‘Check, Please’ Host Alpana Singh’s New Downtown Project and 11 More Upcoming Restaurants

August 31

Andersonville: Popular neighborhood wine bar Uvae this month announced plans to open Uvae Fromagerie & Tasting Room next door at 5547 N. Clark Street, according to a Facebook post. “We’ve been bottled up & it’s time to Uncork the Wine!” ownership writes above photos of construction inside the space. “Keep an eye on us as we pour more wine your way.”

Gold Coast: Foxtrot Market, the fast-growing corner store and booze delivery chain, has applied for a liquor license at 23 W. Maple Street. The company recently announced plans to relocate its headquarters and open a new flagship location in Fulton Market, and in June debuted its ninth Chicago location in Wicker Park.

Gold Coast: Alpana Singh — the Chicago restaurateur, wine expert, and popular host of recently-canceled Chicago food show Check, Please! — has applied for a liquor license for Tallulah, her new restaurant coming to 831 N. State Street. Singh declined to comment on the business, slated to open inside a former LYFE Kitchen near the Mag Mile. She also currently operates Italian spot Terra & Vine in suburban Evanston.

Lakeview/West Loop: Signs are up for two new Chicago locations from Mexican chain La Borra del Cafe — the former Avenue Tavern space at 2916 N. Broadway in Lakeview and the corner of Monroe and Peoria in West Loop. The company, which operates more than 65 locations in Mexico, opened a suburban cafe in 2019 and launched its first Chicago outpost last December in Wicker Park.

Lincoln Park: Chicago icon Wiener’s Circle may push its reopening later into the fall due to pandemic-related supply chain issues. It was previously slated to reopen by the end of September, six months after the famed hot dog stand temporarily closed for much-needed construction at 2622 N. Clark Street. “Supply chain is so fucked at the moment, still hoping for late September opening, but it may be October, the post reads. “Thank you for your patience.”

Supply chain is so fucked at the moment, still hoping for late September opening, but it may be October. Thank you for your patience

— The Wieners Circle (@TheWienerCircle) August 18, 2021

Little Italy: A new venue called Embassy Public House has applied for a liquor license at 1435 W. Taylor Street. The space previously housed Drum and Monkey, an Irish pub popular with University of Illinois Chicago students that closed in 2020.

Logan Square: Ocaso, a new Mexican restaurant from a veteran hospitality worker, is slated to open in September in the former home of Masa Azul at 2901 W. Diversey Avenue, according to Block Club Chicago. Owner Areerat Potikul, a longtime manager at Lakeview’s adored Penny’s Noodle Shop, has tapped chef Carlos Gonzalez (La Luna) to create the menu and run the kitchen.

Portage Park: Latin American restaurant and bar Vera Lounge has applied for a liquor license and build-out seems well underway at 3235 N. Central Avenue, according to social media. Ownership hasn’t announced an opening date, but promises DJs and a VIP room.

South Loop: Local coffee and cafe mini-chain Dollop has applied for a liquor license at 1210 S. Indiana Avenue under the operating name Dollop Diner, Cafe & Bar. The new space will be Dollop’s second Chicago diner, joining the four-year-old original on the corner of Clark and Monroe in Andersonville.

Uptown: The husband-and-wife team behind virtual Chilean restaurant Don Pablo’s Kitchen and Bakeshop aim in early November to open inside a permanent location at 1007 W. Argyle, according to a Facebook post. Co-owners Pablo Soto and Julie Morrow-Soto founded the business — named for famed Chilean poet Pablo Neruda — in May, slinging a range of sweet and savory empanadas out of their home, they told the Daily Northwestern.

Wrigleyville: Weed-themed “toasted” sub chain Cheba Hut has applied for a liquor license at 3412 N. Sheffield Avenue. It’ll be the company’s second shop in the neighborhood, as franchisees launched the first Chicago location in October 2020 in Wicker Park.

Wilmette: Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop, a new suburban cafe featuring breakfast and lunch from Chicago’s Ballyhoo Hospitality (Gemini, Coda di Volpe), is slated to open this fall at 1137 Greenleaf Avenue in suburban Wilmette, according to a rep. Patrons can count on modern takes on baked classics like ice-box cakes and sticky buns, along with a dozen sandwiches and a menu for kids.

