Rick Bayless' Xoco is one of the first big openings of fall.
With fall almost here, it's time to look forward to the new restaurants soon to hit the shores of Lake Michigan:
Xoco: Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless turns out Mexican street-style food including tortas, churros and artisanal hot chocolate in River North. Estimated opening: September 8 (449 N. Clark St.).
Gemini Bistro: Long missing from the scene after his grand concept Jackson Park was aborted, talented chef Jason Paskewitz returns to head up this Lakeview French serving gourmet comfort food such as duck confit nachos and braised pork belly with quail eggs. Estimated opening: September 9 (2075 N. Lincoln Ave.).
Nella Pizzeria Napoletana: Nella Grassano, former pizza cook at beloved Ravenswood spot Spacca Napoli, teams up with Scott Harris (Mia Francesca) to open a similar brick-oven Neapolitan pizza joint in Lincoln Park. Estimated opening: September 13 (2423 N. Clark).
Ria: Jason McCleod, a vet of Raymond Blanc and Marco Pierre White restaurants, brings a high-end fresh seafood restaurant to the Gold Coast. Estimated opening: mid-September (11 E. Walton St., at the Elysian Hotel).
Balsan: This casual New American in the Elysian Hotel will feature desserts from Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate. Estimated opening: mid-September (11 E. Walton St.).
Mercadito Chicago: This gourmet NYC Mexican mini-chain launches in Chicago with fare like seafood-stuffed chiles rellenos and pineapple-infused guacamole. Estimated opening: mid-September (108 W. Kinzie St.).
Belly Shack: Bill Kim (formerly Le Lan and Charlie Trotter's) expands his informal-eats empire to Humboldt Park, this time with a Mexican twist – Asian tacos, anyone? Estimated opening: early October (1912 N. Western Ave.).
LM Restaurant: Blackbird veteran Brad Phillips will head up a French-contemporary spot in the old Tallulah space. Estimated opening: early- October (4539 Lincoln Ave.).
Yet-to-Be-Named Four Knuckleheads Taco Restaurant: Though details have been guarded, the crew behind avec, Blackbird and The Publican are focusing on tacos, beer and whiskey at their concept in Wicker Park's old Pontiac Café space. Expected opening: mid-October (1531 N. Damen Ave.).
The Purple Pig: Scott Harris (Mia Francesca) and Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven) are launching a River North gastropub. Expected opening: early November (500 N. Michigan Ave.).
Hearty: Next Food Network Star winners Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith, aka the Hearty Boys, will serve Southern-influenced gourmet comfort food. Expected opening: early November (3819 N. Broadway).
Grahamwich: Graham Elliot Bowles does the gourmet sandwich thing at a yet-to-be-revealed location. Expected opening: late November.