It has been an exciting year for new restaurants; 1999 already has seen the debuts of Brio, Caliterra, Fahrenheit, Grace, Ixcapuzalco, Mas, Nacional 27, Tru, Vong and Watusi, not to mention MK (which techni-cally opened last year). But as summer drags to a close, more than two dozen additional restaurants are trying to open in time for the busy fall and holiday dining seasons.
Of course, when construction crews and liquor commissions are involved, no opening date is set in stone; keep in mind that a restaurant “aiming” to open in November may not hit the mark. That disclaimer aside, here’s what’s on tap for the rest of the millennium. (Yes, I know. Please don’t write.)
Recent openings
Coast, 2145 N. Damen Ave., had its grand opening two days ago. This latest from the Restaurant Development Group features “beach-inspired cuisine,” which encompasses everything from the Mediterranean to New England to the Caribbean and Gulf shores. The lofty, cool dining room is meant to evoke a seaside cafe. RDG corporate chef Lou Bastian runs the kitchen. 773-782-9700.
Yesterday was the grand opening for Racer, a new restaurant and bar by Dion Antic, at 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave. (the old Deluxe Diner space). Racer has late serving hours — a bonus for those attending shows at the Double Door across the street.
Fuzio, a “Universal Pasta” concept, opened Aug. 27 at 1045 N. Rush St. (the former site of Zarrosta Grill). The menu includes globally influenced pasta dishes (such as Firecracker pork fusilli), grilled sandwiches and salads, all priced under $10. Beverage options include a specialty martini menu and a wine list (all bottles $25 or less). 312-988-4640.
Atlantique, 5101 N. Clark St., an mid-to-upscale seafood restaurant by Jack Jones (Jack’s on Halsted), opened three weeks ago. 773-275-9191.
Two Lettuce Entertain You restaurants opened in Las Vegas last week — both part of the new Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino. Mon Ami Gabi, a copy of Gabino Sotelino’s Lincoln Park original, opened its doors Sept. 1; the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, the showcase dining room run by chef Jean Joho (Everest, Brasserie Jo), made its debut Sept. 3 and already there’s a two-week wait for reservations.
September
Jean Banchet reopens Le Francais, 269 S. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling, on Friday. This represents a grand homecoming for Le Francais’ founder and creator. Banchet resumed control at the end of July and has spent six weeks remodeling and redecorating. The most dramatic change is the 40-square-foot window that lets diners peer into the kitchen. 847-541-7470.
Wolfgang Puck will open Puck’s at the MCA in the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., on Sept. 28. The menu includes various sandwiches and salads, as well as Puck’s famous meatloaf; there also will be an express counter offering carryout items. Reservations will be accepted. 312-397-4034.
September also should see the reopening of Bistro Banlieue, 44 Yorktown Convenience Center; owner Steve Byrne has been remodeling the popular restaurant since June, and we should be able to view the results in a couple of weeks. 630-629-6560.
Nick Giannis hopes to open QP, a fine-dining Greek concept at 200 E. Chestnut St., by Sept. 25. Mark Knauer is redesigning the space, which was previously home to Grappa.
JaponiSante, a French-Japanese fusion concept, hopes to open by late September at 2044 N. Halsted St. (the old Relish space). The menu will offer classic French and Japanese dishes as well as fusion creations, and the restaurant will include a large sushi bar. So if you want dragon maki and your date wants foie gras. . . 773-348-8228.
October
Joe Doppes, who turned his Taylor Street Bistro into Francesca’s on Taylor a couple of years ago, will return to French cooking when he opens Bistrot Margot, 1437 N. Wells St., on Oct. 1. This one looks like a winner.
Gioco, a rustic Italian steakhouse, plans to open early this month at 1312 S. Wabash Ave. The restaurant is the latest from Jerry Kleiner and Howard Davis (Marche, Red Light); Joey Rosetti, who cooked at Park Avenue Cafe and Smith & Wollensky in New York, will be Gioco’s chef.
Vita Bella, an Italian chop house, will open Oct. 1 at Dundee and Rand Roads in Arlington Heights. Chef and owner Jim Ginger is a former chef at the Las Vegas Hilton; sous chef Juan Lopez cooked at Coco Pazzo and Carpaccio.
