Chicago : Coming Soon

Dating a Big Star

BuzzEditor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:33:00 GMT

Big Star, the taqueria and bar from Paul Kahan (Avec, Publican) in Wicker Park's old Pontiac Cafe space, has set an opening date. Assuming that all of its inspections go well, you should be able to down a taco or three starting November 9 (1531 N. Damen Ave.; 773-235-4039).

Fall Preview

BuzzEditor — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:04:00 GMT

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.

Bleeding Heart Heads Downtown

BuzzEditor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:31:00 GMT

Lakeview's punk rock–inspired Bleeding Heart Bakery is opening a new space Downtown on November 12, according to its Twitter. Located in the Block 37 building on the corner of Washington and State Streets, the new spot will offer delivery and feature an all-sweet menu, including organic donuts.

Make Way for Mercadito

BuzzEditor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:46:00 GMT

River North will soon get a taste of modern-tinged Mexican delicacies at New York import Mercadito, due to open mid-summer. On chef Patricio Sandoval's menu, expect a selection of guacamoles (including a mango, jicama and chipotle version), ceviche and inspired tacos, while the setting will feature a retractable glass door, an intimate 35-seat tequila lounge, a guacamole bar and a centrally located 14-seat communal dining table with custom-designed lanterns made entirely of rope (108 W. Kinzie St.; 312-329-9555; www.mercaditorestaurants.com).

Salute to the Gold Coast

BuzzEditor — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Salute Wine Bar is set to open May 14

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

The Gold Coast gets a grape influx from Salute Wine Bar, opening May 14. The new spot is located in a rehabbed pre-Victorian house filled with cherry wood tables, black-and-white photos of Italy and silk light fixtures. Owner Dominic Gaziano says, “We want people to feel like they’re being welcomed into a cozy Italian home.” To go along with the 70-bottle wine list (and 12 by the glass), chef James Caputo, formerly of Rosebud, will be serving up Italian-inflected small plates including muffaletta and filet mignon carpaccio (46 E. Superior; 312-664-0100; www.salutewinebars.com).

Powering Up LaSalle

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:04:00 GMT

LaSalle Power Co

photo: courtesy of the restaurant

River North is getting a massive new rock 'n' roll inspired bar, restaurant and music venue on May 1. LaSalle Power Co, a 20,000-sq.-ft. venture from the folks behind English and Angels & Mariachis, is located in the historic LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse building and will feature diamond-tufted, chocolate-colored booths, custom 1970s-style gold swivel chairs and gourmet American dishes like classic Cobb salad, a trio of mini-potpies and buttermilk-fried chicken and waffles (500 N. LaSalle St.; 312-661-1122; www.lasallepowerco.com).

Cru Out, Feast In

BuzzEditor — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:28:00 GMT

After two years, Debbie Sharpe's Cru Café has closed and is being converted into a second outpost of her Bucktown standard Feast. Owner Sharpe was "very sad" to see the Gold Coast New American go because of the loyal clientele and staff it had nurtured, but in the current economic climate she felt the space would be better served as Feast (and would better complement her market, The Goddess and Grocer, next door). The new Feast should open in two to three weeks.

New Eats for the New Year

BuzzEditor — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:50:00 GMT

Times may be tough, but you wouldn’t know it from these five restaurants slated to open in the next few weeks.

Eivissa: Opening at the end of the month, this Old Town arrival will serve pinxtos (Basque-style tapas) from itinerant toque Dudley Nieto (1531 N. Wells; 312-929-2951).

Ristorante Al Teatro: La Madia and FoLLia vet Giovanni Zonca helms this 200-seat Italian eatery (think seafood soup, lasagna and housemade gelato) opening in late January (1227 W. 18th St.; 312-379-3984).

Sunda: Also in late January, the boys of Rockit ranch (Rockit Bar & Grill and The Underground) are letting chef Rodelio Aglibot (ex LA's Koi) loose in this modern Pan-Asian eatery designed by Tony Chi (110 W. Illinois).

Terragusto 2: The owners of Roscoe Village fave Terragusto are opening a Lincoln Park outpost of the Italian trattoria on January 19th (340 W. Armitage).

Tocco: Located in a former McDonald’s that's been outfitted with imported Italian furniture, this Italian from the owner of the Market District's FoLLia should be serving wood-fired pizza and and other goodies by late January (1266 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-687-8895).

Trader Vic's Sets Sail for the Gold Coast

BuzzEditor — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:15:00 GMT

After closing its Palmer House Hilton branch in 2005, legendary Polynesian lounge and restaurant Trader Vic's plans to reopen its doors in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast by mid-November. As to be expected, the location will feature the chain's classic menu of favorites (cooked in its signature Chinese wood-fired oven) as well as its retro island-themed cocktails and decor (1030 N. State St.; 773-252-8550).