August 17

Bucktown: Signs indicate that a new location of Cuban restaurant Sazon Cuabano is coming to the intersection at Western and Belden Avenues. The original restaurant opened in 2018 in Belmont Cragin with Cuban favorites like ropa vieja.

Chinatown: A new venue called Lowcountry Chinatown has applied for a liquor license at 2359 S. Wentworth Avenue. Lowcountry is a Cajun-style seafood boil mini-chain with locations in Wrigleyville, South Loop, and one outpost in Wisconsin. Ownership has not yet responded to a request for more information.

Gold Coast: Los Angeles-based salad giant Sweetgreen has gotten a renovation/alteration permit for 227 E Ontario Street, according to Chicago Cityscape. The address previously housed a location of Epic Burger, a once-prolific mini-chain touted as a healthier version of fast food.

Lakeview: Mexican cafe chain La Borra Del Cafe is at work on a new city location on Diversey Parkway and Lincoln Avenue, expanding its footprint in the city after landing in the suburbs in 2019 and opening its first Chicago outpost last December in Wicker Park. The company operates more than 65 cafes in Mexico.

Ravenswood: Pandemic-born micro bakery R&A Bread Bakers from a wife-and-husband team is coming this fall to a former Subway space at 1938 W. Lawrence Avenue, according to an Instagram post. Patrons can expect to find the couples’s kettle-boiled sourdough bagels, boules, nova lox, schmear, and more.

Rogers Park: Mission Control Arcade Bar is scheduled to open the second week in October, according to ownership. Located at 1408 W. Morse Avenue in the space formerly occupied by Pub 626, Mission Control’s Facebook promises local drafts, craft cocktails, and snacks, plus pinball machines and a full range of classic arcade games, including Pac Man and Big Buck Hunter.

West Loop: Popular local restaurant group Heisler Hospitality (Sportsman’s Club) has announced plans to open a new bar called Nights and Weekends in September at 1009 W. Lake Street, according to a news release. A spokesperson for Heisler declined further questions about the bar; it’s still early. The news puts an end to long-circulating rumors that the group would use the address to revive Bar Deville, its influential cocktail bar that closed in 2017 after nine years in Ukrainian Village. Heisler also operates West Loop bar Lone Wolf — the new home for Claudio Velez’s Authentic Tamale Guy operation — but closed acclaimed vegetarian-friendly restaurant Bad Hunter last year due to the pandemic.

August 10

Bronzeville: The enormous Bronzeville Lakefront redevelopment project, finally approved after years of planning, will include space for food and beverage businesses on the ground floor of a 500,000-square-foot life sciences building called the ARC Innovation Center, according to Block Club Chicago. That building will be one of several in the complex offering social services, housing, education, and retail. The $3.8 billion redevelopment on the former Michael Reese Hospital site is reportedly the first city project lead by a predominantly Black team of developers.

Bucktown: Construction continues at Claudia, the adored fine dining pop-up that’s opening inside its own space at 1952 N. Damen Avenue, according to an Instagram post from chef Trevor Teich (Acadia, L2O, NoMi, Sixteen). “PROGRESS,” he writes beneath a black and white photo of the unfinished space. Teich has also applied for the restaurant’s liquor license. It’s among the most anticipated debuts of the season.

Edgewater: The owner of new venue listed as Regalia has applied for a liquor license at 5959 N. Broadway. The space was previously home to adventurous neighborhood restaurant and wine bar Income Tax, which permanently closed in May 2020.

Lakeview: Signs are up at a new outpost of iconic Chicago chain Harold’s Chicken in a strip mall just west of Irving Park Road and Southport Avenue. The space, formerly a dry cleaners, is across the street from the Chicago City Soccer Club and blocks from Graceland Cemetery.

Lincoln Park: Famed Chicago hot dog stand Wiener’s Circle, temporarily closed for major renovations, is slated to reopen by the end of September, ownership announced Monday on Twitter. The stand temporarily closed in January for “renovations” that have since turned into a complete structural overhaul at 2622 N. Clark Street. Workers are turning the back parking lot into patio seating, and — in a stunning move for the notoriously raucous spot — staff are adding a bar to serve alcohol. “We took a little time away from social media but are back and excited to tell you more about our renovation,” ownership writes. “We will reopen by the end of September with lots of fun new surprises, and look forward to seeing y’all.”

