A coworker just ventured by the loop location of Ba Le (166 W. Washington) and found it shuttered. A phone call yielded a disconnected line, and the website no longer lists this location. Anyone know what happened?!

Also the Chicago Bagel Authority on Wells in the loop closed. The other two locations are still open.

Dave148 wrote:

The owners of the 900 North Michigan Shops will partner with Brendan Sodikoff’s Hogsalt Hospitality to curate new food and beverage options at the seven-story shopping center in Chicago’s most-famous retail district. Sodikoff said Hogsalt has an open canvas to build “a completely new concept from the ground up.”

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/11/1/165 ... ff-hogsalt

I sure hope this doesn't mean the closing of The Oak Tree on the sixth floor. A really high-quality version of the all-purpose breakfast/lunch sit-down table-service restaurant; your eggs, your salads, your sandwiches, your coffee, all the usual suspects, but done better. Places like this have all but vanished from the Loop and Michigan Avenue; we can't afford to lose another one. I'd rather have one Oak Tree than all the Hogsalt food hall options combined. Maybe it can be spared.

Two Streeterville notes.
Buona Beef opens tomorrow on McClurg between Ohio and Ontario. They've been training all week. Nice smells are coming from there. On that basis alone, it will be a welcome addition.

Speaking of good smells, I'm hearing Carson's Ribs will be opening in December at Illinois just west of Lake Shore Drive. I've been a fan of Carson's for forty years. It will be nice to have it in the neighborhood.

DML wrote:Speaking of good smells, I'm hearing Carson's Ribs will be opening in December at Illinois just west of Lake Shore Drive. I've been a fan of Carson's for forty years. It will be nice to have it in the neighborhood.

Carson’s, The Place For Ribs, To Open First Chicago Restaurant in Decades

Darren,
We had heard October, and now December. It will be interesting to see when it finally does open. With Buona the work on the place was obvious. Lots of noise and activity. I haven't seen as much with Carsons, but then I'm not by that block as often.

Drover wrote:

boudreaulicious wrote:

Drover wrote:Another old-school German standby falls:

Chicago Brauhaus In Lincoln Square To Close

Wow...what a ridiculous clickbait headline--might as well write "Alinea to close"-- I mean, ALL restaurants will close someday. But with no closing date even contemplated and the owners denying it, this is a hell of a conclusion to draw and publicize. They sound pretty pissed too, though it could very well be a boon to business. Still, annoying.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/drink/beer/ct-chicago-brauhaus-owner-not-closing-any-time-soon-20170315-story.html

They may not have a firm closing date but the fact that there's an active listing for the building lease strongly indicates an exit plan has commenced. And while Harry Kempf seems pissed in the Tribune article, his own statement is basically a hedge. His anger seems more because he was robbed of the the initiative to make the announcement rather than there being no truth to it. Maybe the agent spoke without their authority, but when your building is for lease the word is going to get out sooner or later.

Looks like their unofficial official closing got a little more official. Patrons this evening were greeted to cards on the table stating the following:

To All:

It is with sadness that on Monday, December 11, 2017, the Chicago Brauhaus will close its doors.

For over five decades, the Chicago Brauhaus has been a mainstay in wonderful Lincoln Square.

Our sincere, heartfelt appreciation to all our customers and friends -- we thank you all.

We will miss you and never forget you. Thank you.

JoeChicago wrote:Excited for this sandwich shop to open in the loop. Still haven't found anywhere downtown that does a great sub since Manarino's closed many years ago.

Check out Capriotti's. It's a Delaware based chain and while I have not been to the local one, the original location makes a mighty tasty Italian sub.

Capriotti's
174 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL
capriottis.com

Left town for a week and came back to see the Bowtruss near the Merchandise Mart all papered up. So it's finally dead (we can hope). That just leaves the one in the Loop if that's still open.

Felony Franks in Oak Park has closed. Message of the closing posted by the owner:

https://www.facebook.com/denoandrews/posts/10214482890490140

Drover wrote:

Drover wrote:The former Taxco/Global Restaurant/Laurassi space at Elston and Montrose is now A87, and still basically Middle Eastern/Mediterranean-themed.

Across the street on Elston the Al Maida that opened in the old Baked Tomato spot then closed then re-opened has re-closed.

A87
4393 N. Elston
773-283-9450

And now that space is open again, this time with no signage of any type -- not even a hand-written note in the window or anything.

Mystery Restaurant
4358 N. Elston

So I stopped in to inquire about the name of the new restaurant. And the name is...


...Al Maida. Now on their third owner in about as many years, this iteration serves buffet-style.

Chicago Brauhaus, the German Fixture in Lincoln Square, to Close in December

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/11/7/166 ... e-december

Dox Quality Greek in Wicker Park has shuttered.

Per an exDNAinfo neighborhood reporter, a 'Bonci Pizzeria' is opening.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbNspXPH0gN/

Kinda doubt that (my money would be on Bocce), but that would be awesome if true.

1566 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

ziggy wrote:Dox Quality Greek in Wicker Park has shuttered.

Per an exDNAinfo neighborhood reporter, a 'Bonci Pizzeria' is opening.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbNspXPH0gN/

Kinda doubt that (my money would be on Bocce), but that would be awesome if true.

1566 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Eater is reporting Bonci is correct:
https://chicago.eater.com/2017/11/8/166 ... dox-closed

what a bummer about DOX. the chicken, fries, and wraps were all stellar.

