Bravo Tapas and Lounge (2047 W. Division St.) has opened on Wicker Park’s restaurant row; the tri-level space features a lower-level lounge with an onyx bar, velvet furniture, plasma TVs and a deejay booth, plus an outdoor patio with water fountain and a mojito bar. The menu, overseen by executive chef Jessie Guerra (ex-Mia Francesca), will feature homemade chorizo, three types of paella and cider-marinated short ribs. 773-278-2727.
Mia Cucina (56 W. Wilson St., Palatine) will close its doors–hopefully temporarily–on Aug. 31. The 12-year-old suburban Italian is moving to make way for a block-long redevelopment of condos and retail shops (can’t get enough of those projects). Owner Dan Heuertz vows to reopen but hasn’t settled on a new location yet. Stay tuned.
17 West at the Berghoff (17 W. Adams St.) has opened, part of Artistic Events’ makeover of the old Berghoff restaurant space. 17 West will offer some Old World favorites, such as Wiener schnitzel and sauerbraten, as well as Berghoff beer. But there also will be mini-sandwiches, grilled salmon, jerk pork and an expanded drink menu of specialty cocktails and California wines. No reservations; closed Sundays. 312-427-3170.
Looks like the former Chilpancingo space (358 W. Ontario St.) won’t stay vacant for long. Edgar and Marcos Castaneda will open a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar called Zocalo sometime next month. The executive chef will be Saul Roman, who has logged time at Salpicon and Adobo Grill.
Those irresistible aromas wafting from the Northcenter neighborhood this weekend will belong to Ribfest Chicago, which takes place Saturday and Sunday along Lincoln Avenue between Warner Avenue and Irving Park Road. More than a dozen restaurants (among them Chicago Joe’s, Grizzly’s, Merle’s and Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs) will be serving barbecued ribs, pulled pork and the like. Plus there will be live music, children’s entertainment and more (get the full lineup at www.ribfest-chicago.com). $5 donation requested; proceeds will benefit Northcenter Chamber of Commerce’s community programs.
For thrill-seekers with asbestos tastebuds, another of Jimmy Bannos’ periodic “Hot as a Muthu” dinners will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Heaven on Seven (600 N. Michigan Ave.). Cost is just $35 for the five-course dinner, which grows spicier with each course. Suburban fans can gather at the Naperville Heaven on Seven location at 5:30 p.m. to catch the round-trip trolley ($30 additional, including Hurricane and snacks service) to the downtown event. 312-280-7774.
If you’re in the mood for lobster (and who isn’t?), check out Shaw’s Crab House (21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722; 1900 E. Higgins Rd., Schaumburg, 847-517-2722). They’re having specials on spiny or rock lobsters (plus a 1-pound Maine “lobster boil” for $21.95) through July 31; diners are entered into a drawing for a “Rockin’ Lobster Dinner Party” for 15. Or, swing by The Palm (323 E. Wacker Drive, 312-616-1000) through Aug. 19 for its Summer Lobster Feast deal, in which a 4-pound lobster (with salads and sides) for two is $75, a 5-pounder is $85 and a 6-pounder is $95.
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pvettel@tribune.com