We took a little time away from social media, but are back and excited to tell you more about our renovation. We will reopen by the end of September with lots of fun new surprises, and look forward to seeing y’all

— The Wieners Circle (@TheWienerCircle) August 9, 2021

Fulton Market: Trendy corner store and liquor delivery chain Foxtrot Market plans to relocate its headquarters and open a new flagship location in the restaurant-heavy Fulton Market neighborhood, according to Block Club. The fast-growing brand aims to move its offices from River North to 167 N. Green Street but has not announced a timeline. It opened its ninth Chicago location in June on Wicker Park’s six-corner intersection.

Fulton Market: DineAmic Hospitality, the Chicago restaurant group behind lively spots like Bandit and Bar Siena aim to open new Greek restaurant Lyra this fall at 905 W. Fulton Market, sharing a building with the headquarters of snack giant Mondelez International, according to Crain’s. DineAmic first announced plans for the 290-seat Greek restaurant in February.

River North: Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley, the forthcoming upscale Southern spot from Dallas restaurateur Kevin Kelley (True Kitchen + Kocktails), is pushing its opening date to September at 444 N. Wabash, according to a rep. The 10,000 square-foot spot was originally slated to debut in mid-August.

Naperville: Suburban Jewish deli Schmaltz Delicatessen plans to next year move into a new building owners purchased down the street from the original location at 1512 N. Naper Boulevard, according to a Facebook post. The current Naperville location will remain open through the end of December. “Well, you heard right… we are MOVING!” the post reads. “Don’t worry – there is lots of construction and planning to do, but we will take you along with us as we flip this place around and make it our own!”

July 29

Around Town: Los Angeles-based mochi doughnut and Korean corn dog chain Mochinut aims its first Illinois location in the next few months, possibly in Wicker Park, West Loop, or suburban Skokie, according to a series of Instagram story posts. The chain specializes in Hawaiian-style mochi doughnuts in flavors like yuzu, ube, red velvet, peanut butter, and more. The Korean corn dogs are coated in rice flour and can be ordered with an extra layer of cheese, potato chips, crispy ramen noodles, or powdered Flamin Hot Cheetos. Ownership has not yet responded to a request for more information. The company, which also operates in Thailand and South Korea, has 20 locations in the U.S. and is at work on 90 more, according to its website.

Bronzeville: Construction at hotly anticipated South Side restaurant and wine bar Bronzeville Winery is progressing smoothly and quickly at 4420 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, according to ownership. Slated to open in September, the ambitious hospitality project is from Silver Room owner Eric Williams, urban planner Cecilia Cuff, and sommelier Anika Ellison.

Hyde Park: A venue called Chemistry has applied for a liquor license at 5115-5121 S. Harper Avenue, which previously housed speakeasy-style bar the Hyde. Ownership has not yet responded to a request for more information.

Lincoln Park: Ownership at local vegan favorite Fancy Plants Cafe has applied for a liquor license at a forthcoming restaurant Fancy Plants Kitchen, at 1443 W. Fullerton Avenue. Chef Kevin Schuder has slated an opening for late summer, and plans to highlight produce his own produce, wok cooking, fermentation, and cocktails.

Logan Square: Puerto Rican bakery Borinken Cakes aims to open its second location on Monday at 3313 W. Fullerton Avenue, according to Block Club Chicago. Owner Rachel Diaz, who also operates the original bakery in suburban Archer Heights, will use family recipes for a limited menu of cupcakes in flavors like guava, coconut, passion fruit, and Nutella, as well as pastries including quesitos and pastelillitos.

North Lawndale: Workers are in the process of building out the second location of popular Jamaican restaurant Ja’ Grill but an opening date, slated for this summer, isn’t yet decided, says owner Tony Coates. The second outpost will be inside an upcoming development called Ogden Commons, located just east of Douglass Park. The 10-acre project, which includes restaurants, retail, and residential.

