Misericordia Hearts & Flour Bakery and Cafe, just blocks from the on-campus bakery, opens Tuesday. It will provide jobs to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/25 ... rive-thru/

Katrina's Latin Bites and Bar has opened in Naperville in Showplace Plaza. It's in the space vacated by Paris Bistro, which moved to the former Ellie's spot in the same strip mall. Paris Bistro seems to have overcome their growing pains, and I've had a couple of good meals there recently (steak sliders, boeuf bourguignon crepe, jambon-fromage crepe). The place seems to be busy whenever I drive by.

Shuckin Shack is set to open in the former Walker's Char House in the strip mall at Gartner & Main in Naperville. Seems like a Carolina-based chain that has big plans for expansion.

Smoque BBQ, the widely acclaimed barbecue restaurant in Chicago, will debut a steakhouse later this year, not downtown, but out in the neighborhoods.

“The new project is called Smoque Steak,” said chef and partner Barry Sorkin. “It’s a different kind of steakhouse featuring what we think is a unique and really good take on steak.”

The new restaurant, under construction at 3310 N. Elston Ave. in the Avondale neighborhood, is planned to open this fall.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... 1651002179

Recently opened in Evanston:

Tomo Japanese Street Food
1726 Sherman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 245-0069
http://www.tomostreetfood.com/

Wild Orchids Cafe and Kitchen has opened in Lincoln Square. It appears to be Venezuelan with pastries, empanadas and beverages. There are some small tables as well as carryout and delivery. There was another Venezuelan bakery and butcher shop in this space for a short time, so this may be a recasting. Before that the space was Azur Meat Market. Web site lists hours as 7 am to 9 pm seven days a week although Google shows 9 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 3 pm Sunday and closed Monday, updated by owner two weeks ago.

Wild Orchids Cafe and Kitchen
2547D W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago 60625
https://wildorchids.co/
(312) 806-5633

A little farther east the store front left vacant when Isla Pilipina moved now has a Wingstop.

Loaf Lounge, An All-Day Cafe And Bakery From Lula And Nightwood Alums, Opening In Avondale

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/29 ... -avondale/

Dave148 wrote:

A liquor license application indicates that a third outpost from Midwestern-focused restaurant Land & Lake Kitchen is coming to 1970 W. Montrose Avenue.

https://chicago.eater.com/2022/1/11/228 ... ttractions

Land & Lake Opening 3rd Location At Former Fountainhead In Ravenswood In June.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/29 ... d-in-june/

Gepperth’s Meat Market, a Lincoln Park mainstay since 1906, closed on Saturday, April 30. The venerable butcher was known for prime cuts of beef, chicken, and pork, plus a stellar selection of jerky.

https://chicago.eater.com/2022/5/2/2305 ... ncoln-park

Virtue chef Erick Williams opening po’boy restaurant in Hyde Park

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html

Old Post Office food hall, from team behind Empty Bottle and Thalia Hall, slated to open in June.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

New restaurant and bar with a "southern country rock" tilt is opening in Lincoln Park on Diversey, replacing Compass Bar. This is from the Last Call Tavern Group (Rebel & Rye, The Reveler, The Butcher's Tap, etc). Apparently named after a guy from Louisville who moved to Chicago a long time ago and opened a tavern and distillery with Michael Diversey.

According to their website, they should open in Spring. Let's see if that happens or if it's summer. Most likely will have some basic type of bar/sports bar type of food.

Willie Lill's
433 W Diversey Pkwy
https://www.willielills.com

Piccolo Sogno Co-Owner to Open Two New Italian Bakery-Cafes in June.
https://chicago.eater.com/2022/5/4/2305 ... longobardo

Fematt & Fausto's Bakery has opened at 4022 N. Milwaukee (formerly Six Corners Bakery.) Baked goods include sweet bread, croissants, tamales and more. This same block has had 2 other Grand Openings in the last 6 months, The Hot Dog Box (4020, a build out) and Province Pizza (4024, former Taurus and Mesa Urbana.) Gracie O'Malley's , at Milwaukee and Cuyler, is less that a year old as well.
https://www.facebook.com/sixcornerschamber/posts/1472618933234478

Dave148 wrote:Piccolo Sogno Co-Owner to Open Two New Italian Bakery-Cafes in June.
https://chicago.eater.com/2022/5/4/2305 ... longobardo

Lol, I wrote about this in early October on this forum. News really works slowly sometimes.

Obelix, the new bistro from the owners of Le Bouchon opens Friday.
Obelix
700 N. Sedgwick St.
Chicago, IL

La Boulangerie Brings French Pastries And Baguettes To New Humboldt Park Location

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/05/06 ... -location/

Golden Plate - Bistro Restaurant opened in the Davila's space on Irving Park between Ravenswood and Lincoln/Damen. Menu doesn't look all that Bistro-y to me, but what do I know.

