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News for Restaurants in Chicago
May 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

Tony Hu of the Lao empire acquired Spring World and has plans to morph it into another regional restaurant: Lao Yunnan. Lao Yunnan, 2109 S. China Pl., Chicago, IL 60616, phone not available.
 
Chef Tony Mantuano "Top Chef Masters" alum Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia, Terzo Piano, Bar Toma) has opened Piano Terra, a counter-service, al fresco salad bar amid the street-level North Garden at The Art Institute of Chicago. Diners can build their own creations from options such as lamb bacon and aged goat's milk cheese, adding on a veg sandwich for good measure. Illy espresso and frozen desserts are also available. Piano Terra is open daily from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (weather permitting) through Labor Day. Piano Terra, The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601, 312-443-8650.
 
Dryhop Brewers will make its debut in Chicago this fall. Owner and brewmaster Greg Shuff will feature nearly a dozen taps flowing with made-onsite brews. Pete Repak (Charlie Trotter's, Fox & Obel) will man the kitchen, whipping up Euro-inspired dishes, burgers and other hops-friendly fare. Dryhop Brewers, 3155 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, 312-513-7162.
 
Troy Graves (Eve) has opened cocktail lounge Red Door in Bucktown, where he's serving poutine topped with curry gravy, an Iowa breaded pork sandwich and lamb-neck Sloppy Joes in the patio-frocked, former home of Duchamp. Red Door, 2118 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-697-7221.
 
Harold Jurado (Japonais, Chizakaya, Sunda) plans to open pan-Asian Jellyfish this summer, serving a mix of shareable plates, sushi and larger entrées at an accessible price point amid the Rush Street crush. Jellyfish, 1009 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-660-3111.
 
The folks behind Custom House Tavern have opened modern French brasserie Maison, where chilled seafood platters, charcuterie, cheese and more substantial entrées (Parisian gnocchi, chicken liver terrine, duck confit) are the order of the day. Maison, 333 E. Benton Pl., Ste. 300, Chicago, IL 60601, 312-241-1540.
 
Get ready for Bar Pastoral, a bistro offshoot of the wine, cheese and bread-hawking trio Pastoral. It'll focus on charcuterie, cheese and light bites. When renovations start in June, it'll link to its Lakeview sibling's address. Bar Pastoral, 2947 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, phone not available.
 
Allen Sternweiler (Butcher & The Burger) is consulting on the menu for soon-to-be-revived The Glunz Tavern, where French-influenced, German-Alsatian eats will include sauerbraten rouladen, schnitzel and oxtail pot-au-feu, all served next door to The House of Glunz. The Glunz Tavern, 1202 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-642-3000.
 
In Fine Spirits has reemerged as Premise, though the wine bar still exists. In the kitchen is Brian Runge (graham elliot, Brasserie Ruhlmann), prepping modern American eats like fluke tartare with uni sabayon, lotus root and dashi gel, ideal as part of a tasting or paired with complex cocktails. Premise, 5420 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640, 773-334-9463.
 
File this one under odd restaurant names: Horse Thief Hollow, a nod to, well, horse thieves, who used to hide in the Beverly neighborhood where it'll reside. Aiming to open this fall, the restaurant will have a smoked meat bent and brewed-on-site beers. Horse Thief Hollow, 10426 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60643, phone not available.
 
City Farms Market & Grill opened in the Lakeview neighborhood, with a companion food truck --- Beyond Borders --- to open soon. The farm-driven menu, rooted in lovingly crafted sandwiches, will expand to include comfort-centric American meals when it opens for dinner. City Farms Market & Grill, 1467 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60613, 773-883-2767.
 
Zak's Place owners Matthew Van Valkenburgh and Yamandu Perez plan to open Two in the former May Street Market space in the coming months, complete with repurposed décor, a meat-minded, Midwestern menu and penchant for butchering in house. Two, 1132 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60642, phone not available.
 


News Bytes
P.J. Clarke's Projection
The word is P.J. Clarke's will not renew the lease at its Streeterville location. P.J. Clarke's, 302 E. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-670-7500.
 
In Memorium
Our condolences go out to the loved ones of Bistro Campagne executive chef/owner Michael Altenberg, who passed away. Bistro Campagne, 4518 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, 773-271-6100.
 

Chef Shuffle

Eric Aubriot, who has been known to bounce around, vacated his post at Pasteur. As a result, the Vietnamese-French restaurant will sway Vietnamese, with Dan Nguyen expanding offerings in coming weeks. Pasteur, 5525 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640, 773-728-4800.
 
Abraham Conlon and Adrienne Lo of X-Marx, a popular pop-up dining experience, have found a home, where five, seven or ten omakase-style, noodle-centric courses will be tinged with Asian, European and American flavors. It'll be called Flour and Bones. And the seating? It will be largely communal, with about 20 seats available for à la carte dining. Flour and Bones, 2957 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, phone not available.
 
Iliana Regan is taking her elaborate underground dinner series, One Sister, to the former home of Prix-Fixe. Regan, also known for making pierogi, will offer artsy dishes at forthcoming Elizabeth that will emphasize local and foraged ingredients and be served mostly in set-price, tasting fashion. Look for it as early as late summer. Elizabeth, 4835 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, phone not available.
 
Alpana Singh has tapped Bistronomic alum Christian Gosselin for her upcoming wine bar, The Boarding House, in River North. Like a lot of menus these days, it'll feature poutine --- only here, it's of the lobster variety. Look for it to open this summer. The Boarding House, 720 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60654, phone not available.
 
The dining room at The Florentine Christopher Macchia has left Coco Pazzo to helm Todd Stein's vacated position at The Florentine. Stein will remain consulting chef but has gone on to oversee the kitchen at Tony Priolo's upcoming Piccolo Sogno Due. Coco Pazzo, 300 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-836-0900.
 


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.

Less than five months after opening, Laurent Tourondel's BLT American Brasserie has closed. BLT American Brasserie, 500 Superior St., Chicago, IL 60610, phone not available.
 
Chinatown's Lure Izakaya Pub has closed. Lure Izakaya Pub, 2017 S. Wells St., First Fl., Chicago, IL 60616, phone not available.
 
Le Titi de Paris has closed its Arlington Heights digs. The fine French restaurant, favored for 40 years, served its final wine dinner on June 15. Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004, 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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