Opening

Open now: Even without a liquor license, Bascule Wine Bar (1421 W. Taylor St., Little Italy, 312-763-6912) is ready to go. If all works according to plan, the wine-focused restaurant from sommeliers Jason Prah and Scott Harney will shift from its current BYO status to hosting a full bar on Friday.

Morsels

With L2O barely a week out of the picture, Lettuce Entertain You is already looking ahead to the opening of Intro (Belden-Stratford, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, Lincoln Park), their new-chef-every-few-months spot slated to open February 4. Tickets for the first few months are on sale now, and the base price ranges from $65 to $95 without drink pairings, depending on when you visit.

It’s time for the return of the ultimate in hibernation fare, the Honey Butter Fried Chicken Pizza at Piece Pizzeria & Brewery (1927 W. North Ave., Bucktown, 773-772-4422). If you missed the minor freakout about this pie last year, it’s a white or red pizza with the aforementioned fried chicken from Honey Butter, mozzarella, paprika, honey, and chicken crust crunchy bits. It’s available all month long—the small is $16.99, medium is $20.49, and large runs for $23.99.

There’s a new pastry chef at GT Fish & Oyster: Andrea Bonitatibus, whose resume includes stints at Jean-Georges and Per Se in New York City. Four of her creations are already on the menu, including a carrot cake with orange cream cheese and coconut ice cream and a Key lime pie with raspberry meringue and gin and tonic sorbet.

Northwest side smoked-meat fans are about to lose a big name. The owner of Honey 1 Barbecue (2241 N. Western Ave., Bucktown) has announced he’s moving his shop to Bronzeville and will most likely close up his current location when he does, per the Reader, creating a serious deficit in wood-smoked barbecue outside of the south and west sides.