Coming soon sign in the window of the storefront immediately south of Tiny Bar. This will be a storefront for an existing catering company specializing in cookies and ice cream, particularly combinations thereof. Web site is fussy and deadly slow but has a lot of information. Wife says the idea of a cookie pie topped with ice cream sounds pretty good on a day like today.

The Ultimate Cookie Pie Sundae
This sundae will make all other desserts seem like sub-par snacks.

We start with your choice of our favorite indulgent cookie pie. Then pick from our 10 tasty flavors of ice cream, and the real fun begins… We have hot fudge and warm caramel pumps, whipped cream, and over 50 toppings to choose from! Everything from Gummy Bears to Brownie Bites, and M&M’s to cookie dough!

Hand-Dipped Deliciousness

Coat your cone in hot fudge, warm caramel, melted marshmallow, and more. Choose from a huge variety of toppings to coat your melted indulgence. Then choose from our flavors of ice cream to make a delicious treat!

Note: Our Ice cream is also available by the scoop or as a sundae without our fantastic cookie pies or cones.

Cookie Spin
4350 N. Leavitt
Chicago 60618
http://cookiespinchicago.com/
224-661-3125

After many months of "Coming Soon," Señor Pan has finally opened its third location in the former Las Cazuelas/La Quinta de Los Reyes spot up in North Mayfair. The food is just as good as the Fullerton location (haven't been to the North Avenue location) and the decor is cozy and tastefully Cuban-kitsch, though I'm not sure what to make of the picture of Ricky Ricardo spanking Lucy in the men's room.

Señor Pan Cafe, Tapas, y Vinos
4821 N. Elston
(773) 856-0840
http://www.senorpan.com (not functioning as of this posting)

Schaumburg's Viet House will be closing July 30th citing problems renewing the lease as the issue. Was a decent spot for pho in the Schaumburg area amongst the chinese-owned places that are prevalent in the area.

It looks like Joy Yee To Go on Irving Park is gone, replaced by Min Min Asian Cafe. http://www.minmincafe.com/

Driving by last night, I noticed that the rooftop bar at Taco Diablo has opened across the street after the fire that took it down, along with Pineyard, over a year ago. There were families hanging out under the lights on the rooftop patio — looked like a nice venue.

Updated to note that the rooftop bar is named Five and Dime. Same ownership as Taco Diablo, but the downstairs Taco Diablo space hasn't opened yet.

Taco Diablo/Five and Dime
1026 Davis St
Evanston

The restaurant on the southeast corner of Roscoe, Paulina, and Lincoln looks like it's about to open. Seating is in; looks like a lot of expensive looking, reclaimed furniture. There looked to be a couple of guys tasting beers by the bar (maybe a sales guy and beverage guy?). There's no signage. but the license application said something like "First Second Hand LLC" or something like that.

Hanami Sushi further north on Lincoln looks closed. It was a small neighborhood BYO. Sad sign about how the landlord wouldn't fix the smell.

3925 N Lincoln Ave

Drover wrote:

marothisu wrote:Is L'Patron opening a 2nd location? I saw a business license the other day for "L 'Patron" at 3749 W Fullerton (Fullerton & ~Hamlin) in what I guess would be considered West Logan Square. Legal name is "Los Gonzalez, Inc" - the owners of L'Patron are Ernesto and Cesar Gonzalez

They're apparently facing an 80% rent increase at their present location. Makes me wonder if this isn't a bargaining chip and/or exit strategy rather than a genuine desire to operate two locations.

Turns out in the end to be an exit strategy as they will be closing their Diversey location.

That's disappointing about Hanami. I work very near there and there aren't a lot of good lunch options in the immediate neighborhood.

jacketpotato wrote:The restaurant on the southeast corner of Roscoe, Paulina, and Lincoln looks like it's about to open. Seating is in; looks like a lot of expensive looking, reclaimed furniture. There looked to be a couple of guys tasting beers by the bar (maybe a sales guy and beverage guy?). There's no signage. but the license application said something like "First Second Hand LLC" or something like that.

This spot is going to be a Bareburger: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... -thinks-so

Middle Eastern Flair has finally opened at 8235 W. Irving Park Road (pretty much across the street from Bob-O's)...tons of seating, so many breads, perhaps an even larger grocery selection, same great food, same great folks. Google suggests they open at 9am...I think it's actually much earlier as they're open for breakfast, but call ahead to find out.

nr706 wrote:Driving by last night, I noticed that Taco Diablo has re-opened across the street after the fire that took it down, along with Pineyard, over a year ago. There were families hanging out under the lights on the rooftop patio — looked like a nice venue.

They still have paper on the door and windows as of this morning. I suspect they are not open to the public yet (but will be soon) and may have opened the rooftop for a private party.

nsxtasy wrote:I suspect they are not open to the public yet (but will be soon) and may have opened the rooftop for a private party.

