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Funny. As I mentioned above, somebody is obviously smarter than I am on the state of downtown restaurants but Naf Naf will be 1 block from the "just okay" Med Kitchen, two blocks from the very good Roti (make that 2 Rotis), down the street from Haifa Cafe, 2+ blocks from the also soon to open Nesh, just up the street from one I dream of Falafel and not much farther from a second. And I know I'm missing some spots.

And within walking distance of two Mezza's, a Taza, the Jaffa inside Ogilvie, and Presto inside the French Market...

Not to discount the excellent UB Dogs, but how about some burger spots?

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"Ah, lamentably no, my gastronomic rapacity knows no satiety" - Homer J. Simpson

Hi all,

First time post so forgive me if this should be in another thread, but does anyone know what is happing with I Monelli in Lincoln Square? Yelp reviews have been poor recently and the website was updated last month noting they would be closed Mondays thru the end of May.

Then I walked by last night (Wednesday) and they were closed for "remodeling."

Yes, a good burger place would be great in that part of the Loop. I worked downtown a few years ago, and there was a great little place at Clark & Madison that had Burgers, and then I was working up North for awhile, and when I came back to the loop it was gone, and is now a Bank of America. Also, Herm's had great burgers and stuff and that got take over by a Pot Belly.

My go to now for that kind of food is Off the Tracks Grill on Lake & Wells.

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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"

There's also Benjyehuda, which is a little further south than the others, but still walking distance in this part of the Loop. Speaking of which, there may well be more felafel/shawarma quick-serve places in walking distance of one another than there are around the real Ben Yehuda Street in (West) Jerusalem, which I've been to a few times (there's only two, maybe three I can think of either on Ben Yehuda or within a half mile or so, but I'm going by memory from the past few years of some summer visits). The Old City, of course, is a different story.

I wouldn't mind having Naf Naf or one of the others open up a little further north in the area off of Michigan Av. by Northwestern, or on Grand. It certainly would beat the ubiquitous M Burger and the likes of Jersey Mike's Subs. YMMV though.....

Once you hit van Buren, you have Benjyehuda (which is pretty much around the corner from I Dream of Falafel) and Jaffa Bakery and even the crap they pass off as falafel at Subway.

Speaking of Middle Eastern feast or famine: an alternative to the "meh" Old Jerusalem in Old Town, or a place in the Gold Coast (which has nothing, unless you count a generic Mediterranean place on Division and Wells) wouldn't be a bad idea either. I hesitate to count El Souk (Chicago & State) on the list; once visit was enough to permanently dissaude me from coming back.

Old Jerusalem used to be pretty good, but I'm referring to nearly 20 years ago when either (a) the competition was lacking or (b) it was better.

A restaurant called 'Ovie' has been announced via a series of painted walls at the Ogilvie Train Station, the part near the French Market. The logo is a martini glass made of the letters 'Ovie' and the signs say 'Home of the Mile High Corned Beef' - I think....something Mile High.....

No matter what it is, I hope i helps the French Market.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned: I was riding by the Globe Pub earlier today and I noticed that the restaurant next to it (Formerly known as Red Brick) had its windows papered up -- I thought, "The Globe should just expand into that space," and sure enough, there's a sign on the door of the ex-Red Brick advertising something called "The Globe Lounge."

The Globe Pub
1934 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL

The Peasantry ("Elevated Street Food", their sign said) is getting ready to open in the former Hai Yen Vietnamese restaurant space at 2723 N. Clark St. in Lincoln Park. Lights were on, interior looked finished (standard "upscale" dark wood everywhere), furniture was all setup. The sign in the window said they plan on opening next month.

It's a shame Hai Yen's gone, they were nice folks, and had tasty bo la lot.

Looks like San Antonio-based Fatty's Burgers and More is opening a location at 2665 N. Clark St. in Lincoln Park, in the corner space that apparently used to be Jay's sandwich shop. The windows were still all papered up, and there were "help wanted" signs posted, but no indication of an opening date.

From what I could find, they only have the one location in San Antonio, so this will be store #2 for them.

Hai Yen was indeed a loss but I have high hopes for The Peasantry. It comes from the Franks n Dawgs folks so it will be interesting to see what they can do with a sit down restaurant.

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-Josh

An amuse bouche at breakfast is called a Bloody Mary - Scott Manlin

No kidding! I kinda rolled my eyes at the place as I walked by it today (the name, the slogan, and the generic "upscale-casual" interior decor all had me thinking this place wouldn't be long for this world), but knowing who's behind it now actually has me looking forward to trying it out & hoping it succeeds.

They don't seem to have a knack for names. They could have avoided a lot of trouble if they had called Franks 'n Dawgs something that didn't make passersby think it was just another Chicago hot dog stand.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

Hi,

I was at Ramova Grill this morning for my first (of two) breakfasts. They have extended their closed for good date to mid-May. By the end of May, they have to be completely gone.

I did get my Ramova Grill t-shirt for $12.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

When we were there on the Chowathon, they told me it might even be the middle of June before they close. I think it's still a little bit up in the air. Either way, they are closing soon and I'll miss them. I did get the impression that there is a better than average chance that the son will be reopening at a new location at some point, but not immediately after closing their present location. I was assured, with a sly smile, that the chili recipe will not completely disappear.

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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 thank goodness for that. I'm not a chili fan, but that stuff is magical. I was wondering if their chili recipe happens to have roots in the Cincinnati style? I haven't had Cinci-style to compare, but the hint of cinnamon and the option of serving it over spaghetti made me wonder.

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As a mattra-fact, Pie Face, you are beginning to look almost human. - Barbara Bennett

To me, the chili seems more akin to the "sauce" they use on a coney dog in Michigan. It's more loose and soupy than Cincinnati chili, but you're right. It has that nice cinnamon component.

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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

But unlike Cincinnati chili, Ramova's isn't sweet. There's certainly the aromatic component but it doesn't go beyond that. I think that's why I like it so much, and also what makes it so unique.

=R=

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I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

Sauce? Good plan.

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“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Yeah, I know the Ramova's chili isn't precisely Cinci, but I wondered if it was a distant relation, so to speak. I also like the cinnamon tinge.

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As a mattra-fact, Pie Face, you are beginning to look almost human. - Barbara Bennett

The sign now reads GoGo Asia. From my drive-by, it looks like the inside is unchanged. I can't speak from experience, but I would think the servers would be uncomfortable spending so many hours in mini dresses and knee-high boots.

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I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason Love
There is no pie in Nighthawks, which is why it's such a desolate image. ~ Happy Stomach
I can't go to Hollywood. I got biscuits to make. ~ Dwight Henry

Late-Nite Eats Database

Maybe they're trying to compete with Wao Bao and their "Hot Asian Buns."

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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"

It's actually Go Go China, whick makes all the difference.

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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

Sushi Wabi closing or may have already closed 4/21.

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"Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open."
William Shakespeare

Armand's now has an outpost on Western Ave in Chicago (in a space formerly occupied by O'Fame pizza):

Armand's
4159 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL
http://armandspizzeriaexpress.com/western/index.html

That Armand's has been there for probably over a year.