Best New Restaurants
22 tantalizing spots to try now
Ad Categories: Dining & Drinking
Weekend Photos: Theatro
A riddle wrapped in mystery inside an enigma, the new West Loop club Theatro Ultra Lounge—originally slated to be called Veil, then just Theatro before owners settled on the current name—opened last Friday in the space formerly known as Reserve. Confused? We were, a little. Early adopters, however, seemed more intrigued than befuddled by the Eyes Wide Shut vibe, not to mention the scantily clad hostesses or the spot’s key feature, a “performance box” that hosted dancers, a contortionist, and a ballerina, among other…
Simone Says
A new craft cocktailing spot is calling the shots in Pilsen
5 bars…
that mixed craft cocktails before they were cool
A Happy-Hour Hideaway; Plus, Your Weekend To-Do List
As soon as the temperature tops 65, I become obsessed with rosé. So, after polishing off an 80-degree Wednesday in the Loop, all I wanted was a dry, crisp glass. I pinned my hopes on Saluté, the new wine bar that opened last Thursday in the Gold Coast, and was disappointed: nary a glass or a bottle on the wine list. Luckily, I found a replacement to turn my pout into a happy pucker…
To the Shores of Napoli
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…
Dining Tidbits
Mercadito, Naf Naf Grill, Eivissa, Fred’s at Barneys New York
The Rockhouse
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…
Market Report
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…
Whole in One
Ten Reasons We’re Excited About the New Whole Foods, Opening on May 20th
- The new 75,000-square-foot space at 1550 North Kingsbury Street (312-587-0648) is the third-largest WF in the world. (London and Austin, that’s where.)
- More than 400 free parking spaces for customers.
- Fresh food venues—which Lettuce Entertain You consulted on—line the store, including The Pilsen Taquería, Wicker Park Subs, Chicago Smokehouse, and Taylor Street Italian…