Per an employe there, the rooftop bar (which they're calling Five and dime) is open - but not the downstairs, yet. Previous post was revised to reflect this.

While at New City (1500 N. Clybourn) we noticed a graphic for a new restaurant called "The Melt" opening summer 2016. The chain currently has locations only in California and Colorado.

https://themelt.com/

BR wrote:Middle Eastern Flair has finally opened at 8235 W. Irving Park Road ...

And it's delicious, too.

Coogles wrote:While at New City (1500 N. Clybourn) we noticed a graphic for a new restaurant called "The Melt" opening summer 2016. The chain currently has locations only in California and Colorado.

https://themelt.com/

There is also signage up at New City for a second Chicago location of Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, and also confirmed on their website to be opening in the fall.

http://experiencenewcity.com/kizuki-ram ... fall-2016/

Cemitas Puebla plants its flag in Hyde Park, 1351 E. 57th:

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2016071 ... -hyde-park

Savory Crust Empanadas is coming to 7180 Dempster St., Morton Grove.
https://www.facebook.com/savorycrust/

Poke coming to Uptown - Promising as it's from the owners of The Angry Crab.
Targeting a July opening date. Address is 4600 N. Magnolia but it's actually located on Wilson Ave.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2016070 ... this-month

http://www.uptownupdate.com/2016/06/pok ... venue.html

Saw a sign @ Aloha Poke in the French Market that they are opening a brick&mortar shop up north - Lakeview area maybe?

Publican Tavern opening July 26 at O'Hare

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... 6-at-ohare

wildcard wrote:Was walking through downtown Highland Park this past weekend and there was signage for a new Tanoshii Sushi Mike's there. Didn't jot down the address but want to say it was Sheridan and Park. Did quick search online but couldn't find anything. Might be some time still but am very excited at the prospect of a Tanoshii in walking distance!

***edited***

They were working on the interior when walked by today, definitely some time away. The address is

1935 Sheridan Rd
Highland Park, IL

Sushi Mike's Opening A Tanoshii Sushi In Highland Park

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/7/18/1221 ... hland-park

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Saw a sign @ Aloha Poke in the French Market that they are opening a brick&mortar shop up north - Lakeview area maybe?

They've already opened one at on Belmont at Clark. It opened a few days ago. I tried it and it wasn't that busy at all as yet. Kind of nice considering the mob that's always at the French Market location. They have a third location coming in the Loop but that one's not open yet.

Aloha Poke Lakeview's address is 843 W. Belmont for anybody who is particular about their restaurant indexing.

I was there on Saturday night around 8:45 and there was no line.

Dinosaur Barbecue on Weed Street is closing today. No huge loss from what I've heard.

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/7/20/1223 ... ng-chicago

The new outpost of Yu's Mandarin on Townline in Vernon Hills (in the old Silk Mandarin building) has made noticeable progress toward opening recently. It looks like the work on the exterior is done, and there's a "Coming Soon" out by the street. The parking lot is still fenced off, though.

After years of "Portillo's is coming to Deerfield," "Never mind, Portillo's is not coming to Deerfield," they finally demolished the old On The Border on Lake-Cook Road and the 'Portillo's Coming Soon' sign is up. We finally get a decent Italian Beef near Highland Park.

Cafe Tola appears to be coming to the old Hot Dougs/Frank Meats Patty spot on California/Roscoe as the building has been painted over a vibrant white and pink with a sign in the window looking for line cooks, baristas, empanadas, and assemblers. Never been to the one on Southport but only heard good things. Looking forward to having a place to get coffee in east Avondale, other than the frigging Starbucks in the frigging Target

Marshall K wrote: Appears that Jay and Maria Feldman couldn't make a go of it with Margie's. Stopped by on Wednesday to find it all locked up and deserted. Phone not working. It's a shame as I believe that they put their heart and soul into this place. I felt the food was great my favorites being the deep fried polish an exceptional beef sandwich and the thin cut fries cooked in olive oil. I feel they would have been successful in a different location.

Wait just a minute! Maybe you bypassed this post I updated a few weeks ago. It seems that Margie's did have a contingency.
I have gone past the location on N. Cicero Ave. on a southbound #54 bus and saw it closed; but wondered if I went by it on the wrong day or time.
Somebody needs to get inside it, though, and unplug the Eisenberg hot dog neon sign.
Anyhow, to see if Margie's can work in a different location, go over to North Ave. & Lavergne Ave. There's a free parking lot to its immediate west.

Apparently Savanna Restaurant in the old Browntrout space has opened for breakfast and lunch. They don't seem to have a website, but do have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/savannarestauranr/. I'll give them a try since they are close, but feel the menu is uninspiring due similarities between it and locals Rocks, Brownstone, and Danny's Egghead. Perhaps their execution will compensate. Here is said menu.



Savanna Restaurant
4111 N Lincoln ave
Chicago, IL
(872) 817-7340

Based on that menu, someone doesn't know how to use spellcheck software.