Portage Park: Sausage hotspot Hot Dog Box is delaying the opening of its new stand-alone location until fall at 4020 N. Milwaukee Avenue, says owner Bobby Morelli. He and 9-year-old daughter Brooklyn have been serving hoards of hot dog fans out of their 400-square-foot box in Bronzeville’s Boxville marketplace and this spring decided to expand elsewhere in the city, originally aiming to debut August 1.

July 22

Andersonville: The owners of neighborhood bistro Vincent plan to open a new restaurant called Theo just two doors down, according to a sign in the window at 1479 W. Balmoral Avenue. The storefront previously housed a shoe repair shop.

Edgewater: The City Council has approved zoning for an esports cafe slated to open inside the Edison apartment building at 5214 N. Sheridan Road, according to Block Club Chicago. The team behind X Fun Gaming Cafe, who first announced their plans before the pandemic in January 2020, will offer food alongside 82 gaming stations, six console stations, and two virtual reality spaces.

Humboldt Park: Wife-and-husband team Jackie and Pierre Marquez aim to open new cafe and roastery Tasa Coffee in early 2022 at 4136 W. North Avenue, according to Block Club. The couple are funding the buildout with a $230,000 grant from the city’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, and plan to include a walk-up window with coffee and beignets.

Jefferson Park: Lake Effect Brewing Company can finally move forward with plans to open a brewpub inside a historic firehouse at 4841 N. Lipps Avenue as the City Council has reversed a liquor ban in the area, according to Block Club. Owner Clint Bautz has previously told reporters that he aims to open the firehouse by next summer.

Lincoln Park: Japanese-inspired chain Blue Sushi Sake Grill has applied for a liquor license at 2351 N. Lincoln Avenue inside the expansive Lincoln Common development. The chain operates an outpost in suburban Naperville and locations across eight states.

Lincoln Park: Paper Plane Pizza, a new venture from bartender Dustin Drankiewicz (Dusek’s, Deadbolt, Swill Inn), is taking flight inside the former Porkchop BBQ, 1625 N. Halsted Street. The pizza is “Milwaukee-style thin” much like Ian’s and Dimo’s. This is a temporary space until they announce a permanent restaurant planned to open next year. There’s also a food truck and Milwaukee location in the works.

Lincoln Park: Chicago’s largest restaurant group, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, is in talks to open a new restaurant in a ground floor space that previously housed LGBTQ bar the Manhandler Saloon at 1948 N. Halsted Street, according to Block Club. The City Council has approved a developer’s plan to redevelop the building for retail and residential units. LEYE already operates numerous nearby spots including Quality Crab & Oyster Bah, Summer House Santa Monica, and Stella Barra.

Lincoln Park: As promised, iconic Chicago hot dog stand the Wiener’s Circle has applied for a liquor license at 2622 N. Clark Street in preparation for its anticipated reopening that will for the first time include a bar. The famous stand temporarily closed on January 1 for “renovations” that have turned into a full demolition, but news of the application should hearten the venue’s many fans. Ownership didn’t return a request for comment.

Logan Square: Prolific neighborhood restaurateur Esam Hani (Saba, Cafe Con Leche, the Old Plank) has applied for a liquor license at 2443 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Located across the street from New York import Paulie Gee’s, the space previously housed a body shop.

Norwood Park: Longtime Edison Park restaurant Zia’s Trattoria plans to close its original location in September and reopen with a new name, Zia’s Social, a month later at 6158 N. Northwest Highway, according to Block Club Chicago. Executive chef and co-owner Joe Calabrese, who opened the restaurant in 1997, also co-owns Edison Park’s Cafe Touche and previously operated Zia’s Lago Vista in Lakeview.

Old Town/West Loop: Permits indicate that Mexican coffee chain La Borra del Cafe is at work on two new Chicago cafes: one inside a former liquor store at 1200 N. Wells Street in Old Town, the other at 850 W. Monroe Street in West Loop, according to Chicago Cityscape. The company already operates cafes in Wicker Park and suburban Berwyn.

Portage Park: Father-daughter sausage spot Hot Dog Box put up its sign at the new stand-alone location slated to open this summer, owner Bobby Morelli announced this week on Instagram. Founded inside a 400-square-foot shipping container in Bronzeville’s Boxville marketplace, the gourmet hot dog business has grown to the point where Morelli and his assistant (9-year-old daughter Brooklyn) decided to expand into a larger space at 4020 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

River North: Dallas restaurateur Kevin Kelley has applied for a liquor license at his forthcoming downtown outpost of Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley at 444 N. Wabash Avenue. Kelly plans to debut in mid-August inside the former Benny’s Chop House space featuring Southern favorites and new menu items like jerk chicken and a tomahawk ribeye steak.

