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News for Restaurants in Chicago
July 2011 Archive

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Read about the openings, closings, chef shuffle, and special events in Chicago here. Gayot's Restaurant News has the information you want on the local restaurants in Chicago.  

CHICAGO RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Chicago has more than its share of steakhouses, but Dallas-based III Forks plans to add a link to the chain, serving Prime, wet-aged beef and seafood in a clubby setting. Differentiating it will be special treatments for kids. III Forks, 333 E. Benton Pl., Chicago, IL 60601, phone not available.
 
Vegans have another place to call their own: veg, noodle and rice-bent Urban Vegan, a Thai place from Sam Suwanratanabus, who was behind Evanston's Royin Sushi Bar. Urban Vegan, 1605 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60653, 773-404-1109.
 
Mark Mendez (ex-Carnivale) is readying himself to open Uva, a boutique Spanish wine bar, sometime this fall with his wife as the sommelier. Uva, 1023 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607, phone not available.
 
The folks behind Little Bucharest Bistro have opened seasonal Chicago Riverwalk Café, which serves Romanian-bent foods to the tune of roving Hungarian minstrels from May through October. That's a pretty unique setting for schnitzel. Chicago Riverwalk CafĂ©, 117 W. Lower Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601, 773-616-0070.
 
The Black Sheep James Toland (ex-Lockwood) has opened The Black Sheep with Michael Simon (formerly of graham elliot), a local, sustainably minded spot serving shareable eats in communal fashion. The off-kilter dishes range from snails with anise porridge, apple and fennel to eel steak with trochenberry, raisins and compressed fruit. http://www.blacksheepchicago.net/. The Black Sheep, 1132 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60642, 312-997-5100.
 
Quick-serve Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen has opened a second BYOB installment, this one in Lincoln Park. Expect a familiar lineup of eats---falafel, shwarma, hummus---though here it's a sit-down affair. Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, 1625 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 312-944-5800.
 
Head to the Essex Inn for the sweeping Grant Park views and contemporary Tribute restaurant alone. Overseeing the kitchen is Lawrence Letrero, who spent time at Karyn's on Green, and he's dishing up three meals daily, complete with lavender-accented veal sweetbreads with smoked potato, pickled ramps and lemon. Tribute, Essex Inn, 800 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605, 312-957-0000.
 
Telegraph is now open in Chicago Telegraph is now open in Logan Square. Coming courtesy of the Webster's Wine Bar and The Bluebird Wine Bar & Bistro crew, the Euro wine bar---decked in reclaimed wood---serves Midwest-driven plates from John Anderes (avec). Telegraph, 2601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-292-9463.
 
Alex Hernandez (ex-Japonais) is opening Waffles. This sweet and savory spot for the Belgian namesakes, where he'll serve everything from a red velvet with cherry compote and whipped cream cheese take to pork-lamb meatballs in spicy tomato stew atop an Asiago-mint version. Waffles, 14 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603, 312-854-8577.
 


News Bytes
A Fresh Face
Shoppers are about to get a big change when on-the-fly Foodlife at Water Tower Place turns into Foodease Market this fall. It'll feature an Alpana Singh-curated wine list at its vino bar as well as fancy chocolates from small producers. Foodlife, Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-335-3663.
 
New Cocktail Lounge
R.J. and Jerrod Melman's popular Paris Club is now augmented by Studio Paris, an upstairs cocktail lounge with indoor and outdoor seating, a retractable roof and dishes that include classic steak tartare and hamachi with crispy shallots. Paris Club, 59 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-595-0800.
 
Back on Track
Although it closed for a spot, Francesca's Forno is back on the scene, and it's not named Panza as once suggested. The space received a quickie revamp, as did the menu, which emphasizes cured salumi and cheeses, small plates, salads, pizza and pasta. Dishes to look to include spaghetti with wild mushrooms, mascarpone, marjoram, brandy-veal sauce and white truffle oil, and a baked soft hen egg with pomodoro and guanciale. Francesca's Forno, 1576 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, 773-770-0184.
 

Chef Shuffle

Check back soon for more news.


Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Chicago to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from yesteryear. The Dining Room, R.I.P.

Check back soon for more news.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to
learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Chicago

 

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