Water Works Blue Water Grill (520 N. Dearborn St.; 312-777-1400) expects to take a step up when its new exec chef, Joel Dennis (Tru), begins on June 25th. A grad of the Culinary Institute of America, Dennis worked as Alain Ducasse’s sous-chef for four years in New York, and he realizes he’s being tapped as … Read more
Let there be light: a new spot illuminates the West Loop scene
J Bar; Avenue M; Celebrity Beat
This month, Nagrant chats with Debra Sharpe, who has revamped and expanded her space at Cru Café & Wine Bar (25 E. Delaware Pl.; 312-337-4001) to include an outpost of her upscale Bucktown to-go hit, The Goddess and Grocer (1646 N. Damen Ave.; 773-342-3200). Debra Sharpe PODCAST: To hear more from Nagrant’s conversation with Debra … Read more
This month, Nagrant chats with two of the city’s most knowledgeable fishmongers: first, Dirk Fucik (Dirk’s Fish and Gourmet Shop, 2070 N. Clybourn Ave.; 773-404-3475), then Bill Dugan (The Fishguy Market, 4423 N. Elston Ave.; 773-283-7400), who have a combined 60 years of experience in all things aquatic.
Three new hot spots with prime beef and hopping scenes prove an indisputable point: red meat—and lots of it—never seems to go out of style PLUS: On Wine
Taste of Randolph: my second favorite weekend of the year. Humidity and rain be damned; dedicated fest-goers like me know how to have a good time. Friday night at the fest, my friend K. and I double-fisted our way through a set by the band Fountains of Wayne; the lines were so long at the … Read more
BUDGET BEATChicago Avenue, east of Ashland, could easily be dubbed chow central, being home to such hot spots as Green Zebra, Flo, and West Town Tavern. New to the mix is Habana Libre (1440 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-243-3303), a tropical cutie done up in shades of papaya and pineapple and outfitted with enough plants, paper … Read more
by Sarah Preston All dressed up-or down-and no place to go? Until recently, that was the Friday-night quandary for scenesters in Wicker Park. Despite the myriad hipster haunts dotting the ‘hood, it was hard to find a spot that appealed to both low-key loungers (decked out in last year’s boot-cut jeans) and high fashionistas (done … Read more
In a city where foodies flock to every new game in town, two exciting new Asian spots have been inexplicably overlooked.
