Things are taking shape for the opening of Margaux, 2442 N. Clark St., the former site of Jean Claude. The restaurant will open to the public on April 6, according to owners Francois de Melogue and Brian Sylvia, who are chef and pastry chef, respectively. The restaurant will specialize in game and seafood dishes. The interior is being lightened up a bit from its Jean Claude days, but otherwise won’t change much. Dining rooms will be smoke-free, but smoking will be permitted in the bar area and in a separate, fireplace-equipped room intended for the cigar-and-cognac after-dinner crowd. In May, a wine bar will be added, featuring 12 to 20 by-the-glass fine wines. The wine list will be universal, but will have a strong concentration on wines from the Margaux region of France.
– Bukhara Restaurant & Bar, 2 E. Ontario St., is introducing a privilege card that entitles members to a 15-percent discount on food and beverage purchases. (Not applicable to luncheon buffet.) No membership fee. Call 312-943-0188.
– Congratulations to members of the Chinese Culinary Arts Association; a four-chef team from the Chicago-based group took second prize for their display presentation at the World Festival of Chinese Cuisine in Tokyo. Participating chefs were Mao-Sheng Lou of T’ang Dynasty, Shi Shi Chu of Grand Mandarin in Lisle, Ding Guo Cheng of Loyong and Tien Chu Nieh, president of the Chinese Restaurant Employees Association.
– There still are a few seats left for the 21st birthday bash Sunday at Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights. Ordinarily closed on Sunday, Le Titi presents a special six-course dinner for $39.50; call 708-506-0222.
– Speaking of the northwest suburbs, that’s where Stewart Parsons and Russell Lodarek, co-owners of Gypsy, have been spending time; they’re scouting sites for a suburban Gypsy.
– The Dellwood Pickle, 1475 W. Balmoral Ave., is back. The restaurant, which was sold in November and closed a month later, has reopened under original owner Brad Colman.
