Machu Picchu
3856 N. Ashland Ave. 773-472-0471
A Peruvian restaurant has taken over the space last occupied by Islands, that tacky Caribbean joint. The decor is spare, save for enormous, full-color photo murals of Peru. The menu includes many favorites you may have heard of — lomo saltado ($10.90), for example. But one item leaves even natives scratching their heads: duck ceviche. (Co-owner Enrique Saldirraga says it’s a little-known specialty of the town just north of Lima where his father was born.) Another can’t miss dish: papa la Huancaina ($5.90), thick slices of boiled potatoes covered in a creamy cheese sauce. Sounds weird, but trust us, it’s delish. For now, it’s BYOB.
V.I.C.E.
840 W. Randolph St. 312-733-3379
We had to suppress a giggle when we heard about this restaurant-lounge quietly opening on Randolph Street this weekend: It bills itself as “amuse bouche boutique.” An amuse bouche, of course, is a bite-sized nibble high-end chefs use to tempt your taste buds before dinner. But don’t laugh — this high concept has a major player behind it: Dan Krasney, who helped pioneer Restaurant Row with Vivo (838 W. Randolph St.) with partners Jerry Kleiner and Howard Davis. Krasney’s positioning V.I.C.E. as a Vivo counterpart, hiring Chris Laramie, recently executive sous chef at Everest (440 S. La Salle St.), to create a menu of decadent nibbles such as pancetta-wrapped quail ($3) and wagyu carpaccio ($5). Look for lounge-style seating, a late-night scene and weekend DJs.
Between Boutique Cafe and Lounge
1324 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-292-0585
Here’s another soon-to-open small-plate concept; here they’re calling them “boutique plates.” (Oh, stop rolling your eyes.) Co-owner Carl Anderson says he was inspired by his wife’s predilection to mix and match — a little of this, some of that — from menus. Radhika “Rad” Desai, formerly sous chef at Vermilion (10 W. Hubbard St.), is exec chef here, whipping up border-hoppin’ entrees like crispy cumin-dusted chicken on a chorizo waffle, and something called the Lobster Trifecta, which Anderson described as “lobster and crispy potato roll with mango rice, chive and mango-cardamom vinaigrette.” The spot will open BYOB by July 1, but they plan to eventually add cocktails, including — how long have we been waiting for this? — rum-spiked bubble teas.
South Coast
1700 S. Michigan Ave. 312-662-1700
BYOB sushi alert: The folks behind Bucktown’s Coast (2045 N. Damen Ave.) have launched a South Loop sibling. Look for a menu of faves from the original location, plus fresh options like seared sesame scallops on spinach with toasted yolk sauce and a teriyaki rib eye. They’re even beefing up the daily specials with choices such as sea bream (a.k.a. dorade) and geoduck (GOOEY-duk, a giant clam with a rich shellfish flavor). Keep your eyes open to find South Coast; owners still are waiting for the signage to be installed.
Il Fiasco
5101 N. Clark St. No phone yet
Why any restaurant would call itself a fiasco is beyond us, but it seems fiasco is also the name of those wicker-wrapped chianti bottles often seen holding drippy candles at old-school Italian spots. This Fiasco, opening in the former Rioja address down the street from another Italian newbie Anteprima (5316 N. Clark St.), will offer an affordable Tuscan-focused menu (most entrees run $10-$15). Owners won’t release the chef’s name yet; they’ll only say he’s worked at a posh London spot and a Michelin-rated spot in Tuscany. Target opening: late June.
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clamorte@tribune.com
