jbwheel wrote:The Dickens Street Public House
Featuring Spider City Brewing Company
At Four Farthings....

...and yes, this has been their real name. As if it were the McDonald's Turf featuring bluegrass at Soldier Field...

...Has closed. There was a green sign on the door today that the business license had been revoked this afternoon.


While Four Farthings was never great - for the food, at least - the bar had old charm and lots of character. The most recent ownership had ripped out all the existing built-in furniture, closed the dining room for 3+ years, and replaced with dinky ikea-like furniture. I'm surprised the bad management had held the place together for this long.

This space was beautiful, it had potential as a neighborhood joint, and it was completely squandered. Here's to hoping that the Lincoln Park community can revitalize a neighborhood bar (has lost a series of them in the past few years).

polster wrote: Also, the American Chinese carryout restaurant Sums Chop Suey at 3753 Dempster Street in Skokie is closed.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sums-chop-suey-skokie

JoeChicago wrote:
[one reply snipped]
If I recall correctly, the new management also fired a long time bartender or two, upsetting many of the neighbors. Always sad when management doesn’t recognize what made a place great and destroys it.
With Sedgwicks, Stanley’s and Gamekeepers also closed, this part of Lincoln Park is really lacking for the good neighborhood bar, aside from River Shannon perhaps. Hopefully a good operator can make something work in one of those spaces someday soon.

You sometimes hear a report that a bartender was “fired” from a venue; but that is usually not what occurred.
What effects the departure is management's decision to change the shift of a certain bartender. If somebody is used to working on a Saturday night; to be reassigned to Thursday night is going to result in a lesser tip amount.
This bartender might see this as a wage cut. So that affected person is likely to leave there. Was she | he “fired”? No, but it's swifter and easier to utter instead of "She did not care for the new schedule management was offering her."

You might not know this; but River Shannon is one of a handful of venues run by Lodge Management Group. It is not a small, single-operator corporation. I am keen to visit Pippin's Tavern (@ 806 N. Rush St.). {But not Streeter's Tavern. } It owns a couple of other bars around the intersection of State and Division Sts. (including its namesake).

polster wrote:Beloved Skokie bakery Sweety Pies to close in August.

The family behind Sweety Pies, the bakery that has been serving Skokie residents pies, cookies, cakes and cupcakes for more than a decade, has made a bittersweet decision to close in August.

With customers lining up regularly to purchase pastries baked from secret family recipes, or to order customized cakes for various celebrations, choosing to close Sweety Pies was difficult.

“We haven’t failed. We’ve built our dream and have so many loyal customers, but life has changed a lot for all of us and we’ve all decided that we are moving on to the next phase,” said Dana Davidson.

Tribune Article:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ ... story.html

Sweety Pies
8042 Lincoln Ave.
Skokie, IL 60077
http://www.sweetypiesbakery.com/

pudgym29 wrote:

JoeChicago wrote:
[one reply snipped]
If I recall correctly, the new management also fired a long time bartender or two, upsetting many of the neighbors. Always sad when management doesn’t recognize what made a place great and destroys it.
With Sedgwicks, Stanley’s and Gamekeepers also closed, this part of Lincoln Park is really lacking for the good neighborhood bar, aside from River Shannon perhaps. Hopefully a good operator can make something work in one of those spaces someday soon.

You sometimes hear a report that a bartender was “fired” from a venue; but that is usually not what occurred.
What effects the departure is management's decision to change the shift of a certain bartender. If somebody is used to working on a Saturday night; to be reassigned to Thursday night is going to result in a lesser tip amount.
This bartender might see this as a wage cut. So that affected person is likely to leave there. Was she | he “fired”? No, but it's swifter and easier to utter instead of "She did not care for the new schedule management was offering her."

You might not know this; but River Shannon is one of a handful of venues run by Lodge Management Group. It is not a small, single-operator corporation. I am keen to visit Pippin's Tavern (@ 806 N. Rush St.). {But not Streeter's Tavern. } It owns a couple of other bars around the intersection of State and Division Sts. (including its namesake).

Cathy2 wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Coming to Highwood:
Papa Willie’s BBQ - 148 Green Bay Road

This appears it will not be. The signage promising its arrival were down last week.

Regards,
Cathy2

jbwheel wrote:The Dickens Street Public House
Featuring Spider City Brewing Company
At Four Farthings....

...and yes, this has been their real name. As if it were the McDonald's Turf featuring bluegrass at Soldier Field...

...Has closed. There was a green sign on the door today that the business license had been revoked this afternoon.


While Four Farthings was never great - for the food, at least - the bar had old charm and lots of character. The most recent ownership had ripped out all the existing built-in furniture, closed the dining room for 3+ years, and replaced with dinky ikea-like furniture. I'm surprised the bad management had held the place together for this long.

