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News for Restaurants in Chicago
March 2012 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

Little Italy's metamorphosis continues with Urban Union, Michael Shrader (Epic) and Jason Chan's global European spot with a chef's table, seasonally focused menu with wood-burning oven options, and pristine raw bar preps. Urban Union, 1421 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-929-4302.
 
Cyrano's Bistrot & Wine Bar has morphed into Cyrano's Farm Kitchen. Keeping its French theme intact, the restaurant now highlights a farm-to-table approach. The setting has changed, too: it now favors repurposed materials, including those from an Indiana farm. Cyrano’s Farm Kitchen, 546 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-467-0546.
 
Michael Kornick and David Morton have opened their newest venture, Ada St., where Zoë Schor is serving up chicken-fried quail, fried black-eyed peas and seasonal panna cotta with craft cocktails, in an off-the-beaten-path space with lots of outdoor seating. Ada St., 1664 N. Ada St., Chicago, IL 60642, 773-697-7069.
 
Nieto's, the follow-up to 30-year-old Carlos', has opened at the same address, ushering in a more casual (but clubby) era of dining. On the plate, that translates to grilled jumbo Gulf shrimp with spicy papaya sauce, a lobster Cobb salad, and a Shake 'n Bake-inspired, bone-in pork chop. Nieto’s, 429 Temple Ave., Highland Park, IL 60035, 847-432-0770.
 
Acre offshoot Ombra, an Italian cicchetteria, has opened in Andersonville, with options like bagna cauda and Venetian sandwiches in a space loaded with reclaimed touches. Ombra, 5308 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640, 773-506-8600.
 
An exciting opening is around the corner: Scofflaw, a gin-centric cocktail bar from Boiler Room's Andy Gould and Mandy Tandy, Kris Nagy of Simone's and Danny Shapiro (The Whistler, Perennial). In the kitchen, Longman & Eagle's Mickey Neely. Details to come. Scofflaw, 3201 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-252-9700.
 
Among the most hyped openings of late: Nellcôte in the West Loop, Jared Van Camp's (Old Town Social) spot that's named after the place where The Rolling Stones recorded "Exile on Main Street." Expect dishes like house-made pasta, swathed in Champagne-crème fraîche sauce with oysters and leeks. Nellcôte, 833 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-432-0500.
 
LM owners Stephan and Nicole Outrequin Quaisser are teaming with Bradford Phillips (Pump Room) to open Brasserie by LM, a French brasserie, in the sort-lived Tribute space. They'll also morph Wolcott's into Troquet, a French bar serving various incarnations of the croque monsieur. Troquet, 1834 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60613, phone not available.
 
Doug Psaltis (The French Laundry) is overseeing the kitchen at Melman and Style network's Bill and Giuliana Rancic-run RPM Italian, its Italian-leaning, sharable dishes giving way to heartier pastas, like duck-fig ravioli that's made in-house. RPM Italian, 52 W. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-222-1888.
 
Edward Gray McNally (Spiaggia, Boka) will serve as chef of American-bent The Tortoise Club. Look for a summer opening and farm-driven, seasonal dishes. The Tortoise Club, 350 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60654, phone not available.
 


News Bytes
New Project from Paul Kahan
Paul Kahan's Publican Quality Meats is open for business in West Town, selling house-butchered meat and house-made charcuterie, along with made-to-order sandwiches and fresh-baked goodies, which are both for sale and prepped on site for Kahan's other restaurants. Publican Quality Meats, 825 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60661, 312-445-8977.
 
Chilapan Expands with Second Location
Logan Square's Chilapan got a larger, BYOB Ravenswood sib, complete with an outdoor patio. Chilapan, 1522 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60613, 773-878-1077.
 

Chef Shuffle

Jackie Shen (Red Light) has left Chicago Cut Steakhouse, after surprising everyone when accepting the post months back. Chicago Cut Steakhouse, 300 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-329-1800.
 
James Gottwald has vacated his position with Rockit Ranch Productions (Rockit Bar & Grill, Sunda, The Underground) to open Monti's --- an homage to his cheesesteak-loving Philly roots --- with his wife in the old Cinner's space in Lincoln Square. Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-645-6000.
 
Bradford Phillips has left his post at the Pump Room to open two restaurants with LM Restaurant owners Stephan and Nicole Outrequin Quaisser: Brasserie by LM and Troquet, a French-inspired bar. Pump Room, PUBLIC Chicago, 1301 N. State Pkwy., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-601-2970.
 


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.

Duchamp has closed its doors, and Jason Freiman has shifted his focus to The Anthem and Bangers & Lace, as well as a bar-driven newcomer set to open in a three-story space on Hubbard Street. Duchamp, 2118 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, no phone.
 

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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