11/18/09

Every Which Way Italian

Dean's (Wish) List
Dean Zanella, the chef of 312 Chicago for years, is partnering with Mia Francesca’s Scott Harris to open Aldino’s (626 S. Racine Ave.), a 120-seat Italian restaurant/deli in the old Rico’s and La Scala spot near the UIC pavilion. “A better word than...

11/12/09

Dish Flash

Big news over at Branch 27 (1371 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-850-2700), the West Town American bistro that opened this past April: Chef Bob Zrenner is leaving on November 19th and will be replaced by John Manion, lately of Goose Island Brewpub. “They want me to take...

11/11/09

A New Kind of Bar

Animated Cookies

Joe Bova and Jeff Steinberg, respectively an animator and a screenwriter, plan to open a bakery called Cookie Bar (2475 N. Lincoln Ave.) next month in a former Lincoln Park Starbucks. An animator and screenwriter? “In our private lives we entertained a lot,” says Steinberg. “People always loved anything we would bring to dinner parties. We started getting calls from...

11/04/09

Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Monk

Three-Pronged Approach
In 2009 it seems restaurateurs can’t go wrong with pizza, burgers, or beer. Or you can hedge your bets and try all three, as at The Lucky Monk (105 Hollywood Blvd., South Barrington; 847-898-0500), an upcoming 240-seat brewery from Jonathan Fox (La Madia) and Matt McMillin (formerly chef-partner at Big Bowl). Their pizzas will...

10/28/09

Same Place, Next Year

Gilt by Association
Brendan Sodikoff, who has worked with Alain Ducasse and Thomas Keller—and currently with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises—plans to open a restaurant called Gilt Bar in the old...

10/21/09

Project Gemini

Pollack’s Quick Hit
Jason Paskewitz’s latest home, Gemini Bistro (2075 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-525-2522), is a comfortably sleek corner spot with lots of dark wood to make it feel intimate and Edison bulbs so you know it’s hip. And Paskewitz (621 Diner, Wave, JP Chicago) is right in...

10/14/09

Size Matters

Epic Proportions
Stephen Wambach, the former corporate chef for Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Restaurant Group in New York, plans to open the locally minded Epic (112 W. Hubbard St.; 312-222-4940) toward the end of November in River North. (His bosses, two Chicago businessmen, wish to remain anonymous—but we know his pastry chef will be...

10/07/09

Divided They Stand

Clearing Customs
Big shakeup at Custom House (500 S. Dearborn St.; 312-523-0200): Shawn McClain, the original exec chef/partner/driving force, is on his way out at the South Loop standout. While still a part owner, McClain and his long-time partners at Custom House, Green Zebra, and Spring, Sue and Peter Drohomyrecky, are trying to figure out how to divide...

10/02/09

Dish Flash

A New Table
Giuseppe Scurato, a top-flight chef who made his bones at Boka, Landmark, and, most recently, Topaz Cafe, has been looking for his own place for a while now. He finally found it today in Uptown’s former Monticchio space (4882 N. Clark St.), where he plans to...

09/30/09

Coming Soon To Your Neighborhood?

The Fifth Element

The team behind Volo, Paramount Room and two Kitsch’ns plans to open a new concept in mid-October. “It’s our fifth spot, and we are calling it The Fifth,” says Jon Young of the 75-seat restaurant in an undisclosed location. (All Dish knows is...