A lesson for any would-be bar owner: Never announce an opening date. Once you have every license in hand and all inspections have been squared away and your contractors have packed up their tools for the very last time, just go ahead and open. Then tell everyone you’ve done so…
Related: HUBBARD INN » A new Hemingway-inspired River North concept bar 1) Barra Ñ This sultry Argentina-by-way-of-Avondale nook features barely there lighting, strong mojitos, and DJ-spun beats that pull dancers out of their seats. 2977 N. Elston Ave.; 773-866-9898 2) Huettenbar It’s Oktoberfest every night at this slice of Germany in Lincoln Square: flower boxes … Read more
THE GLASS ALSO RISES: A new River North concept bar—from the people behind English, LaSalle Power Co., and Angels & Mariachis—is inspired by Papa’s European exploits
A Stroke of Geno
Geno Bahena, the well-traveled veteran of Los Moles, Real Tenochtitlán, Tepatulco, Deliciosoy Sabroso Grill, Chilpancingo, Ixcapuzalco, and Frontera Grill, is on the verge of another opening: Danzón Restaurante…
SINGLED OUT: The Bridgeport BYO features a homey menu of pies and pastries
Just hours before my first unofficial visit to The Aviary (955 W. Fulton Market)—you know, the little cocktail lounge from Grant Achatz that opened next door to Next this past Saturday—a painting by the Chicago artist and gallerist Thomas Masters and his collaborator, Adrian Leverkuhn, had been installed in the main room…
“It’s called The Ace Bar, like the bandage, because the place was broken, and I came in and fixed it,” says Brad Cousens, the owner of a new bar-slash-live-music-venue in the Lincoln Park address formerly home to Hoghead McDunna’s (1505 W. Fullerton Ave.; 312-970-1505)…
BEST NEW CHEF » The charming new restaurant in the former Eve space is Paris native Noguier’s dream come true. The chef-partner tells us Bistronomic’s backstory, his favorite dishes, what surprised him most about his customers, and more. How did Bistronomic come to be? It’s been my dream since I was in France. When I … Read more
« BEST NEW BARTENDER Related: BEST NEW RESTAURANTS 2011 » 22 great places to eat right now MOST PERFECTLY BRÛLÉED CRÈME BRÛLÉE PRIX FIXE 4835 N. Western Ave.; 773-681-0651 The lovely textured vanilla crème hits the not-too-sweet spot, but the thick, crunchy scorched crust on this brûlée makes each bite truly memorable. MOST … Read more
Our picks for favorite new dish, dessert, chef, and more
