A quick glance at happenings in the Chicago area restaurant world.
The good news is that Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St.), the new solo venture by Grant Achatz, started taking reservations in May earlier this week. The bad news is the tables are already gone (well, one or two might be available). Cheer up; calls for June reservations will be accepted beginning March 1. That number to call: 312-867-0110.
Bob Chinn’s Crab House Chicago (315 N. LaSalle St.) has changed its name to Crab House. “We severed our lease agreement [with Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling], and are operating our own restaurant,” says general manager Tom Sorfleet.
Masck (35 W. Ontario St.) is making new friends in its two-month-old downtown location, but longtime fans are agonizing over the closing of the original Deerfield shop. “They’re calling downtown frantically, wanting to know when we’ll reopen,” says owner Kevin Nierman. That will be in about eight weeks, Nierman says; the new location, 483 Lake-Cook Rd. in Deerfield (which formerly housed Spazio di Lucca), is a much bigger space with room for private parties and banquets. “And it’s half the rent,” Nierman says.
Now that the Lenten season has begun, Mity Nice Grill (Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave.) has reinstituted its weekly Friday Night Fish Fry, which will be available every Friday through March 25. The special features fresh Yellow Lake Perch from Lake Erie, fried and served with coleslaw, fries and tartar sauce for $17.95. 312-335-4745.
Thyme (464 N. Halsted St.) will feature the wines of Italy’s Piedmont region in a three-course dinner at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. $75. 312-226-4300.
Take the edge off this winter at Bistro 110 (110 E. Pearson St.) with a Tuesday night prix-fixe menu created to do just that. The menu features roasted pistachios and warm apple tart. The cost is $24 per person. Bistro is also offering a Petits Vins three-wine selection Monday through Wednesday. Both are available through March and reservations are recommended. 312-266-3110.
Va Pensiero (1566 Oak Ave., Evanston) plays host as chef Andrea Scotacci of Ristorante Apollinare (Umbria, Spoleto) prepares a six-course dinner at 7 p.m. Feb. 23, as part of the Umbrian Festival. The cost is $85; reservations required. 847-475-7779.
The Veuve Clicquot Champagne Dinner at The Grandview Restaurant (The Geneva Inn, N2009 S. Lake Shore Drive, Lake Geneva, Wis.), 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18, features a five-course dinner and the French bubbly. The cost is $80; reservations required. 800-441-5881.
The Lemon Festival at Mon Ami Gabi (2300 N. Lincoln Park West) celebrates the harvest of the fruit. Special menu items, games and other activities are scheduled Feb. 24-March 2, with a prix-fixe “Feast for the Eyes” prix-fixe dinner on March 2. 773-348-8886.
