Bistro Bordeaux (Evanston) mini-review

Pascal Berthoumieux was born and raised in Bordeaux, where he attended culinary school and dreamed of owning a bistro somewhere in France. But Berthoumieux met his American wife on the Champs-Élysées, and Bistro Bordeaux ended up in Evanston instead of Paris. His menu is loaded with all the classics, of course—soupe à la oignon, escargots, … Read more

Weekend Photos: Revolution Brewing

In case you’re the lone Chicagoan who hasn’t heard the news: Revolution Brewing, the much anticipated Logan Square brewpub from Handlebar’s Josh Deth, opened last Wednesday to great fanfare and epic waits. Our photographer stopped by Saturday evening and snapped a packed house of early adopters sipping from the inaugural lineup of four house-brewed beers…

Three for Thursday: JBar, LaSalle Power Co., and The Underground

Did I ever tell you Thursday is my favorite night out? There’s always something to do, but without the fun! fun! fun! pressure of a Friday or Saturday. And yet, all that delicious weekend anticipation remains intact. If you happen to celebrate a tad too late, it’s a good excuse to take a personal day and enjoy a spontaneously expanded weekend…

Pocket Editions

Tomorrow, the World!
Maher Chebaro and Nemer Ziyad, the co-owners of dress-your-own-pita spot Falafill (3202 N. Broadway; 773-525-0052), are planning an empire—a chain of Falafills bringing fried chickpeas to the masses. “We are trying to do maybe five this year,” says Chebaro, who is also the…

Weekend Photos: The Exchange

Those Small Bar guys have been busy: Even as Phil McFarland and Ty Fujimura’s third SB location hovers on the cusp of launching in Lincoln Park (word on the street is next week) and Fujimura readies his forthcoming Japanese restaurant, Arami, in West Town, the duo found a few spare moments to freshen up yet another property in their portfolio. Opening Tuesday in the address last home to the Wicker Park DJ den Lava is The Exchange

The Hot List: 10 places everyone’s talking about and dining at in February in order of heat

BIG STAR Mexican street fare from a pick-up window? Sounds tacky. Until Paul Kahan and co. made it cool, that is. 1531 N. Damen Ave.; 773-235-4039 XOCO Mexican street fare worth waiting an hour for? Sounds dumb. Until Rick Bayless made it good, that is. 449 N. Clark St.; 312-334-3688 NELLA PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA We hear … Read more

No Rest for the Chilly

Every day I wonder why I feel like I need a nap at 11 a.m., and then I remember: last night. Over the past week alone, I’ve visited (all in the name of research) the following Chicago bars: Quenchers SaloonStanley’s Kitchen & TapRootstock Wine & Beer BarThe California ClipperSimon’s TavernHopleafUncle Fatty’s Rum ResortCunaThe Signature Lounge at the 96th, and, on the agenda for tonight, The Tasting Room (for a…

Big Loop Talk

Setting Down Steaks
A branch of the New York–based BLT restaurant family is slated to open September 9th at 151 West Adams Street, along with the JW Marriott it will be housed in, says Alison Brockwell, a spokeswoman for JW Marriott Chicago. . Since the 2004 opening of the flagship BLT Steak in New York City, the chain has collected several constellations’ worth of stars from top reviewers and has sprouted…