From DNA info: Via Lima To Reopen As More Casual, Affordable Nazka Wok

The home of the former Via Lima won't be vacant for long.

Turns out that Eni Cadena, owner of the recently shuttered upscale Peruvian restaurant, is simply switching concepts and aiming for a mid-July opening of the fast-casual Nazka Wok, 4024 N. Lincoln Ave.

"It's a big change ... but sometimes changes are meant to be for the better," Cadena said.

As the name of the eatery suggests, wok dishes will take center stage at the new eatery, including beef and chicken versions that originated at Via Lima, plus the addition of a mahi mahi option.

While the final menu has yet to be set in stone, wok items will share equal space with pasta, rice and salad dishes, with everything priced between $8 and $14.

The owner has held on to the liquor license.

In view of the disruption from water main replacement under Lincoln as well as some side streets between Irving Park and Montrose, this may a well-timed shift.

ekreider wrote:From DNA info: Via Lima To Reopen As More Casual, Affordable Nazka Wok

Looking forward to seeing this open. Via Lima had won a Bib Gourmand before, but I still felt like many of the dishes there were overpriced compared to other Chicago staples like Taste of Peru and D'Candela.

Eleven Lincoln Park, the North side sibling to the South Loop's Eleven City Diner is closing due to a landlord dispute:
https://chicago.eater.com/2017/6/13/157 ... ed-shutter

The article is stupid.

Noticed a Whistle Pig banner on the former Honey1 BBQ spot on Western... another BBQ joint? Anybody know anything? Google shows a Whistlepig BBQ in Michigan -- any connection?

Hoping it's somewhat close in quality to Honey 1... one of my favorites, and relocated to Bronzeville just a couple months after I moved within walking distance

Two recent replacements:

Ravenswood Q is now Jirafa Restaurant and Bar, a Colombian restaurant
1800 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago
https://www.yelp.com/biz/jirafa-restaur ... ar-chicago

Anna's Asian Grill & Sushi has been rebranded to Ruyi Sushi (they seem to have an all-you-can-eat sushi deal, but you pay extra if you don't eat all the sushi you order)
1804 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago
https://www.yelp.com/biz/ruyi-sushi-chicago-2

I ran into the owner of Zenwich, Nate, at his original store in Elmhurst and he said that he had to leave the Loop Van Buren location. It has something to do with the building. It was too bad, because, according to him, that location was doing quite well. He told me they are looking for a new location, probably in the suburbs due to the high cost of rents in the loop.

blipsman wrote:

Noticed a Whistle Pig banner on the former Honey1 BBQ spot on Western... another BBQ joint? Anybody know anything? Google shows a Whistlepig BBQ in Michigan -- any connection?

Hoping it's somewhat close in quality to Honey 1... one of my favorites, and relocated to Bronzeville just a couple months after I moved within walking distance

The only thing for sure is that it will be a barbecue joint. The following is from their May 7 inspection report:

comments: premises has smoker plans to smoke chicken, brisket and pork and does not have the standard operating procedure for meat smoking process

Whistle Pig is another name for groundhog or woodchuck. That is all I got.

AngrySarah wrote:Whistle Pig is another name for groundhog or woodchuck. That is all I got.

Or whiskey made famous as the libation of choice for Heisenberg.

Michael Jordan's Restaurant opens July 17 in Oak Brook

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

excelsior wrote:Ravenswood Q is now Jirafa Restaurant and Bar, a Colombian restaurant
1800 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago
https://www.yelp.com/biz/jirafa-restaur ... ar-chicago

Neither sad nor surprised to see them go.

Habanero Grill now open at 178 N Franklin in the old LaCocina space. Sand wedge distance from Chipotle and Costa Vida....

Saturation point yet?

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai

Spotted this in the shopping center on the SE corner of Golf Rd and Roselle Rd in Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg. This address would work for looking it up:

1175 N Roselle Rd
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169

At this point, the papered-over windows just have permits. Googling didn't turn up anything about this location, but did tell me that this is a Japanese-originated chain (with 60+ locations) with a couple locations in California. But this is just quick Googling, so I'm not certain about anything.

And here's a helpful youtube video about a location in Orange County:
https://youtu.be/pUOKULGNk4A

Anko wrote:

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai

This is really good news. I have heard great things about their ramen in Orange County.

Anko wrote:

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai

Any clue if there is a relationship to the old Kitikata that used to be at Golf & Arlington Heights Rd? Used to love that place

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Cafe Versailles opened recently on Pulaski a bit north of Irving. Coffee shop that features crepes (and apparently is going to expand to lunch, too) and has gotten some early raves on Yelp.

Cafe Versailles
4102 N Pulaski Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 283-8891

It has since closed, which is puzzling considering the 245 reviews and 4.5-star rating on Yelp would indicate it was well-liked and well-trafficked.

Not long ago there was a banner hanging in the window that read "Coming Soon: The Cabin [the tavern next door] presents The Kid Picnic Basket, an old-fashioned sandwich shop." The banner has since been taken down but a call to The Cabin confirms that a sandwich shop is still in the works.