Tanzy, the latest restaurant from Debra Sharpe (con fusion, Feast, Cru), is aiming for a mid-October opening at 215 W. North Ave. The talented Sandra Beckett, formerly of con fusion and Jimmy’s Place, will oversee an eclectic, globally influenced menu. 312-202-0302.
Atwood Cafe, a contemporary American cafe attached to the new Hotel Burnham, is scheduled to open mid-October at 1 W. Washington St. Heather Terhune, previously pastry chef at 312 Chicago in sister property Hotel Allegro, will be the chef. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 312-368-1900.
On or about Oct. 19, we should see the opening of Antico Posto, a rustic Italian restaurant in Oakbrook Center mall, Oak Brook. The restaurant, occupying the old Zarrosta Grill space, will have a modestly priced menu (all entrees less than $18) including pizzas, homemade ravioli and grilled meats. Russell Bry is executive chef and partner.
Opening in mid- to late October is 120 Ocean Place, 120 N. Hale St. in downtown Wheaton. Chef Colin Turner, late of Shaw’s Crab House, promises an upscale clubby seafood restaurant with room for 200 diners. There also will be a raw bar and an outdoor patio. 630-690-2100.
Looking for a late-October, early-November opening is Echo, 1856 W. North Ave.; the former Starfish will reopen as a restaurant featuring “small plates ” (but more like half-size entrees than tapas) of globally influenced dishes. The wine list will be similarly globe-trotting, offering flight-style comparisons of varietals from various parts of the world.
November
Bin 36, a wine-focused restaurant and retail store by Dan Sachs (Spruce), will open Nov. 1 at 333 N. Dearborn St. Sachs likens the intriguing concept to a hands-on museum for grown-ups, an unintimidating atmosphere to learn about wine and wine-food pairings and sample quality wines without spending a fortune. The menu will feature American bistro food.
Zealous, 419 W. Superior St., also should be up and running (and attracting plenty of attention) in early November. Chef-owner Michael Taus is moving from Elmhurst into a $2.5 million River North space; a visual highlight will be the glass-and-metal, 5,000-bottle wine tower. Taus, a Charlie Trotter disciple, will unveil a contemporary American menu featuring signature dishes such as grilled foie gras with spicy lobster toast and pineapple vinaigrette, and pan-seared hamachi with sweet-and-sour beet sauce.
Also aiming for an early November opening is 9, a contemporary steakhouse at Randolph and Canal Streets. Partners are Michael Morton and Scott De Graf (Drink) and Michael Kornick (MK), who created the menu; Michael Shrader will be the executive chef; and the beautiful people will be arriving by the carload.
City Hawk, 171 W. Randolph St., will open the first week of November adjacent to the Hotel Allegro. City Hawk is being cast as a hip bar with appetizers and music every evening; at lunch, it will feature soups, salads and sandwiches.
Also this month, we’ll see the new menu for Rhapsody, 65 E. Adams St., as created by acclaimed chef Roland Liccioni. Liccioni will introduce a wine bar, with an expansive list managed by wine director Joe Catterson, previously with Liccioni at Le Francais.
Around Nov. 15, possibly a bit earlier, Paul LoDuca (Vinci, Trattoria Parma) will open Adobo Grill, an upscale Mexican at 1610 N. Wells St. Scott Helm, late of Rhumba, will be the chef. Foodies will be crowding into this one.
And sometime in November, the Chicago area will get a second Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; the new location will be at Cicero Avenue and 147th Street in Midlothian. Krispy Kreme intends to open four to five additional Chicago-area locations in 2000.
Phil Stefani Restaurants will operate a dining room in the newly revamped clubhouse of Harborside International Golf Course, on 111th Street on the Southeast Side.
December
– Just in time for holiday shopping, Bice and Bice Grill will open locations in Northbrook Court shopping center in Northbrook, offering fine-dining Italian and casual Italian, respectively.
– Also in the north suburbs, Tuscany plans a new location at 505 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, to open in the early part of this month.
