KEEPING TABS ON COMING-SOON SPOTS
La Trattoria Del Merlo
Any day now
The folks behind the Gold Coast’s Merlo on Maple and Lincoln Park’s Merlo Ristorante are opening this Italian trattoria in Lincoln Park. 1967 N. Halsted St.
Trader Vic’s
Dec. 15
The island-inspired restaurant and loungeis slated toriseagain. Mai tais for everyone! 1030 N. State St.
iCream
January
It opened, then closed. Then it opened again and closed again. Now this custom ice cream and hot pudding spot is opening — hopefully, once and for all — in January. 1537 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Tocco
JanuaryThe folks behind Folliabuilt this rustic Italian spot from the ground up in Wicker Park. 1266 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Ristorante Al Teatro
Mid-January
Pilsen’s boom continues with this 200-seat Italian spot in the historic Thalia Hall. 1227 W. 18th St.
Nana
Mid- to late January
Bridgeport’slatest additionwill serve organic breakfast and lunch with a hearty helping of Latin flair. 3267 S. Halsted St.
Branch 27
Late January
This American bistro gets our early vote for best repurposed space of 2009: It’s in a former public library. 1371 W. Chicago Ave.
Orange
Late January or early February
Frushi comes, frushi goes. The folks behind Lakeview’s Orange are closing their South Loop location and launching a Lincoln Park spot. 2413 N. Clark St.
Birchwood Kitchen
Late February or early March
Wicker Parkers can get their North Avenue sandwich fix on North Avenue once again whenthis spot opens in theformer Cold Comfort space. 2211 W. North Ave.
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Drunken Goat
Sometime in 2009
Details like location (likely Wicker Park) and opening date (sometime next year) are still being ironed out, but “Top Chef” Season 4 winner Stephanie Izard and partners Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm of Boka Restaurant Group are definitely planning a “fun and funky” shared-plates spot focusing on Spanish and Italian flavors. So what’s with the name? “Izard” refers to a mountain goat found in the Pyrenees Mountains, Izard (the chef, not the goat) loves cheese and wine, and Drunken Goat is an artisan Spanish goat cheese with wine-soaked rind.
* Check out metromix.com for lots more just-opened and soon-to-come spots