Fall Restaurant Preview 2008

BuzzEditor — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:19:00 GMT

The biggest news of the fall is that the seemingly endless wait for the Publican will soon be over, but there are plenty of other exciting openings to look forward to:

The Bristol: Chris Pandel (ex Café Boulud, Tru) will be serving up pâté, terrine, charcuterie and more at this beer-focused restaurant opening September 23rd in Bucktown (2152 N. Damen Ave.; 773-862-5555).

Jackson Park Bar and Grill: After three years of menu development, Jason Paskewitz is aiming for a late fall opening of this American spot in the old Jazz Record Mart space, where he'll be offering big plates of classic fare including steaks, chops, and braised short ribs (444 N. Wabash Ave., 312-644-7200).

Lula's Pilsen Location: Though there’s no official name yet, the folks from Lula – who have a knack for setting up successful shop on the edges of urban gentrification areas – will bring their local, sustainable New American to the Pilsen neighborhood in late November. Chef de cuisine Jason Vincent will man the pass (2119 S. Halsted St.).

Olo: In late October (or early November), Sean Eastwood of Isabella’s Estiatorio in Geneva brings his Mediterranean- and North African-influenced cuisine to the Randolph Street corridor in the West Loop. On the menu are rustic flatbreads and tajines from his wood-burning brick oven (1152 W. Randolph St.; 312-733-0573).

Province: Ceviche master Randy Zweiban (ex Nacional 27) breaks out of his South American shell with this mid-to-late October arrival, where he'll be serving Latin-inspired New American fare like house-cured anchovies and lamb with chorizo and cornbread (161 N. Jefferson St.).

The Publican: After a two-year delay, Chicago’s most anticipated restaurant finally arrives the first week of October. The team behind Blackbird and Avec will debut its pork-, beer-, and oyster-filled menu with chef de cuisine Brian Huston at the helm (845 W. Fulton Market).

Town and Country: Top Chef runner-up Dale Levitski launches his seasonal American West Loop restaurant in late November or early December (525 W. Monroe).

– Michael Nagrant

Taste Jamaica, Jamaica in Evanston

BuzzEditor — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Tomorrow the owners of Rogers Park's Good to Go Jamaican will open Jamaica, Jamaica, their upscale outpost in Evanston. To capture authentic flavors lacking locally, owners boast homemade marinades and rubs prepared with spices directly imported from Jamaica. From opening night forward, expect to dine on jerk-rubbed meats and seafood, curried conch and of course, fried plantains (1512 Sherman Ave., Evanston; 847-328-1000)

The More Cupcakes the Merrier

BuzzEditor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:04:00 GMT

More, a boutique cupcake salon in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, is set to open Friday, September 12th. Executive chef Todd Maturatai (ex Powerhouse) and consulting chef Gale Gand (Tru) have teamed up for a menu that includes sweet flavors like chocolate mint, pink grapefruit and mocha chip, as well as truly creative savory combos like fig, blue cheese and port (1 E. Delaware Pl.; 312-951-0001).

Rosemont Catches a McCormick & Schmick's

BuzzEditor — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:53:00 GMT

One of the most popular spots in Chicago, seafood chain McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant is about to open its sixth location on September 6th in an 8,000-sq.-ft. space with a small patio in Rosemont. Like the other McCormicks, the focus will be on seasonal catches, including more than 30 varieties of fresh seafood, from Alaskan Halibut to New Zealand Grouper (5320 N. River Rd., Rosemont; 847-233-3776).

SugarToad To Land in Naperville

BuzzEditor — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:41:00 GMT

From chef Jimmy Sneed comes SugarToad at the Hotel Arista in Naperville. Named for a sweet (sugar) and ugly (toad) blowfish from the Chesapeake Bay that Sneed has been cooking with for more than 20 years – and that he'll serve as a complimentary tempura-style teaser – the regional American will feature dishes like smoked trout from South Carolina and shitake mushrooms and ham from Virginia; expect a September 12th debut (2139 CityGate Ln., Naperville; 888-504-0088).

The Bristol Is Coming to Bucktown

BuzzEditor — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:50:00 GMT

This September, chef Chris Pandel (ex Café Boulud, Tru) will launch The Bristol, a seasonal American with Mediterranean influences, in Bucktown at a yet-to-be-disclosed location. The menu will include bar snacks like charcuterie, salumi, duck-fat french fries and cheddar fritters as well as an awful lot of offal like grilled sweetbreads and pig's ear salad. Über-mixologist Debbie Peek is consulting on the cocktail menu, which will be a mix of classics (think Moscow Mule and Pisco Sour) and fresh in-season drinks including the Peach Smash (bourbon, fresh peaches, lemon and mint).

Update: The Bristol's address will be 2152 N. Damen Avenue.