Little Italy, Big Oven
Nella Grassano, Spacca Napoli’s former pizzaiolo, is now working with Scott Harris (Mia Francesca) on a second Nella Pizzeria Napoletana at 1359 West Taylor Street (the old La Vita space)—and the pair haven’t even opened the first one yet. “I have so much trust in her golden fingers,” says Harris, who plans to open…
Mercadito, Naf Naf Grill, Eivissa, Fred’s at Barneys New York
Among the selling points listed in the press release for the new rock ’n’ roll bar The Rockhouse, which opened Friday in the old Déjà Vu space, was the staff’s multitude of piercings and tattoos—so many, in fact, “visitors would never know they were in Lincoln Park.” As for us, we’ve seen more small-of-back tats in greater LP than we care to count—not to mention neighborhood rock bars, including the also-newbies Amp and Faith & Whiskey—but we’ll let you be the judge…
The sleek new West Loop spot Market strays from the sports-bar norm: It’s less about the champagne of beers and more about champagne, from a Chandon Brut-infused Tom Collins martini to an entire roster of sparkling cocktails. The addition of yeasty, boozy champagne to my Market Mojito ($12), for example, turned a classic into something…
Ten Reasons We’re Excited About the New Whole Foods, Opening on May 20th
After two-plus years in the making, Loft Six Ten (1332 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-772-5017)—from the folks behind such hangouts as Cortland’s Garage, Goodbar, and newbie The Stretch—has opened its doors. Our photographer snapped the bar’s grand opening bash on Friday, when curious revelers roamed the two-level space with cocktails in hand…
A new Bucktown BYO features new flavors and a comfy patio
Expect to have your hand shaken and your name remembered
At the end of the day, what matters in most sports is the score. So, here it is: After my latest Wrigleyville drinking escapade, this time at the second outpost of Rockit Bar & Grill, The Chaser is 1-1 on Cubs bars. And this win was well earned (as was the Cubs’ 4 to 2 victory over San Fran).
Rockit two has some cosmetic similarities to the River North original: same two-floor setup, same menu with same famed Kobe burger…
Of Dust and Dough
The partners at Mod Pizza (1222 W. Madison St.; 312-666-1222), an upcoming pizzeria/smoothie bar in the West Loop, are obviously optimists. The 68-seat spot with an outdoor café is still under construction, but they plan to open on May 20th. “The plumbing is in, and we are hanging ductwork as I speak,” says Madison Drake, former partner at Phil & Lou’s. “The kitchen flooring will be in by end of next week.” Mod’s executive chef, Marco Aguirre (recently of Maggiano’s), has been working with Old California Pizza Dough, a San Francisco–based company, to develop the mix that will go into the sourdough-based flour for his predominantly thin pizzas. But the food is the least of Drake’s worries…