River North: Ping-pong club and restaurant Spin Chicago is plotting its post-vaccine return at 344 N. State Street, according to an online job posting for an executive chef position. The game-themed spot, co-founded by actress Susan Sarandon, originally made its Chicago debut in 2016 after opening its flagship location in New York City.

South Loop: Restaurant owner Giulio Spizzirri (Señoritas Cantina) has applied for a liquor license under the name Jefas Cantina Inc at 610 S. Dearborn Street. The space previously housed Standing Room Only, a casual burger and sandwich spot, which Spizzirri also owned until it closed during the pandemic.

Streeterville: A sign is up and buildout out is well underway at the new Ed Debevic’s slated to open this year at 159 E. Ohio Street, according to an eagle-eyed Instagrammer who got a peek inside this spring. The original River North location was razed in 2015 but rumors of a comeback have circulated over the following years.

The Loop: Petterino’s, a downtown Italian restaurant well-known to theatergoers, has signaled its post-vaccine return with a liquor license application at 150 N. Dearborn Street. The LEYE-owned establishment has been temporarily closed since the pandemic took hold in March 2020. Rick Bayless will be using its club space for a play.

Wicker Park: Bloom Vegetarian Kitchen has applied for a liquor license and is prepping for final inspections at 1559 N. Milwaukee Avenue. This is a sibling to Amaru with plant-based and global-inspired cooking.

Wrigleyville: Board-covered windows indicate that construction is in progress at Guthries Tavern, the treasured neighborhood bar slated to reopen under new ownership at 1300 W. Addison Street. The bar’s original operators shuttered the business due to the pandemic in September 2020 after 34 years.

Wrigleyville: Window decals show that Starbucks will take another shot at Wrigley with a forthcoming location directly across the street from the ballpark, marking the company’s third attempt at a successful outpost in the neighborhood. The coffee giant plans to open inside the mammoth Addison & Clark building that’s literally steps away from Wrigley Field. It already houses brands like Shake Shack, Lucky Strike Social, and Chipotle. Previously, Starbucks had locations next to the ballpark at Gallagher Way and in a building at the corner of Addison and Clark.

July 8

Andersonville: Ora Sushi is marking its 10th anniversary by announcing plans to relocate from its home at 5143 N. Clark Street, according to a Facebook post. “We do not have an exact date at the moment but if all goes well, we are looking to back in action by mid-late August,” the post reads. Ownership has not yet publicized the new location.

Fulton Market: A restaurant listed as Texan Taco Bar has applied for a liquor license in a two-level space at 942-944 W. Randolph Street, just near the heart of the area’s prominent Restaurant Row. The ownership group, 312 Spirited Ventures LLC, appears to have registered the restaurant’s trademark in November 2019.

Grand Crossing: Treasured neighborhood restaurant 5 Loaves Eatery is transitioning to catering and pre-prepared meals to mitigate labor issues, according to a Facebook post. “We have been working nonstop during the pandemic and the recent shortage in staffing has made us realize that we need to take some time to regroup, recharge and refresh,” ownership writes.

Jefferson Park: Lake Effect Brewing Company’s long-awaited taproom inside a historic firehouse at 4835 N. Lipps Avenue will also feature a kitchen run by North Branch Fried Chicken, a nearby chicken and barbecue spot that opened last year, according to Block Club Chicago. Plans for the taproom have been underway since 2018, with the brewery serving as an anchor tenant in the $2.4 million development. North Branch’s chef, John Badal, was the winner of a competition held in 2019 by food hall operator Urbanspace to bring in a local operator to one of its upcoming Chicago locations. The pandemic snarled those plans.

Lakeview: A restaurant called Cafe Korzo has applied for a liquor license at 2935 N. Broadway Avenue, just steps from Korean fried chicken destination Crisp and the Broadway outpost of Mexican bar and grill Cesar’s Killer Margaritas. The space previously housed ice cream shop Snow Factory.

