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I have a friend who actually worked in the kitchen at one of the locations (I think there may have been two) and he did not have kind words to say about the closings and specifically how he and the rest of the staff were treated.

I believe you are referring to the diner that was named Belden over at the Howard and Western shopping center. If so that is another old West Rogers Park haunt of mine my father would take me to as a child.

If the owner treated his employees like he did us common BYOBers, it wouldn't surprise me. I actaully really liked the food at Terragusto. But, the arrogance of staff and ownership during its busy years is what drove me not to return.

Yes, I never went there but I heard some real not so great things in general. But he did tell me that when the restaurant closed it was a case of the owner not letting staff know exactly what was going on or what they were doing. My friend was under the impression it was going to be temporary. As time went on and he was not getting an answer or much of a response he had a bad feeling that he was going to end up the way he did: out of work.

Coincidentally, his new place opens up tonight in the old Caoba space:

http://twitter.com/#!/pennypollack/stat ... 1969388544

Ripasso
1619 N. Damen
773-342-8799.

The guy who bought the old Belden Corned Beef Center (officially on Clark actually) in the 1970s opened Belden North in 1981 in the old Pickle Barrel space on Western just south of Howard. In the '80s the same owner also ran Belden West on Golf Road in Des Plaines and Ricky's at the corner of Broadway & Belmont.

The Rib Joint has opened in a small strip mall on the NE corner Ridge Rd & Hohman Ave, in Munster,In

The Rib Joint
8241 Hohman Ave
Munster,In 46320
219-595-5574

OMG, many a late night at Ricky's, late seventies/early eighties. Blast from the past.

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trpt2345

Belden North closed after a fire, in the late '80s or early '90s. I used to go there with a group almost every Thursday night.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

The RIb Joint Food is great went there last night i could just drink there sauce by the boat loads .

At one time, the Belden Deli had four locations, one of which was on Howard and Western where the Pickle Barrel used to be. I believe you are correct in saying that they continued to use the little faux pickle barrels on the tables after PB closed.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Angelo's Taverna at 1612 N. Sedgwick, which closed in February of last year, has re-opened. New owner, new management, new menu and a renovated space. From what I saw of the menu it looks mostly Italian. Several appetizers, salads, entrees with pork or chicken and pastas. I'm sure I'll be trying it out soon as the old Angelo's was a place we frequented.

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Cookingblahg.blogspot.com

The former Osteria di Tramonto in the (cough) North Shore Westin in Wheeling (Milwaukee & Lake Cook roads) is now Saranello's.
Over a year ago all the restos at the hotel were supposed to stop being Tramonto-based, but it's still Tramonto's Steak and Seafood and RT lounge (sushi). I thought there was also a Gale Gand-based cafe, but the hotel's web page lists nothing of the sort.

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What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
-- Lin Yutang

Gale's Coffee Bar, a pastry and coffee bar in the hotel closed quite a while ago.

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"A fruit is a vegetable with looks and money. Plus, if you let fruit rot, it turns into wine, something Brussels sprouts never do."
-- P. J. O’Rourke"

I thought the buffet was decent, one of the better Indian buffets in the area. And the major advantage it had over the many Devon Avenue joints was 1) it didn't have to compete with 20 other places on the same block, and 2) it had a parking lot.

Sad to report that Palermo Bakery in Franklin Park has closed (I was unintentionally the last customer). The location on Harlem Ave. is still open.

Palermo Bakery (Closed)
3531 Rose St.
Franklin Park, IL 60131
847-349-5120

Palermo Bakery (Open)
3317 N. Harlem Ave.
Chicago, IL 60634
773-777-5957

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

And yet another casualty of the worst location on the NW side, Smokey Bears BBQ on 3809 N Harlem is closed. NOTHING has made it in that spot more than a couple months. I wonder why anyone would ever open in that spot again.

CLOSED: Al Madina at 2319 W. Devon, an unheralded and overlooked Indo-Pak restaurant that got lost in the sea of other such places along Devon.

Grazie! ( formerly Knickers ) on Oakton in Des Plaines is now closed. "For Rent" sign is posted.

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"Goldie, how many times have I told you guys that I don't want no horsin' around on the airplane?" Maj. Kong

Yes, and I just got e-mail about an event Tramonto himself is doing there on Nov. 10 to promote his new book.

Also interesting that Saranello's is an LEYE restaurant.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

I thought Jimmy G's BBQ was in that location last time I remembered it?

anthony and his brother Charlie from the Foster Ave. location opened up on Harlem then closed it down?

That spot has been a revolving door, Yes for a few months it was Smokey Bears, but there is a sign AGAIN on it saying for rent. I was in Smokey Bears there once it was good, but on a Friday eve I was the only customer.

The new Hannah's Bretzel at 400 N. LaSalle in River North was open today. Huge lines, as they were giving out free lunch to the first 200 customers.

Really? It'll probably be pretty good then. Melman knows how. I used to dig his Tucci Milan. But...he could've absolutely hit a slam-dunk home run in that spot had he gone with a re-creation of Fritz That's It. I would think the ticket per table would be adequate, but certainly not at 1974 prices!

But I've been saying nonstop since Osteria di Tramanto closed that this geographic nexus on Milwaukee Ave. would be perfect for us nostalgic 50-somethings that used to frequent Fritz & RJ Grunt's & JL Seafood & Lawrence of Oregano, etc.

Thoughts?

La Bombonera, the on-again/off-again Logan Square Cuban sammich joint, will be off again as of November 12th. Apparently Zacatecas Express, which occupied LB's current space, is fixing to move back in. No word yet whether the are seeking a new space to re-open (again).

La Bombonera
3658 W Diversey Ave
Chicago
(773) 394-1375

Deleece on Southport is now open at its new location, 3747 N. Southport, next to the Mercury Theater.

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"we must all understand that we're not all going to agree on everything, so let's just accept it -- hell, let's cherish it -- and move on." - ronnie_suburban

As I posted in the main thred, Happy Chef has closed its doors.

Happy Chef (R.I.P.)
2164 South Archer Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

A couple of casualties in Andersonville today -- both Kingfisher and Mista (Just the Andersonville location, I believe) have shuttered:

Kingfisher
5721 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL

Mista Pizza
5351 North Clark
Chicago, IL

I never heard a good thing about Kingfisher, but, sniff, I will definitely miss the Mista wrap on the spinach tortilla, as well as Mista's pizzas ... Really great takeout dinners.

Not particularly surprised about Kingfisher given the location on the north edge of the walking district and mixed reviews. Never checked out Mista, but there are so many pizza options in the area (Calo, Great Lake, Ranalli's, and Homemade all within a block), it was hard to find room for it.

By the sounds of it, Kingfisher worked better as a working-class Jefferson Park joint ala Pier 5736 (where/which they should have stayed) than an upscale Andersonville spot.