Sad to say that Thali Bites in Wilmette is closed for business. If it is of solace, Kabul House on Dempster is up and running.

JoelF wrote:Any clue if there is a relationship to the old Kitikata that used to be at Golf & Arlington Heights Rd? Used to love that place

I never went to the old Kitikata, but from what I see online, it was an independent place serving a variety of homestyle dishes. Does that sound right? So I'm going to assume that there's no connection. "Kitikata" is the name of a city in Japan (apparently known for its ramen), so it makes sense that it would be used in the names of multiple restaurant ventures.

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Habanero Grill now open at 178 N Franklin in the old LaCocina space. Sand wedge distance from Chipotle and Costa Vida....

Saturation point yet?

While sitting at UB Dogs and looking across the street many times while Habanero Grill was making their transformation I wondered the same thing. Fast Mexican food place that couldn't make it . . . being replaced by a fast Mexican food place, with multiple fast Mexican food places nearby. What could possibly go wrong?

Actually, LaCocina closed due to the rent being raised to levels they didn't like (also the reason Pockets and Perry's left the building). LaCocina will be returning to the neighborhood in the fall if all goes as planned. They at least have actual quality ingredients and recipes....imho.

Small's is done. There is no God.

gnarchief wrote:Small's is done. There is no God.

Official Facebook post:

We apologize for having been incommunicado! We've been busy with some new projects which we'll be announcing in the future. We love our space, our neighbors, our neighborhood, and the community that's supported us over the years. However, we want to continue to push that envelope, and we want to do it right. We want to be more than a take out joint, and actually have room for our guests to sit down and enjoy our offerings. That said, we've decided to shut down until we can do put the "more" into "smalls. smoke shack & more..."
We have so many people to thank for our success: our entire team that made it all happen day in and day out; our team's families for putting up with the long hours it takes to work in this business; Liz, the Lizard Lounge, and the awesome family there that's supported us and gave our guests a fun place to enjoy our food; the various food bloggers that gave us shout-outs; the food journalists that always found out about our new dishes for their readers and viewers to learn about; our social media followers that always kept us in the conversation; our regular customers that kept coming for the same thing every time, or to try whatever new item we had cooked up; the hip hop heads that would come in and recognize the superiority of our playlists. Together, all of you gave us the confidence to keep things rolling in a little shack in Irving Park, and challenged us keep trying new things. We're looking forward to doing it again very soon. So stay tuned!
Until then, don't ever forget, smalls loves you.

Anko wrote:Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai

Spotted this in the shopping center on the SE corner of Golf Rd and Roselle Rd in Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg. This address would work for looking it up:

1175 N Roselle Rd
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169

Kevin Pang tweeted about the opening here: https://twitter.com/pang/status/877277059726413824, but no details yet. He provides this link about the characteristics of "Kitakata" ramen: https://www.fukushimatrip.com/en/6006

Novo in Oak Park is closed....

Viet Nom Nom in downtown Evanston is open.

nsxtasy wrote:Viet Nom Nom in downtown Evanston is open.

In one of the most cursed spaces in the city.

nr706 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Viet Nom Nom in downtown Evanston is open.

In one of the most cursed spaces in the city.

This could also go in the Wretched Restaurant Website thread, because, stimulated by nr706's post, I went to Viet Nom Nom's website to see the actual location of one of the most cursed spaces in the city, and it's not to be found! Even when you click on the link that says "Location."

Seems like they're not helping themselves.

nr706 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Viet Nom Nom in downtown Evanston is open.

In one of the most cursed spaces in the city.

618 1/2 Church St, Evanston - if you google that address you'll see the laundry list of restaurants that have been in that location.

Drover wrote:Anyone know what's happening at Dragonlady Lounge at Elston/Belmont/California? I drove by during business hours this evening. The bottom half of the windows are papered over, the lights were out, nobody's answering the phone, etc. The windows and door looked kind of grimy in the way that vacant storefronts get when they haven't been used for a while. Yet nobody has announced on Google or Yelp or anywhere else that I can see that it's closed. You'd think word would get around quickly when a neighborhood institution like this shutters.

Looks like we have our answer. From the DragonLady Lounge thread:

Giovanna wrote:Eater Chicago:https://chicago.eater.com/2017/6/15/15807424/bel-new-avondale-restaurant-midwest-foods-juicy-lucy-reeds-local-dragon-lady-lounge

(sorry not to embed better, on tablet)

Basically, Dragon Lady not coming back.

Giovanna

leek wrote:

nr706 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:Viet Nom Nom in downtown Evanston is open.

In one of the most cursed spaces in the city.

618 1/2 Church St, Evanston - if you google that address you'll see the laundry list of restaurants that have been in that location.

One of those failed restaurants was Jamaica Gates, notable because it was where the Evanston Lunch Group™ introduced the inestimable Ronnie Suburban to the equally inestimable Gwiv. I don't think either has ever forgiven us.