Lincoln Park: Top-notch local bakery Floriole is temporarily closed for renovations with plans to reopen later this summer with a fresh look and new menu, according to a Facebook post. “We are so excited to give some much needed attention to our infrastructure as well as our menu and to finalize our plans to welcome folks back into the bakery,” the post reads. A reopening date is not yet public.

North Center: Popular pie purveyor and cafe First Slice is planning to move this fall into the former Marmalade space at 1969 W. Montrose Avenue, according to a sign in the window. Ownership also operates locations in Andersonville and Ravenswood.

North Center: The team behind neighborhood grocer L&M Fine Foods this month plans to open Parkside Restaurant and Cafe, a new restaurant featuring “playful takes on American fare” from chef Justin Kaialoa (the Bristol, Violet Hour), according to a rep. It’s taken over the former home of Monty Gaels, the seven-year-old gastropub and sports bar that permanently closed last spring at 4356 N. Leavitt Street.

Ravenswood: A new restaurant called Eighty Eight Eggs is coming to 4943 N. Damen Avenue, according to a sign in the window. The space previously housed Over Easy, a popular breakfast and brunch spot that permanently closed in May after 15 years.

River North: James Beard Award-winning restaurant group Boka (Girl & the Goat, Momotaro) has plans to open a restaurant inside the former home of infamous club and pizza bar Bottled Blonde, according to the Tribune. The bi-level space at at 504 N. Wells Street was the site of much controversy over its five-year run as neighbors repeatedly raised concerns over noise complaints, traffic congestion, and intoxicated patrons. Bottled Blonde’s Arizona-based parent company permanently closed the venue in June 2020. Boka reps have not yet responded to a request for more information.

June 29

Lincoln Park: Forthcoming Spanish cafe and restaurant Bocadillo Market has applied for a liquor license at 2342 N. Clark Street. Operators plan to feature coffee and sandwiches during the day and family-style paella dinners in the evening.

Logan Square: A business called Vida 2221 LLC has applied for a liquor license at 2853 N. Kedzie Avenue. The building formerly housed shuttered Chicago brunch favorite Jam, which closed during the pandemic.

Old Town: A nostalgia-themed traveling pop-up called HideSeek is coming soon to Chicago with 10,000 square feet of interactive (and Instagram-friendly) playrooms, according to a job posting. The exhibition, which has previously appeared in Toronto and Montreal, features 15 rooms decked out in early 2000-era trends like inflatable furniture.

Pilsen: The Alderman, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar inside 18th Street destination Pilsen Yards (previously Monnie Burke’s), is slated to debut on Friday, July 2, according to owner Paul Abu-Taleb. Drink selections will include “Rarified Tea Cocktails” such as Western High (American single malt, Bonal, lapsang souchong, tonka bean, spruce) and “Classic-ish Cocktails” including a bourbon Old Fashioned (Okinawan kokuto sugar, bitters, cedar).

Wicker Park: Casual mini-chain Little Wok has applied for a liquor license at its upcoming outpost at 1950 W. Division Street. The pan-Asian brand operates locations in Lakeview and suburban Evanston.

June 22

Andersonville: Chicago Magic Lounge has announced, via a news release, that it will reopen on August 2 for the first time since last year. All the space’s venues will open a full capacity and after 16 months, they’ll celebrate with a week of shows. Tickets are available on the venue’s website.

Lincoln Park: The Clark Street building where iconic Chicago hot dog stand Weiner’s Circle slung insults and late-night eats for decades is no more: a dramatic video posted last week to Facebook shows a crane overturning the small brick structure. “Don’t worry, we’re only making a few changes #bebacksoon,” the post reads. Weiner’s Circle temporarily closed on January 1 with plans to renovate the space, but those fixes have since turned into a full demolition.

Lincoln Park: Tecalitlan, the Mexican restaurant that spent 47 years in West Town before closing and transitioning into a ghost kitchen, has an opening date for its new location inside the NEWCITY development near Lincoln Park and Clybourn and Halsted. The family-owned restaurant will open on Friday, July 9, according to ownership.

