New Restaurants
New Nightspots
Coming Soon
Lush
Now that the long-delayed Pasteur spin-off, Viet Bistro, is finally set to debut at 1344 W. Devon Ave., another sequel is already in the offing. Slated for a late fall opening at 2269 N. Lincoln Ave., this Lincoln Parker will serve casual, affordable Vietnamese vittles.
Nick's Grill
The Nick's Fishmarket folks will take off their tuxedos for this more casual seafood sibling in Deerfield's former Masck space (483 Lake Cook Rd.).
Shikago
We recently reported on the second coming of Kevin: that is, the Shikami brothers' second restaurant opening in the Loop at 190 S. LaSalle St. The name of this more casual Asian-leaning concept is now set (a blend of the owners' name and that of our fair city), as is the opening date (December).
Good Deals and Other News
Chef Movements
Toques Greg Lutes and Steve Chiappetti have left their respective posts at Les Deux Autres and Café le Coq, where they're being replaced by existing staff, while original chef Michael Shrader has returned to Nine and onetime Pili.Pili chef Fred Ramos has taken over at Gioco.
The Andersonville branch is temporarily closed; when it reopens this month it will feature a BYO policy, dinner service and a menu similar to the Belmont Avenue flagship. A few of the old menu favorites will be kept as "Debbie's Specials."
This pastoral fine-dining oasis in the Southwest Suburbs has introduced casual dining in its lounge, which has been redecorated with autographed menus from the owners' world travels and the sides of wine cases displaying the names of vineyards. Chef Jonathan Harootunian's New American gastropub-style menu items ($8–$14) can be enjoyed with housemade salts (including curry, smoked hickory and nori), the main dessert menu and the renowned 17,000-bottle wine collection.
Sunday diners will each receive a complimentary movie ticket to the neighboring Crown Movie Theatre when dining pre- or post-showtime (one movie ticket per entree purchased, continuing indefinitely; to receive the deal, you must secure a dinner reservation with a credit card, then stop by the restaurant for your tickets).
The Bannos boys have hit the airwaves with a food-focused radio show, Chewin' the Fat with the Bannos Brothers, Saturdays from 4–5 PM on 105.9 FM WCKG. Restaurant gossip, dining trends, cooking tips and food facts are all fodder for Jimmy and George, along with radio hosts Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano.
The original Lincoln Park location recently morphed its front room into a wine bar with a separate menu of light bites, including salumi and artisanal cheeses, and plenty of wines by the glass.
Opens its sixth area location on September 8th at 699 Skokie Blvd. in Northbrook (847-205-5111).
Has introduced a special $6 valet rate (validated at the restaurant) for weekday breakfast, a bargain for the pricey Gold Coast location.
Surveyors still debate whether this deep-dish chain can call itself "the original," but some quibblers will be quieted now that a new branch has opened in the original's original location (162 E. Superior St.; 312-266-3337).
This New American hot spot has introduced à la carte Sunday brunch (10 AM–2 PM) and curbside takeout. Call 773-327-3868 to order from the regular lunch, brunch or dinner menus.