News for Restaurants in Chicago October 2011 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 Mark and Elizabeth Mendez (formerly of Carnivale) have opened Vera Chicago in the West Loop neighborhood. This wine bar features a global selection of wines, with a focus on Sherry and Rosé, and a menu of artisan cheeses and Spanish sharable plates. Dishes might include grilled octopus with pimento and extra virgin olive oil; paella with rabbit and duck chorizo; and suckling pig confit with spicy greens. Vera Chicago, 1023 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-243-9770.   Grilled cheese is popular for a reason. Celebrating that fact, Dion Antic (Iggy's, Porkchop, Bagel on Damen, Harry's Velvet Room) is opening Melt Sandwich Shoppe, where fancied-up hand-helds---like a pastrami Reuben---couple with soul-warming soups. Melt Sandwich Shoppe, 1840 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, 773-292-6358.   The countdown is on for Charlie Trotter's vet Matthias Merges' new place. Yusho, expected to open in November in Logan Square, will meld Basque grilling techniques with a Japanese sensibility. The result: yakitori, a hot pot stocked with tripe and daikon and a kitchen table with its own multi-course menu. Yusho, 2853 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60618, 773-904-8558.   The Southern's Southern Mac & Cheese Truck is an unstoppable force for lunchtime fare. Now, it's also behind The Southern Mac & Cheese Store. In addition to serving as the mobile truck's prep kitchen (in Chicago food cannot be prepared on board), it'll turn out the mac ‘n' cheese, plus salads, grilled cheese and "pop," from its new digs. The Southern Mac & Cheese Store, 60 E. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60601, 312-262-7622.   Keep a look out for Geno Bahena's (Ixcapuzalco, Chilpancingo) latest, Mitad del Mundo in Logan Square. Naturally, the moles he's famed for will come into play, along with Mayan-esque meats and mole-sauced burgers. Mitad del Mundo, 2833 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60647, 773-661-1150.   The upcoming restaurant Acadia from Ryan McCaskey (Courtright's, Vivere, Tizi Melloul, Rushmore) isn't expected to open until December, but that's not stopping the buzz. So far, we know it'll serve seafood from Maine, prepped with the help of sous chef Chris Walker (Pops for Champagne). Acadia, 1639 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60654, phone not available.   If you plan on being anywhere near the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago this fall, be sure to swing by Filini, an upcoming Italian restaurant expected to open in November. In addition to serving coal-fired Neapolitan pies, it'll turn out snacks at a stuzzichini bar. In the kitchen: Christian Fantoni (Le Bernardin and Le Cirque as well as Bice in Chicago). Filini, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, 221 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, IL 60601, 312-565-5258.   Tony Hu---the maestro behind Lao Sze Chuan, Lao Beijing and Lao Shanghai---has opened his latest: Lao You Ju, a spot for modern Asian small plates, like cumin beef skewers and preserved pork with cauliflower. Lao You Ju, 2002 S. Wentworth Ave., Chicago, IL 60616, 312-225-7818.   Michael Jordan's Steak House has opened in the InterContinental Chicago, and the place is packed. Bypassing staid preparations for something decidedly sleek, its lineup of dry-aged beef is offset by interesting sides (a mashed potato trio), a seafood tower and inventive desserts, like a Key lime bombe. But the star of the show? It may just be the stack of garlic bread with Wisconsin blue cheese "fondue." Michael Jordan’s Steak House, InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-321-8823.   News Bytes Bayless Hits the Boards Rick Bayless has mad kitchen skills. He's also on TV. But no one would call him an actor---until now. Catch the chef in a starring role in "Cascabel," a circus-bent play at the Lookingglass Theatre, which includes a three-course meal from Frontera Grill. For details, visit lookingglasstheatre.org. Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-337-0665.   Chef Shuffle After recently reopening, Gioco has gotten a new chef: Gaetano Ascione, a Naples native. And, already, he has added new dishes to the menu, including tortellini with truffle cream sauce. Gioco, 1312 S. Wabash St., Chicago, IL 60605, 312-939-3870.   Brendan Neville (The Black Sheep) has moved over to Bite Café, where he's dishing up braciola with pork ragù. Bite Café, 1039 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, 773-395-2483.   Erin Mooney (Green Zebra) has taken over the pastry program at Custom House Tavern. Custom House Tavern, 500 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60605, 312-523-0200.   Sarah Jordan (The Black Sheep, Blackbird) has moved on to fashion finales alongside Giuseppe Tentori at Boka and GT Fish & Oyster. GT Fish & Oyster, 531 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-929-3501.   Michael Shrader departed his post at Epic and will join Jason Chan (Butter) to open Urban Union on Taylor Street. The wine-centric small plates spot will have a communal feel and price points for all pocketbooks. Urban Union, 1421 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607, phone not available.   Maria Selas has joined the team at newcomer Quay in the former De La Costa space, where she's sating sweet tooths with her upside-down Key lime tart. Quay, 465 E. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-981-8400.   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. James Toland's short-lived The Black Sheep has closed its doors. The Black Sheep, 1132 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60642, no phone.   Cibo Matto---theWIT hotel's Italian restaurant---has closed. Currently, the space will be used for private events. Cibo Matto, theWIT Hotel, 201 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60601, no phone.   After the departure of Curtis Duffy, Avenues closed its lauded dining room, with plans to open a new concept in 2012. Avenues, The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611, 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

View archived news: August 2020 | July 2020 | June 2020 | March 2020 | February 2020 | January 2020 | December 2019 | November 2019 | October 2019 | July 2019 | June 2019 | May 2019 | April 2019 | March 2019 | February 2019 | January 2019 | December 2018 | November 2018 | October 2018 | September 2018 | August 2018 | July 2018 | June 2018 | May 2018 | April 2018 | March 2018 | February 2018 | January 2018 | December 2017 | November 2017 | September 2017 | August 2017 | July 2017 | June 2017 | May 2017 | April 2017 | March 2017 | February 2017 | November 2016 | October 2016 | September 2016 | August 2016 | July 2016 | June 2016 | May 2016 | April 2016 | March 2016 | February 2016 | January 2016 | December 2015 | November 2015 | October 2015 | September 2015 | August 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 | April 2015 | March 2015 | February 2015 | January 2015 | December 2014 | November 2014 | October 2014 | September 2014 | August 2014 | July 2014 | June 2014 | May 2014 | April 2014 | March 2014 | February 2014 | January 2014 | December 2013 | November 2013 | October 2013 | September 2013 | August 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | May 2013 | April 2013 | March 2013 | February 2013 | January 2013 | December 2012 | November 2012 | October 2012 | September 2012 | August 2012 | July 2012 | June 2012 | May 2012 | April 2012 | March 2012 | February 2012 | January 2012 | December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009 | August 2009 | July 2009 | June 2009 | May 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | February 2009 | January 2009 | December 2008 | November 2008 | October 2008 | September 2008 | August 2008 | July 2008 | June 2008 | May 2008 | April 2008 | March 2008