1924 W IRVING PARK RD
CHICAGO, IL 60613
https://www.thegoldenplatebistrorestaurant.com/

New Indian restaurant in Arlington Heights- the former location of Chowpatti, which then became a tamale-centric Mexican restaurant, is now Madurai Kitchen.

They have a website with a link to online ordering through Toast, and they have a Facebook page. I asked the Arlington Heights Dining group on FB if anyone had tried it- a few people had and said it was good. I'll try to get there soon.

1035 S Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights IL 60005

Mr. Falafel re-opens Thursday at its new location at 5415 W Touhy in Skokie, between Five Below and Best Buy.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=751425135992769

5415 W TOUHY AVE, SKOKIE, IL 60077
Monday - Saturday 11:00 am- 8:00 pm
(closed on Sundays)
773.338.6666
773.338.6667

Vinny wrote:Mr. Falafel re-opens Thursday at its new location at 5415 W Touhy in Skokie, between Five Below and Best Buy.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=751425135992769

There was a fast casual middle eastern restaurant in the same strip mall about 4-5 years ago called Gourmet Pita @ 5549 W Touhy Ave Skokie, IL 60077. Curious if its the same owners.

Sushi Cafe Hanah looks to be closed in downtown Skokie:

Sushi Cafe Hanah
4907 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077

A new coffee shop has opened in downtown Skokie by the name Complimentary Cafe

Complimentary Cafe
4933 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077
https://complimentaryc.com/

Tribune Article on Complimentary Cafe
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ ... story.html

polster wrote:There was a fast casual middle eastern restaurant in the same strip mall about 4-5 years ago called Gourmet Pita @ 5549 W Touhy Ave Skokie, IL 60077. Curious if its the same owners.

Aren't we talking about the existing owners of Mr. Falafel, previously at Devon/California, relocating their business? I don't think they were running two separately named restaurants, but I guess it's possible. The new space is where Marcus Lemonis's The Simple Greek failed.

bweiny wrote:

polster wrote:There was a fast casual middle eastern restaurant in the same strip mall about 4-5 years ago called Gourmet Pita @ 5549 W Touhy Ave Skokie, IL 60077. Curious if its the same owners.

Aren't we talking about the existing owners of Mr. Falafel, previously at Devon/California, relocating their business? I don't think they were running two separately named restaurants, but I guess it's possible. The new space is where Marcus Lemonis's The Simple Greek failed.

Got it.. I didnt realize this was an existing restaurant relocating from 1 location in Chicago to Skokie.

Soulwich in Evanston has reopened, albeit with very limited hours (T-F 11am-2pm, according to Google).

cilantro wrote:Soulwich in Evanston has reopened, albeit with very limited hours (T-F 11am-2pm, according to Google).

Great news! I didn't think their closure was couched in any type of "temporary" sense. Hopefully the hours expand in due course. Absolutely need to be open on Saturdays.

Hampton Social, Bar Siena among new dining options planned for O’Hare, plus expanded gateside delivery.

Eight new concessions proposed for Terminals 3 and 5 got the go-ahead from the City Council’s Aviation Committee Friday, including a local coffee shop and restaurants, a local apparel store and a new grab-and-go market. The committee also OK’d expanding gateside ordering into Terminals 1, 2 and 3, which would allow travelers to order food or merchandise ahead of time and pick it up or have it brought to their gate, potentially for a fee.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

Oooh Wee It Is Will Replace Mellow Yellow In Hyde Park With Soul Food Outpost.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/05/13 ... d-outpost/

A new Chinese bakery/dessert shop opened up in Bridgeport recently - we ordered a cake from them for Mother's Day. It was pretty good! They not only have sweets like western style cakes but also mochi ball desserts, cakes with meat floss, milk teas, fruit teas, etc. They opened next to Scoops Ice Cream

Nia Drink & Dessert
610 W 31st St
Open daily 11am - 8:30 pm
(312) 265-0659


Menu at least in part can be seen here:
https://www.ubereats.com/store/nia-drin ... RxxbgfagBQ

3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice, a new stand serving Hainanese chicken rice, opened in late April in the basement of the former Richland Center

https://chicago.eater.com/2022/4/1/2300 ... pring-2022

A new food hall from 16” On Center, the team behind the Revival Food Hall in the Loop, will be opening in the Old Post Office sometime next month. Called From Here On, it will be an expansive space in the building’s first-floor lobby, with views of the Chicago River, hosting 11 vendors.

https://chicago.eater.com/2022/5/16/230 ... -finkelman