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tem wrote:
"Wow .... I just might be clairvoyant about wishing for an Indian restaurant in Wicker Park. In the old Big Horse/El Chaparral space there is scaffolding up with a permit that has the name "Saaj" on it. It's the same space my friend and I have been talking about since the Big Horse was shut down in summer 2006. A quick google says that "saaj" means something like "to create" so it would kinda fit, I guess. Perhaps someone has some insider info."

http://www.saajcafe.com/

aaargh. it's not going to be an indian restaurant. i wish someone would open an indian restaurant in bucktown or wicker park! i'd be there three times a week if it were any good.

I heard this as a rumor at a party, but I think it's from a reliable source. The new building that is going up across the street from the California L stop is going to be the second Northside.

There is a place under construction across the street and just west of Wicked that looks like it will be doing breakfast - "Doc's Organic" or something. They have paper in the windows promising organic pastries, smoothies, bagels and such. Unfortunately last week a stop work order was posted on it, but hopefully they'll get that sorted out.

On a related note the dysfunctional organic cafe at the north end of the Congress Theater building closed a month or two ago.

Grand Katachi--BYOB sushi now open.
(Damen, just South of Lawrence)

The Marrakesh Espresso awning is still up but definitely a sushi place now.

There are signs in the windows saying "Bridie McKenna's -- Now hiring." I guess that's a step toward someday opening.

Any word on Violet, a breakfast lunch spot, on the 3800 block of north southport?

See this thread.

Went to get some piping hot udon noodle soup at Tokyo lunch box for lunch today and it appears that a salad creations is opening up next door. This is a great developement for this area. There is no place to get a quick salad.
This is the Wabash location, near DePaul.

aaargh X 2.

For those of you who didn't see this yet:

Meritage calls it a career, announces Jan. 1 closing

Say it ain't so: Christopher Peckat announced this morning, via e-mail, that his restaurant, Meritage Café & Wine Bar (2118 N. Damen Ave) would close its doors for keeps on Jan. 1. Meritage has won a handful of awards since its May 1997 opening with chef Jonathan Harootunian, and has been one of the city's most consistently excellent restaurants throughout its existence. It will be missed. But the good news, sort of, is that there's still time for a farewell meal or two.

That is really bad news. We have been going to Meritage for years and we will really miss their outdoor garden. So sad.

Cy's on Milwaukee will now be Adam's ribs and ale house.

They now have an awning for the new sushi place. i wonder if opening a week before the Damen L stop closes will impact its ability to establish itself.

Which defunct Cy's location are you referring to? The one north of Lake-Cook or the one south of Lake avenue? Either way, both locations are cursed.

If there is an over/under pool for 'Adam's Ribs' with " 18 months of operation " being the benchmark, put me down for "under".

HI,

The Lake-Cook location was once the long time home of Hans Bavarian Lodge*. While Hans was a well known grump, he certainly packed them in for years.

I was at Cy's Seafood for lunch once. It was a cavernous room emphasized by the few tables occupied. There are a lot better choices at the restaurant row just a bit south of Dundee Road not too far away.

*It is possible it was not that building, then it could be the neighboring building. I'm 90% certain, but always a chance I'm wrong.

Regards,

Arby's is opening in the old Mama Falco's space on Wells, just north of Madison.

Tumbao Bar & Grill is opening on Armitage, just west of Kedzie.

No date for either, and not really sure what Tumbao is going to be. Did notice 2 plasmas behind a bar, but also a ton of tables.

Jamie

Ugh. Another quality Loop lunch option.

Hey! Do not besmirch the potato cake!

=R=

ok, besmirch away . . .

Personally, I was excited to walk out my office and see the Arby's sign in the papered up windows; until I remembered that we are moving our offices in 3 weeks. 11 years working here at Madison/Wells, I found it to be a refreshing change! Plus I like the chicken sandwiches at Arby's.
Jamie

Arby's isn't my ideal choice, but I enjoy them once a year when I'm in the mood for their unique brand of "roast beef". At least it isn't another chain that's saturated the Loop ala McDonalds or Starbucks. I believe there are only two or three Arby's currently in the Loop.

While picking up a Pizza at Spizzico across from Johnnie's in Elmwood Park last week, I saw that one of the small places next to New Star had closed (not sure which as there are several) The windows were papered over with a sign that read Coming Soon SushiNami.com. The web-site came up as a place in Georgia but none of the functions worked on the site. As there are no places for quality Sushi in the area one can only hope .

