand, etc. Actually one thing that made me excited was to see Cumin Lamb on their menu, which is a common dish in western China (Xinjiang province) and if done right, is really good. Not sure of any other place in Chicago that has it on the menu. The cooks are from Penang in Malaysia, which is basically the food capital of the country.

Limited seating for the soft opening. The other half which isn't open yet will have a bar too.

Serai
2169 N Milwaukee Ave
(872) 206-8368
http://seraichicago.com

BR wrote:So it appears that Thai Avenue is no more, and that a new restaurant from one of Spoon Thai's owners is opening in the space (4949 N. Broadway), featuring a style of Thai street food. Having found Thai Avenue to be good on occasion but wildly inconsistent, I look forward to giving this apparently unnamed place a try when it opens.


http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/3/9845 ... ptown-thai

i'm excited

Mayan Sol in Albany Park is now Rojo Gusano. They had their grand opening last Saturday.

3830 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago IL. 60625
773-539-4398

Vinny wrote:Mayan Sol in Albany Park is now Rojo Gusano. They had their grand opening last Saturday.

3830 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago IL. 60625
773-539-4398

Interestingly, Dudley Nieto, who has cooked at several Mexican restaurants in Chicago over the last 20 or so years, is apparently involved with this place.

Interestingly, Dudley Nieto, who has cooked at several Mexican restaurants in Chicago over the last 20 or so years, is apparently involved with this place.

Several dozen is more like it!

Bistrot Margot at 1437 N. Wells will be shuttering on December 31st.

http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/8/9872 ... g-old-town

Ramen on the North Shore: Table to Stix Ramen in Evanston

Wouldn't it be swell if this turned out to be worth repeated visits!

Coogles wrote:Bistrot Margot at 1437 N. Wells will be shuttering on December 31st.

http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/8/9872 ... g-old-town

My first and last experience with this place a couple summers ago was enough for me. Went randomly by myself as I was biking around the area and it sounded good. Staff was extremely inattentive and rude for some reason. You don't have to go out of your way to please me, but there is a line when they make you feel very unwelcome. On top of that, the food was very average.

According to Eater, as well as people like the Chicago Tribune, Brendan Sodikoff has just opened a new cafe in the West Loop with Hiroshi Sawada. Sawada is a "latte art champion" and the owner of Streamer Coffee in Tokyo. It's in the Green Street Smoked Meats/High Five Ramen building across from SoHo House. The space was originally supposed to be a juice bar from Sodikoff. It'll also have doughnuts from Doughnut Vault. Menu looks interesting --> http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/11/989 ... een-street

Sawada Coffee
112 N Green St
http://sawadacoffee.com

Article in the Tribune about Sawada Coffee:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct ... story.html

Frank Meats Patty which occupied the former Hot Dougs space in Avondale is now closed.

Penny's Noodle in Wicker Park is closing
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151213 ... next-month

A place serving Chinese hot pot has opened in Lincoln Park in the now old Bar Forza space. They'll also have live music. Open now. No offense to Bar Forza, but it's really good to see Chicago get some variety in a few neighborhoods instead of the same old "sports bar and american/italian food". This place opened a month ago but I didn't see it reported on here. Hope it's good! Their menu looks like it has a lot of options


Two Birds One Stone
2476 N Lincoln Ave
773-666-5807
http://www.twobirdsonestonechicago.com/

leek wrote:Penny's Noodle in Wicker Park is closing
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151213 ... next-month

Neighborhood staple Penny's Noodles, scheduled to close Jan. 2, won't be empty long: the group behind Chef Bill Kim's Belly Shack will be taking over the Damen Avenue storefront and opening a second Urbanbelly spot early next year, it was announced on Monday.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151214 ... orkers-say

jay2021 wrote:Frank Meats Patty which occupied the former Hot Dougs space in Avondale is now closed.

Aw, that's disappointing. Place was solid and a few minutes from my house, but unfortunately it wasn't good enough to get me to not drive the extra 5-10 minutes and go to Red Hot Ranch which had basically the same food only a lot better.

Career Education Corp will stop accepting new students at its 16 Le Cordon Bleu North America culinary schools as of January 2016 and will close the schools by the end of 2017.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... nd-of-2017

Didn't see this posted elsewhere but the Dairy Queen on Southport is papered up. It was reported last August that the building was for sale but that they hoped to keep the DQ in place. I guess it could just be closed for winter and for a little updating (if DQs ever get updated).

Does anyone know about a new Minghin? There's a business license for a retail food establishment in their name for 3376 S Archer (Archer and 34th, near La Palapa).

Roots homemade pizza finally opens in Lincoln Square 2200 West Lawrence Av

http://https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151216/lincoln-square/roots-pizza-lincoln-square-finally-opening-this-saturday