New Restaurants
New Nightspots
Coming Soon
The Gage
New American pub food from Dirk Flanagan (most recently at Blue Water Grill) will find a home by the end of the year in a onetime warehouse across from Millennium Park (24 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-372-4243).
Graze
Aiming for a mid-December opening, this all-small-plates New American featuring former X/O toque Bob Zrenner comes to the River North location of flash-in-the-pan Masck (35 W. Ontario St.; 312-255-1234).
Pinstripes
By early next year, you'll be able to score bocce, bowling and Italian-American cuisine all in one 45,000-sq.-ft. Northbrook space (1150 Willow Rd.).
Good Deals and Other News
Chef Moves
Blackbird brings in Michael Sheerin, formerly of New York's wd-50, as sous-chef; Todd Stein exits mk, where Eric Simmons, previously sous-chef at Bradley Ogden in Las Vegas, has come on board; Michael Dean Hazen (from the late Rushmore) has turned up at ristorante we; and Fred Ramos, of the now defunct Pili.Pili, takes over at Gioco.
Bill Dugan, pescatory pundit and proprietor of the foodie favorite Fishguy Market (4423 N. Elston Ave.), now serves intimate, creative seafood dinners in-store for up to 12 guests. He calls it "Wellfleet" and likens it to an underground dining club; meals are prepared by chefs on-site using Fishguy's premium products, with dessert and coffee two doors down at Dugan's art gallery (Thursdays at 7:30 PM; $100 per person; BYO; reservations required; 773-283-7400).
Offers a holiday gift basket containing a bottle of wine with two glasses and a decanter; a $25 gift certificate; a cedar plank; and recipes for a "Warm Winter Weekend Dinner," including a cedar plank salmon recipe that comes with a gourmet spice packet ($65; available at the restaurant; 847-427-4242).
This stylish sushi specialist is opening a new location in West Town later this month (1265 N. Milwaukee Ave.).
Has introduced a weekly changing prix fixe menu offered Thursdays through Sundays, with three courses paired with two wines for $45 per person (312-850-5005).
For easy gifting, check out its nicely wrapped, bargain wine packages containing two bottles priced below retail (ranging from $50–$75; shipping and delivery available; 847-729-9463; www.flightwinebar.com).
Looking for a change of seasonal refreshment? Grab a couple of growlers (64-oz. to-go, $11.50) of this award-winning microbrewery's 2006 Christmas Ale. This year's version combines a smoky chocolate aroma, spicy, slightly sweet body and dry hop finish (Lincoln Park, 312-915-0071; Wrigleyville, 773-832-9040).
"All You Care to Eat" Mondays means a big menu of starters, nigiri and maki for unlimited indulgence ($17.95 per adult; half price for children ages six–12; free for children under six; 773-248-5788).
Its new Saturday night wine dinners feature five-course menus of Tuscan dishes paired with five small-production wines (8 PM; $75 per person, includes wines; 312-917-5608).
Offers $3 apps weeknights from 4–6 PM (312-714-1001).
Wheeling's new Westin is not only home to four Rick Tramonto/Gale Gand venues, it harbors kosher kitchens (one meat, one dairy) for a convenient catering option (601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling; 847-777-6500).
In January, this purveyor of swanky suburban sushi expands to Deerfield with a location in the late Banana Moon's space (730 Waukegan Rd.).