This isn't a new-new opening (I think they've been open for just over a month maybe?) but has anyone here tried Fahrenheit in far-west suburban St. Charles? I read about the place in Chicago mag and was intrigued by the chef's credentials, Peter Balodimas, who put in time at both Spaggia and Tin Fish, and describes the restaurant as "Avenues meets Blackbird," and also mentions using organic produce and a slow-food approach like "Paul Virant [of Vie]." (quotes from Chicago mag) This is all sounding good to me so far, but I haven't seen any reviews on LTH. Any experiences to speak of?

Fahrenheit
1890 W Main Street
St. Charles, IL
630-444-1350

Two nort'side changes noticed in passing:

-on the corner of Foster & Lincoln there is now open a cafe/bakery called "Crema Pastry".

-Noon-o-Kabob seems to be opening an adjacent carry-out location, just north (across the street as I recall) from their primary restaurant.

We used to like the Cameron's ice cream parlor at Diversey and Pine Grove, which became a Red Hen Bread. Now, after an absence of a few years, Cameron's has reopened at Diversey and Southport. Peering through the glass while driving by, we see what looks like a nice old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and we're looking forward to walks there in about five months.

Agreed.

But I am old enough to remember eating a real, (i.e. non-processed), fairly-thickly-sliced roast beef sandwich from Arby's in 1971. A group of us drove across town in a caravan for this, and, even at current gas prices, it would have been worth it.

However, all is not lost. There is a good, affordable roast beef sandwich in the Loop. I am a fan of the hot, hand-sliced, medium-rare roast beef (and turkey) sandwiches at Under 55, a dim, cavernous food court under the 55 East Monroe building.. The bread could be better, but they have horseradish.

When I walked by at noon today there was a building permit in the window at 180 N. Michigan (previously the Baja Fresh location) for Noodles & Co. When I walked by again an hour later they had taken the permit out of the window. So who knows. But if it is Noodles & Co, I can't say I'll be delighted.

According to an article in today's Chicago Tribune, Rosa Mexicano will be one of the restaurants opening up in the new Block 37 on State Street. For those of you who don't know, Rosa Mexicano has been in New York for more than 20 years, but now has multiple locations in New York and a few elsewhere.

To me, the most comparable restaurant in Chicago is Adobo Grill, where glimpses into excellent, authentic Mexican food are often seen, but where the overall concept is designed to ensure that the average idiot finds something on the menu to his or her liking -- i.e., the person who ordinarily won't try Mexican food but is dragged along. In other words, there is some real talent in the kitchen (of course, this depends on the particular location) and some very authentic Mexican food not found at just any Mexican restaurant in the US, but you may not always find it.

In any event, I believe that Rosa has hit the jackpot because with all of the people moving into the Loop and with the increase in leisure activity in the area -- hotels, theater, museums, etc. -- I think it will be very successful in this location and I'm shocked that none of the Chicago area Mexican joints saw fit to take the same gamble (maybe they weren't offered the opportunity?). Perhaps it became an issue of capital and with Rosa Mexicano becoming a mini-empire of sorts, it was able to pull it off. In terms of how good it will be, I think that all depends upon who they hire to be the chef and how much liberty Rosa Mexicano gives him/her. All in all, this will only elevate the competition in Chicago of higher end Mexican restaurants, and it certainly has to be better than Zapa-Crappa-Tista, now doesn't it???

A tangent, but I think your description of Adobo Grill is very good. I'd only add that I get a great, inclusive vibe from the fact that they don't discriminate against "the average idiot" while also finding a way to provide excellent food to non-idiots. (Which of those terms describes me, I'll leave to others.) Someone who got dragged along or just wants the combination special has as much right to good cooking as anybody else, and not only don't I mind rubbing elbows with him while I enjoy my more specialized fare, I think it's wonderful that Adobo wants everyone (even people other than me) to have a good time. In some ways, it must be harder to do what they do at the level of quality they attain than for a Frontera to do what it does.

I noticed today that the windows of The Pierogi Factory on Belmont have been papered over. Can't be a good sign.

A sign on their window a couple of months ago indicated that they had been evicted. No more pierogis I guess.