New Restaurants
New Nightspots
Coming Soon
Avenue M
Chef Daniel Kelly of the defunct d.kelly is cooking up this clubby New American in Near West (691-695 N. Milwaukee Ave.).
Cathedral
Jason Paskewitz (ex JP Chicago, Sangria) will helm the kitchen at this upscale Contemporary American slated to open in 2007 in a huge River North space (444 N. Wabash Ave.).
David Burke's Primehouse
Chef David Burke (of New York's davidburke & donatella) will soon open this steakhouse – featuring prime beef dry-aged on-site in a salt cave – in River North's new James Hotel (formerly Lenox Suites, 616 N. Rush St.).
Devon Seafood Grill
This seafooder from the Houlihan's chain will swim into River North (39 E. Ontario Ave.) in late spring.
Viet Bistro
Pasteur's proprietors will open this cheaper spin-off of their French-Vietnamese flagship on the Northwest Side's ethnic restaurant strip (1344 W. Devon Ave.). In the meantime, plans to close and reconcept the original have been put on hold.
Good Deals and Other News
The Loop's schnitzel centurion (opened in 1898) will close on Tuesday, February 28th. Proud possessor of post-Prohibition liquor license No. 1 and known for its fast-moving lunch lines and grouchy waiters, it's going the way of, well, most of Chicago's classic German restaurants. Plans are for a family member to run a catering business in the space; for those who can't let go, The Berghoff Family Cookbook will be published in fall 2007.
The recently opened Wicker Park branch is now serving weekend brunch; menu highlights include huckleberry-ricotta pancakes with citrus curd, and eggs baked with wild mushrooms, spinach, garlic cream and Gruyère (10 AM–2 PM; 773-486-2233).
The ongoing renovation of this River North rib stalwart is almost finished (it has remained open throughout). The updated, clubby decor features warmer colors, a slate floor and a mix of celeb photos and Chicago scenes decorating the walls. The lightening-up also includes the menu, which now offers more seafood and salads (don't worry, the gooey classics remain). A new facade will complete the face-lift come February or March.
Since chef-owner Mehmet Ak saw the light and went raw, this Lakeview mainstay, formerly Turkish, now goes by the name of Cousin's Incredible Vitality, with a menu focusing on vegetarian, vegan, organic and raw foods with some Middle Eastern echoes. The revamped interior has dropped the exotic for a simpler, more earthy look and now features a take-out market and smoothie bar.
del Toro
This hip Spaniard has begun serving à la carte Sunday brunch with choices like rum-roasted banana-walnut crêpes with white chocolate crème anglaise, and eggs over easy with Spanish chorizo, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and peppers – plus some very juicy mimosa variations incorporating tangerine, pear or papaya (10 AM–3 PM; 773-252-1500).
The seafood chain is slated to open a second Chicago branch in the Loop location vacated by the original Nick & Tony's (1 E. Wacker Dr.).
Offers a Tuesday dinner deal: any appetizer/salad, entree and dessert on the menu for $25 (312-461-0161).
Ranalli's
Post–Valentine's Day, the Lincoln Park branch (1925 N. Lincoln Ave.) of these beer-and-pizza rumpus rooms will close for remodeling and morph into Ranalli and Ryan's, a casual American.
Trader Vic's
Pass the tiki torch, this mai tai maven is no more. The Polynesian palace, in the Palmer House Hilton since 1957, closed on New Year's Eve; rumors suggest it might be revived in River North sometime in the future.
Trio Atelier
Evanston's revamped version of Trio (launching pad of Grant Achatz, Shawn McClain, Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand) has announced plans to close at the end of February.
On Sunday nights for the foreseeable future, this Lincoln Park Japanese is offering a bargain five-course dinner menu paired with sake and wine; items include spicy Alaska king crab miso soup, the chef's sushi selection of the day and wasabi filet mignon with Japanese mashed potatoes garnished with parsnip and garlic cream sauce ($45; 773-883-8722).
- A Milano Italian Grill
- Nick & Tony's
- Porter's Steakhouse
- Settimana Cafe