Lincoln Park: Spanish cafe, restaurant, and retail shop Bocadillo Market is slated to open this summer at in the revolving space that last housed Cafe Corbel at 2342 N. Clark Street, according to its website. The spot will feature a daytime menu with coffee and (naturally) bocadillos, or Spanish sandwiches. It’ll switch over to dinner in the evening with family-style paellas.

Navy Pier: Work has stopped momentarily on celebrity chef Art Smith’s Navy Pier restaurant inside the former Bubba Gump space. Signage isn’t up yet and there’s no confirmation on an opening date. Ownership tells Eater Chicago they’ll resume work in September.

Pullman: A prolific local Culver’s franchisee is aiming for a September opening at 111th Street and Doty Avenue, according to the Tribune. The outpost will be franchise owner Baron Waller’s eighth, and he plans to open more restaurants from the Wisconsin-based fast-food chain in the future, he tells reporters. Waller broke ground on the site in October 2020.

River North: Butler Hospitality, a company that works to turn around struggling hotel restaurants, is further expanding its Chicago footprint, partnering with the owners of Formento to work on the Godfrey Hotel in River North. A liquor license application shows a bid for incidental activity on the first floor at 127 W Huron Street. The only food and beverage space in the hotel is the fourth-floor rooftop bar. Butler has also opened Prime by Butler inside the Talbott Hotel at 20 E. Delaware Place. The group last November announced its intention to expand into Chicago, Miami, and Washington D.C., according to Hotel Business.

The Loop: A French Riviera-inspired rooftop terrace bar called Chateu Carbide is slated to open Friday, June 25 in the newish Pendry Chicago hotel, according to Time Out Chicago. It’s perched on the 24th floor of the Carbide & Carbon Building — the stunning Art Deco high rise at 230 Michigan Avenue — which has never before been open to the public. The building is also home to Venteux, decorated chef Don Young’s new and decadent French restaurant.

Washington Park: Retreat at the Currency Exchange Cafe, the long-term pop-up incubator and cafe space for creatives of color from artist Theaster Gates’ Rebuild Foundation, will reopen Thursday for the first time since the end of October 2020, according to Block Club Chicago. Previously known as Peach’s at Currency Exchange Cafe, the space at 305 E. 55th Street last year transitioned into a hub for chefs and artists who lost workspace and business opportunities due to the pandemic.

West Town: A new restaurant called Provaré Chicago has applied for a liquor license at 1421 W. Chicago Avenue, the former home of popular Asian spot Butterfly Sushi Bar & Thai Cuisine. Provaré doesn’t yet have a website or a public opening date, but its Instagram account features photos of the nearly-complete space and over-the-top dishes like a surf and turf burger and seafood scampi with Hennessy.

Des Plaines: The opening of Chicago Sushi, a new restaurant from chef Kenta Ikehata of suburban smash-hit Chicago Ramen, is on hold due to a permit issue in suburban Des Plaines, according to rep. The restaurant is poised to debut at 574 E. Oakton Street with a focus on chirashi sushi, a style that features seafood, eggs, and vegetables on a bed of rice. Other offerings will include takoyaki, chiken karaage, and spicy dan dan ramen.

June 15

Bronzeville: New ownership at the Prairie Shores apartment complex plan to invest in a multimillion-dollar clubhouse as part of a long term modernization plan at 2901 S. King Drive, according to Block Club Chicago. Amenities in the new facility will include a grab-and-go cafe, a two-story fitness center, a co-working space, and more.

Bucktown: Cherished 87-year-old bar and indie music venue the Hideout is slated to reopen July 6 after 16 months of pandemic hibernation at 1354 W. Wabansia Avenue, according to Block Club. Shows and service will offer patio-only through August, with staff reopening for indoor service and concerts in September, co-owner Tim Tuten told reporters.

Bucktown: Casual Japanese restaurant and sake hotspot Izakaya Mita is aiming to reopen in mid-July for the first time since March 2020, according to an Instagram post. Chef Brian Mita (son of owner Helen Mita) has spent the pandemic being treated for colon cancer, which he’s fought since 2019.

Hyde Park: Cafe mini-chain Stan’s Donuts & Coffee aims to open its 14th location on Friday, June 18 at 5225 S. Harper Court, according to a rep. The new space at the Hyatt Place Chicago hotel will be the brand’s first on the city’s South Side after seven years in the Chicago area.