Dave148 wrote:

Chicago Brauhaus, the German Fixture in Lincoln Square, to Close in December

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/11/7/166 ... e-december

Already noted a few posts upthread. In fact the article in your link links the post...


Recent openings in Irving Park/Albany Park:

Raisu, an upscale Japanese restaurant, quietly opened this summer in the previous Burgers and Barley Pop/Mojo space at Irving Park and Sacramento. It has received very favorable reviews from patrons so far.

An Indo-Pak storefront restaurant called -- wait for it -- Indo Pak Grill -- opened a few weeks ago next to the Indo-Pak Meat and Grocery on Lawrence just east of Pulaski. It's probably safe to assume there's a connection between the two. Limited customer feedback is largely positive.

Raisu Japanese Fine Dining
2958 W. Irving Park Rd.
(773) 961-7299
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RaisuChicago/

Indo-Pak Grill
3920 W. Lawrence Ave
(773) 437-6660
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Indo-Pak-Grill ... 371865153/

Looks like Kuma's Corner is coming to Vernon Hills in the new Melody Farm development. This was an expected announcement as they hinted at it a while ago.

Another Albany Park change: T&B grill (which IMO had great burgers and fries at a great price point) decided to end the T&B run with a final buffet celebration (which I sadly missed) and has launched a new concept in the same space: Mariscos Sirena.

Mariscos Sirena
3658 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago IL 60625
773-961-7016
https://www.facebook.com/SirenaChicago

Darren72 wrote:

DML wrote:Speaking of good smells, I'm hearing Carson's Ribs will be opening in December at Illinois just west of Lake Shore Drive. I've been a fan of Carson's for forty years. It will be nice to have it in the neighborhood.

Carson’s, The Place For Ribs, To Open First Chicago Restaurant in Decades

I couldn't be more shocked.

Drover wrote:

Dave148 wrote:

Chicago Brauhaus, the German Fixture in Lincoln Square, to Close in December

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/11/7/166 ... e-december

Already noted a few posts upthread. In fact the article in your link links the post...


Recent openings in Irving Park/Albany Park:

Raisu, an upscale Japanese restaurant, quietly opened this summer in the previous Burgers and Barley Pop/Mojo space at Irving Park and Sacramento. It has received very favorable reviews from patrons so far.

Raisu has some incredible food. However, I worry about the location. It's the type of place where you can easily drop $100 per person because the portions are so tiny. That area doesn't seem nearly upscale or busy enough for that model, but I wish them luck. It's probably the best sashimi I ever had.

Pie Lady wrote:Raisu has some incredible food. However, I worry about the location. It's the type of place where you can easily drop $100 per person because the portions are so tiny. That area doesn't seem nearly upscale or busy enough for that model, but I wish them luck. It's probably the best sashimi I ever had.

Places like Parachute and EL Ideas make the case that if you're good enough and make enough of a name for yourself, the customers will come to you even if your location isn't very sexy. It remains to be seen if Raisu can do the same for itself, but all the feedback I've seen and heard so far suggests they definitely have the potential to do so.

Effective 11/22, Tommy Nevin's in Evanston will be no more. I'm guessing Prairie Moon, a couple of doors north, provided significant competition for beer lovers, and Celtic Knot, a few blocks away, does a better job of fulfilling the Irish pub experience.

nr706 wrote:Effective 11/22, Tommy Nevin's in Evanston will be no more. I'm guessing Prairie Moon, a couple of doors north, provided significant competition for beer lovers, and Celtic Knot, a few blocks away, does a better job of fulfilling the Irish pub experience.

Aka in our household as Tommy Niblets. It's the place where my wife and I met for the very first time on a blind date on July 29, 1991, so I'll always remember it with great fondness. Honestly, I can't believe the place has lasted as long as it has. In the end, it's just one more thing our marriage has outlasted (including the venue where we were married)!

=R=

I stopped going to Nevin's many years ago, and I have been going to Prairie Moon (excellent smoked babybacks) and Celtic Knot (mmm chips and gravy) instead so there you go. Hope something great moves into that spot.

Ram4 wrote: Hope something great moves into that spot.

Per the article, the an apartment building is being built on the spot and Prairie Moon intends to open on the ground level.

Ram4 wrote:I stopped going to Nevin's many years ago, and I have been going to Prairie Moon (excellent smoked babybacks) and Celtic Knot (mmm chips and gravy) instead so there you go. Hope something great moves into that spot.

As of last night, the city has (probably tentatively) approved a 15 story, wavy glass apartment building on most of that block. Supposedly, Prairie Moon will come back, but I don’t know what others might be moving into the retail space.

Passed the McDonald's at Wacker and Washington this morning and it appears to have abruptly closed. Odd.

One doorway south of Gather (Gather is 4539 N. Lincoln), is a sign for Flock Together. It says Winter 2017. Can't remember what was there before. Given the name, thinking it's from the same group as Gather. Didn't find anything about it online.

spinynorman99 wrote:Passed the McDonald's at Wacker and Washington this morning and it appears to have abruptly closed. Odd.

Allegedly becoming a BMO Harris branch

knitgirl wrote:One doorway south of Gather (Gather is 4539 N. Lincoln), is a sign for Flock Together. It says Winter 2017. Can't remember what was there before. Given the name, thinking it's from the same group as Gather. Didn't find anything about it online.

used to be Bad Dog Tavern, same owners as one of the old school wrigleyville bars (can't remember which one), then the short-lived Mash (same owners), then sold to the group from Gather... I did some heavy detective work earlier in the year as I'd kill for that patio...