Sep 21, 2019
Eater Chicago | Ashok Selvam | September 19, 2019
54 restaurants made the list, including 14 newcomers
There’s huge turnover on the 2020 Michelin Bib Gourmand list in Chicago as the tire company removed 18 restaurants. The new list consists of 54 members with 14 newcomers. The newcomers include Eater National Best New Restaurant member Virtue. Cabra — Boka and Stephanie Izard’s Peruvian rooftop restaurant in the West Loop — also made the list, along with Cira, Boka’s restaurant on the first floor of the Hoxton hotel.
Inspectors appear intent on injecting new excitement into the 2020 ranking. Logan Square newcomer Flat & Point and County BBQ on Taylor Street join Smoque BBQ as the only barbecues on the list. County had been closed for an extended period due to fire.
Au Cheval, producers of possibly Chicago’s most famous burger, has been removed. Other notable removals include Andersonville’s craft brewpub Hopleaf and Dove’s Luncheonette in Wicker Park. Cumin and Sabri Nihari’s removals mean there is only one South Asian restaurant on the list (Mango Pickle). Four restaurants — Bohemian House, Jade Court, Mana Food Bar, and Quiote — fell off due to closures.
Last year, the tire company included a record 58 Chicago restaurants with nine newcomers.
The Bib Gourmands are known as the short list in the industry, recognizing value-driven restaurants. The more prestigious Michelin stars will be released for Chicago on September 26.
Check out the full listing below.
(* denotes a new restaurant)
Arami
Avec
Avlí Taverna*
Birrieria Zaragoza
Cabra*
Ceres’ Table
Chilam Balam
Cira*
County Barbecue*
Daguan Noodle
Daisies
DeCOLORES
Dos Urban Cantina
The Duck Inn
Etta*
Fat Rice
Flat & Point*
Frontera Grill
Funkenhausen*
Ghin Khao*
Giant
Gilt Bar
Girl & The Goat
GT Fish & Oyster
HaiSous
Herb
Ina Mae Tavern*
Jam
Kai Zan
Kie-Gol-Lanee*
La Josie*
Lonesome Rose
Longman & Eagle
Lula Cafe
Mango Pickle
Marisol
mfk.
Mi Tocaya
Mott St
Nella Pizza e Pasta*
Pacific Standard Time
Passerotto
Pizzeria Bebu
Pleasant House Pub
Proxi
The Purple Pig
San Soo Gab San
Smoque BBQ
Sol de Mexico
Table, Donkey and Stick
True Food Kitchen
TWO
Untitled Supper Club
Virtue*
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Sep 14, 2019
WGN9 | Bianca Cseke | September 13, 2019
CHICAGO — Good Burger, a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles inspired by the fan favorite ’90s Nickelodeon “All That” sketch, will come to Chicago in 2020.
Good Burger Chicago organizers promised brand new, immersive surprises when it opens, and said the restaurant will be a homecoming for the team behind other viral projects.
“While we can all agree that The Max helped launch the nostalgic pop-up trend here which is now reaching the point of fatigue, our team also takes pride in not only working with the studios themselves on the project, but elevating these concepts both in food and experience like nobody else is doing,” Good Burger spokesman Michael Corrigan said in a news release.
Like the current pop-up in Los Angeles, Chicago’s Good Burger will be run by Eggslut founder Alvin Cailan.
There’s no word yet on the location of the pop-up restaurant. Stay tuned!
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Sep 7, 2019
Eater Chicago | Ashok Selvam | September 4, 2019
Chicago restauranteurs talk about economic pressures at the latest Eater live event at the Ace Hotel
Eater Chicago and the Ace Hotel will continue its ongoing restaurant industry discussion series in September, with a new topic: Will Chicago’s restaurant industry survive the financial pressure cooker?
Three panelists from Chicago’s restaurant industry will join Eater Chicago Senior Editor Ashok Selvam who will moderate a conversation on the various fiscal pressures restaurants face, what the public doesn’t see from the dining room, and how restaurants react to survive.
While new restaurants pop up in Chicago every week, an alarmingly high number also shut their doors. Though larger restaurant groups, like Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and One Off Hospitality Group, are more insulated to fiscal challenges compared to their independent brethren, all operators face hurdles including competition, finding ways to properly compensate their workers, and finding real estate at a cost that won’t sink their business. Other aspects include how to pay for employee insurance and a human resource department. There’s also concerns over negative social media posts from consumers.
Join these panelists:
Kevin Boehm, the co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group, one of the most successful hospitality companies in Chicago (and the reigning James Beard Foundation Awards winner for Outstanding Restaurateur). Boka runs several restaurants including Girl & the Goat, Momotaro, and GT Fish & Oyster. Boehm worked to bring a Chicago version of the Welcome Conference, a celebration of the hospitality industry, to town.
Lamar Moore, chef/co-owner Swill Inn, a River West pub with a late-night bar underneath. Moore has worked at Currency Exchange Cafe and the Smoke Daddy. He’s wanted to open his own restaurant for quite a while and considered moving out of state after he struggled finding the right opportunity. He’s also involved with a variety of national brands. He’s also cooked for the Chicago Bears football team.
Zoë Schor, chef/owner of Split-Rail, a West Town restaurant the recently shifted gears to go casual and concentrate on fried chicken. Before Split-Rail, Schor worked at Ada Street near Lincoln Park. She plans to soon open a bar underneath her restaurant.
This Eater Chicago x Ace Hotel discussion takes place on Thursday, September 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20, and include one drink ticket. Seating is limited, and it’s best to make reservations ASAP.
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Aug 24, 2019
Eater Chicago | Daniel Gerzina | August 23, 2019
‘Parks and Recreation’ is the latest pop culture-themed pop-up bar coming to Chicago
Replay Lincoln Park, which has built a following from hosting many pop culture-themed pop-ups, is turning to “Parks and Recreation” for its latest stunt. Opening August 30, the pop-up bar aims to pay homage to characters and scenes, and recreate many locations from the popular NBC show, including the Department of Parks and Recreation, Shoe Shine Stand, and more, according to a news release and multiple reports. Also expect themed food and drink items such as tributes to the Glitter Factory’s breakfast buffet, JJ’s Diner, and Sweetums, while cocktails will include “Give Me All the Bacon” — a bacon infused bourbon and maple syrup old fashioned.
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Aug 17, 2019
Chicago Magazine | Maridsa Choute | August 14, 2019
The Sophy Hotel’s in-house bar and lounge draws Hyde Parkers looking for everything from a date night destination to a stepped-up study break.
Located on the first floor of the Sophy Hotel, Mesler Kitchen (1401 E. 53rd St.) offers a dining experience that can be as upscale or casual as guests like. Its name means “to mix and mingle,” and with five main seating areas, guests can do just that. Some walls feature built-in bookshelves, while others are decorated with art made by students from Hyde Park Academy High School. The bar’s best and coziest secret, however, is out back: the shrubbery-lined outdoor Sanctuary, complete with lounge chairs and firepits.
As a nod to its proximity to the University of Chicago, Mesler offers drink creations named for scientific concepts — like the Greenhouse Effect, which pairs tequila with honey-jalapeño syrup, or the hibiscus-and-blackberry-accented Surface Tension. Others are fresh takes on familiar formulas: The Hemingway Adaptation (pictured) tweaks the daiquiri of the same name by swapping rum for gin and adding a splash of Peychaud’s.
Mesler also serves mocktails for those who want a fancy drink without the buzz. Try the Hyde Park Cooler, made with an in-house strawberry puree and lemon-lime soda, plus a hint of lime to keep it refreshing.
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