This space was beautiful, it had potential as a neighborhood joint, and it was completely squandered. Here's to hoping that the Lincoln Park community can revitalize a neighborhood bar (has lost a series of them in the past few years).

toria wrote:PDQ, a chain chicken place that served fast food has closed locations in Illinois, including Wheaton. Believe me, no loss.

Art and Tyler Mendoza, the father-son team behind new taco hotspot Asadito, opened counter-service restaurant Wok N’ Bao this week, according to a news release. Owners hope to “bridge the gap between American-Chinese food and authentic Chinese food” with made-to-order wok dishes, gua bao, and “M.S.G. wings” (maple, sherry, gochujang), from chef David Wang (Oak + Char, Acadia). Status: Certified Open, 36 N. Clinton Street.

Wok N’ Bao is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m Monday through Friday.

stoutisgoodfood wrote:Sorry to report....Wok 'n Bao - another attempt to create cuisine for the masses using filler ingredients and generic spicing served 'new' style cafeteria (see: Chipotle and Naf-Naf). Had the rice noodle peanut sauce chicken today and it was basically a carton full of noodles with a dozen small chix chunks, 4 snap peas, 3 small red pepper pieces, a large green onion end and I think I spotted a carrot slice. Lacking real peanut flavor in the sauce - non decsript, a bit oily and msg laden (so my headache now tells me).

It was so bad my co-worker who eats anything actually got half way through it and said 'that's enough of this crap'. Just like the Brown Bag Seafood that recently opened on the river, there's just no incentive to go back and try other variations. Sad, really....

Dear Symphony Center Subscriber,

We are pleased to announce that George Jewell Events Catering is the new food service provider at Symphony Center. Coinciding with the launch of the 2019/20 season, Opus Restaurant and Café will officially open at 65 E. Adams St. to serve Symphony Center patrons and the general public on September 19, 2019. Reservations for the 2019/20 season can now be made by calling 312-500-OPUS (6787) or at cso.org/opus. Reservations can also be made through CSO Patron Services at 312-294-3000.

Opus Restaurant offers a new culinary program featuring themed menus inspired by music on individual concert programs. On concert dates, the restaurant serves multiple prix fixe dinners priced at $45. Guests will be served a delightful first course, an elegant appetizer and an unforgettable main course. À la carte options beyond the prix fixe menu will be available to complement the meal, giving patrons the choice to add decadent desserts, fine wine, cocktails, mocktails, beer or other beverages.

Opus Restaurant generally offers two preconcert seatings: a 5:15 lecture & champagne seating and 6:30 seating prior to an 8 pm concert start. Patrons who reserve the 5:15 seating will finish dinner in time to attend the preconcert lecture and then be treated to a complimentary champagne. Seating times vary based on concert start. New for the 2019/20 season, seatings will be offered for Sunday brunch as well as CSO Family Matinees with special kid-friendly options. Visit cso.org/opus for additional seating time details.

On concert dates, Opus Restaurant will be open two hours after the performance ends. Subscribers to CSOA-presented concert series in the 2019/20 season receive a 30% discount on any postperformance dessert or late-menu appetizer when they present their subscriber ID. Additional discount opportunities may be available throughout the season.
OPUS CAFÉ

Opus Café offers a quick-service casual bistro café experience available daily to the general public from 6 am to 3 pm. This elegant café experience includes gourmet sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, protein bowls and specialty coffees and espresso drinks. Grab and Go options are also available, providing the perfect quick option for concert patrons and downtown commuters alike.

Subscribers to CSOA-presented concert series for the 2019/20 season receive a 15% discount on any fresh menu item or coffee/tea beverage when they present their subscriber ID. Additional discount opportunities may be available throughout the season.

José Andrés bringing famed Spanish restaurant Jaleo to Chicago’s River North

Ladies & gentlemen! Boys & girls! Coming this fall to 3970 N. Elston Ave Chicago, Illinois..... JT’s Genuine Sandwich Shop!!!!!!!!!

Our menu will feature the greatest sandwiches from our Midwestern region of the country including Iowa breaded tenderloin sandwich, Detroit style Coneys, Italian roast pork sandwich, Chicago style dogs and soooo much more!

ekreider wrote:Apparently they will be open in the evening only when evening concerts are scheduled. The whole thing does not seem very well thought out.

riddlemay wrote:

ekreider wrote:Apparently they will be open in the evening only when evening concerts are scheduled. The whole thing does not seem very well thought out.

I wonder if CSO owns the building on that corner. That would at least mean they're not paying rent on the nights the restaurant isn't open. And also not paying labor. So maybe overhead becomes manageable. Just speculating.

spinynorman99 wrote:Carlos Gaytan is back and has opened the first of three new spots (at the old Roy's location):

https://www.tzuco.com/

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/9/10/208 ... iver-north

bhovsepian wrote:Old Pueblo Cantina has opened in Lincolin Park. Have made it over a few times now and while fairly straightforward the food is really really good. Great spot to have in the neighborhood.

http://oldpueblochicago.com/