News for Restaurants in Chicago November 2008 Archive Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Culinary Events / Wine Dinners / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive 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 And if there isn't enough pizza already, here's another option. Antica Pizzeria opened in the Andersonville neighborhood, serving Neapolitan-style pies cooked in a wood-burning oven as well as antipasti and pasta galore. Antica Pizzeria, 5663 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60660, 773-944-1492.   Located in a LEED-certified building, Century Public House is the answer to your bar-going woes. Peter Camphouse (ex-Prairie Grass Café) is in the kitchen, cooking up meaty gastropub fare alongside artisanal wines and whiskies. Century Public House, 1330 W. Morse Ave., Chicago, IL 60626, 773-654-5100.   Everybody seems to do Italian these days, but at newcomer Fontana Grill in Uptown you can have your stone-fired pizza and Bosnian specialties like cevapi---grilled beef and lamb sausage-filled bread---too. Although it's starting off BYOB, that won't last long. Soon, it'll pour a selection of wines by the ounce ($1 or $2 per). Fontana Grill, 1329 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60640, 773-561-0400.   Jerry Suqi (Narcisse, Sugar, La Pomme Rouge) is taking a detour from the nightlife scene with the opening of his Palestinian café, Chickpea. Now, his mom is the mastermind behind dishes like malfoof, cabbage leaves encasing a garlic-jalapeño-topped herbed rice and minced lamb mixture. Chickpea, 2018 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, 773-384-9930.   News Bytes Vermilion Opens Branch in NYC Chicago restaurateur Rohini Dey (Vermilion) opened At Vermilion, 480 Lexington Ave., New York City, an offshoot of her Indian-Latino Chicago spot. Vermilion, 10 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-527-4060.   Cost-Conscious, Crave-Worthy Spring is all about going with the (economic) flow. It just started offering two new dining options: a bar bites menu (king crab rolls with banana, miso and cashew for $13, Malaspina oysters with apple caviar for $3) and a four-course menu running through the end of December ($45). The latter will include greatest hits since the restaurant opened: tuna Niçoise, lemon grass and coconut soup, scallops with braised oxtail, and Thai coffee panna cotta. Spring, 2039 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-395-7100.   Sounds Complicated Homaro Cantu has introduced "Campfire Mulled Wine" into his tasting menu at Moto. Made with hickory-smoked Rioja, it's served in an Erlenmeyer flask. But there's a catch, of course. You must exhale into the vessel, so the smoke exits the vessel, then drink the wine through the same straw. Moto, 945 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, 312-491-0058.   Brew-ha-ha Everyone was worried when the word got out that the original Goose Island Brewery had lost its lease and would close at the end of the year. Phew---it's no longer the case. John Hall pulled out all the stops, and the flagship location will be there at least another three years. That means Wil Turner has lots more beers to brew! Goose Island Brewery, 1800 N. Clybourn St., Chicago, IL 60614, 312-915-0071.   Chicago Slant All kinds of rumors are swirling about who will cook for the Obamas once they're in the White House. A few supposed contenders? Rick Bayless (Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, Frontera Fresco) and Oprah ex-chef Art Smith of Table 52. But that's all hearsay and, perhaps, wishful thinking.   Pizza Pizza In December, there will be something new shaking at Trattoria Trullo with the opening of its adjunct Pugliese pizza place in front. Trattoria Trullo, 4767 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60625, 773-506-0093.   Reappearing Act Mag Mile mainstay Oak Tree has reopened, and you'll hardly recognize it. In addition to receiving a serious redesign, the menu got modernized and there's a retail bakery component as well. Sure, you can still score breakfast all day, but you'll also encounter gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. What's not to love? Oak Tree, 900 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-751-1988.   Blue Water Grill Deals Save a few bucks at Blue Water Grill with its new bar and lounge menu, featuring $1.25 raw bar selections---oysters, clams and chilled shrimp---plus sushi rolls for $6. It's offered daily from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Blue Water Grill, 520 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-777-1400.   Chef Shuffle Republic Pan-Asian quickly morphed into Farmerie 58 and already its chef, William Alexander, has departed. Stepping into his shoes is Nathan Kosakowski, the sous chef, who will change the menu soon. Farmerie 58, 58 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-440-1818.   Sustainably minded executive chef Dean Zanella is leaving 312 Chicago at the end of December in search of his own Italian venture, although a location for his pending spot has yet to be determined. 312 Chicago, Hotel Allegro Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602, 312-696-2420.   Karen Nicholas, who helped open Soul in Clarendon Hills, has moved on. Jared Case, who clocked time at Red Light and Marche, is stepping in and is charged with the responsibility of updating the menu. Soul, 1 Walker Ave., Clarendon Hills, IL 60514, 630-920-1999.   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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