Lakeview: Wilmette-based Pescadero Seafood & Oyster Bar is slated to open on Friday, June 18 at 1258 W. Belmont Avenue, according to a Facebook post. The space previously housed popular neighborhood seafood spot Fahlstrom’s Fresh Fish Market.

South Loop: A “coming soon” sign for a new Japanese-Taiwanese cafe called Sweet Bean is visible in the window at 1152 S. Wabash Avenue, and operators have put up several job postings on Culinary Agents. The space previously housed a South Loop outpost of popular breakfast and brunch mini-chain Bongo Room, which closed in 2019.

Streeterville: At long, long last, Ed Debevic’s — the kitschy 1950’s-style diner mini-chain known for it snarky singing and dancing servers — is plotting its return in 2021 after years of promising Chicagoans a new location. “2021 IS THE YEAR, FOLKS,” an early June post on Facebook reads. “We are comin’ in hot (is that what the cool kids are saying nowadays?)” Plans for a new restaurant at 159 E. Ohio Street made headlines in 2017, more than two years after a development razed the original 31-year-old River North location. Rumors of a comeback circulated again in 2019 when owners applied for a liquor license at the same address, less than a block off Michigan Avenue.

West Loop: Kumiko, the acclaimed Japanese drinking den helmed star bartender Julia Momose, is planning a switch back to indoor service after spending more than a year as casual Japanese takeout spot Cafe Kumiko, according to an Instagram post. Cafe Kumiko’s last day of service is Sunday, June 20 at 630 W Lake Street. “The cafe model kept us open and safe for the past year, for which we are grateful,” the post reads. “Now that we are all fully vaccinated, we are eager to plan our reopening as Kumiko — indoors!”

June 3

Lincoln Park:, Popular Chinese chain Tsaocaa has plans to open a second Chicago location this summer, according to a Facebook post. The brand made its local debut three years ago in Chinatown, serving a variety of Asian options including milk tea, cheese tea, and fruit tea drinks alongside sweet desserts and Korean-style fried chicken. Operators promise a warmer aesthetic than the minimalistic original with elements like flying eaves and watercolors.

You might have heard it by word-of-mouth, and it is true: our second store in Lincoln Park is launching this…

Posted by Tsaocaa Chicago on Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Pilsen: Aloha Wagon, a rare Hawaiian restaurant in Chicago, plans to “soon” open a permanent location at 2023 S. Western Avenue, according to an Instagram post. The new space is just over a mile south of its previous location, which opened in 2017. Fans flock to the spot for distinctive island favorites like Kalua pork sandwiches and loco moco plates.

Uptown: After three years of waiting, construction is finally underway at the new home for the Double Door, according to Block Club Chicago. An iconic concert venue and bar that was evicted from its Wicker Park space in February 2017, the Double Door is slated to reopen inside the 112-year-old Wilson Avenue Theater at 1050 W. Wilson Avenue. Crews are at work tearing up the theater’s parking lot at Wilson and Kenmore avenues to build an 86-unit apartment complex.

West Loop: Chef Noah Sandoval has announced he plans to reopen his Michelin-starred Oriole in July after an extended pandemic hiatus, according to a rep. Sandoval stoked excitement over the weekend with a low-key tasting event for “Oriole 2.0” that drew long lines of curious diners outside of sibling bar Kumiko. Coincidentally, the Baltimore Orioles, the restaurant’s namesake, were in town playing the Chicago White Sox that day. Workers are remodeling the space at 661 W. Walnut Street. Kumiko co-owner and bartender Julia Momose says she’s been working on a new cocktail list for Oriole 2.0, so stay tuned.

Oak Park: Taco Mucho, a popular taqueria displaced by the closing of Fulton Galley food hall, is slated to open soon at 220 Harrison Street in suburban Oak Park, according to an Instagram post. “We are an Oak Park family-owned taqueria that will feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients, delicious tacos and a seasonal cocktail menu,” owner Ron Aleman writes in the post. “We can’t wait to share our dream with such a wonderful community!” Fulton Galley opened in 2019 in the restaurant-rich Fulton Market neighborhood, but then shuttered after just five months.

For a list of coming attractions from spring 2021, click here.

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