Some closings are sad; some are, frankly a relief. This one is heartbreaking. 302 West (302 W. State St., Geneva), the 3 1/2-star contemporary American restaurant that was the standard-bearer for fine dining in the western suburbs, is no more. Catherine Findlay, who kept the restaurant going for more than 18 months after the death of her spouse, chef Joel Findlay, sold the restaurant Friday. The new owner then stunned a meeting of 302 West employees by announcing the restaurant would spend a month remodeling and emerge as an upscale Italian concept. Findlay, who says she was under the impression that the restaurant would continue in the 302 West vein, feels misled; a number of former employees (who spurned jobs at the new concept) feel betrayed. “It’s a very deep loss,” says chef Jeremy Lycan. “This was the most committed staff I ever worked with. We’re all in great shock.” Sommelier Jody Richardson was more succinct: “It’s an atrocity.” Says a philosophic Findlay: “I suppose it’s probably good. We strove to maintain the reputation of 302 West, and now it’s time for something else.”
No fooling: The April 1 issue of Restaurants & Institutions magazine lists the Top 100 Independent Restaurants, and 10 are in the Chicago area. Biggest is Bob Chinn’s Crab House, in 7th place. Right behind Chinn’s sits Gibsons Steakhouse; the Rush Street veteran is No. 8 overall, and its Rosemont sibling is No. 20. Others on the list are Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (30), Hugo’s Frog Bar (34), Shaw’s Crab House (46), Harry Caray’s (61), The Clubhouse in Oak Brook (68), Mike Ditka’s (99) and Riva (100). Also making the list are three Las Vegas versions of local concepts: N9ne Steak House (81), Mon Ami Gabi (14) and Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (12).
Take Five (3747 N. Southport Ave.) is the newest kid in Wrigleyville. This concept by Joe and Charlie Carlucci (it opened Monday) replaces their previous venture, Strega Nonna, and is a casual American operation in which everything on the menu–from the lobster bisque to the fish tacos to the turkey burger to the grilled salmon–is $5. (And the waiter is allowed to smack you in the head if you ask, “Um, how much is the veal steak?”) It’ll be a good place to take your buddies, as there will be TVs all over the place–and a bad place to take your mistress, as digital photos of guests will pop up on those screens from time to time. 773-244-0990.
Friday is Opening Day for the Cubs, and The Full Shilling Public House (3724 N. Clark St.) is offering a complimentary hot dog (with beverage purchase) one hour before and one hour after game time. Actually, the Full Shilling is offering that deal for every Cubs home game.
A Spring Wine and Food Festival will be held noon-4 p.m. Saturday at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort (Milwaukee Avenue, one quarter-mile south of Half Day Road, Lincolnshire). Sponsored by DiCarlo Fine Wines and Spirits and featuring special guest Kathy Hart of WTMX-FM 101.9, the event features more than 500 wines for sampling, plus food from more than 10 local restaurants, among them Lovells of Lake Forest, Rosebud of Highland Park and Fleming’s Steakhouse. Cost is $50, $25 for DiCarlo Wine Club members, and can be purchased at the door or online: www.dicarlofinewine.com.
Chef Paul Wildermuth and sommelier Tom Powers will collaborate on a food and wine dinner at 6 p.m. Monday at Marche (833 W. Randolph St.). Cost is $75. 312-226-8399.
A Songran Festival, celebrating the Thai New Year, will take place Tuesday through April 13 at VTK (6 W. Hubbard St.). There will be special menu items, music and dance performances, Thai massages, tea-leaf readings and more–and you might win a trip for two to Thailand. 312-644-8664.
The food and wine of Alsace will be featured at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cafe Matou (1846 N. Milwaukee Ave.). The five-course dinner with wines is $63, all inclusive. 773-384-8911.
Louis Jadot burgundies and Taittinger champagnes will be featured in a dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Le Francais (269 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling). The evening’s host will be Olivier Masmondotte, master sommelier of George Blanc restaurant. Cost, including reception, five-course dinner and eight wines/champagnes, is $150. 847-541-7470.
A Tuscan wine dinner with Rocca Delle Macie wines will take place at 7 p.m. at Vinci (1732 N. Halsted St.). Cost is $43; reservations required. 312-266-1199.
The Palm (Swissotel, 323 E. Wacker Drive) has launched a Chicago Business Lunch special, which includes soup or salad, Half & Half side dish and choice of entree for $19.95. Just ask for the Business Lunch. 312-616-1000.
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pvettel@tribune.com
