There are quite a few new restaurants opening in the city as of late, but I’m particularly fond of a new one in West Town. It’s run by a couple of industry veterans who’ve created the kind of restaurant they’ve always wanted to visit themselves.
Shawarma stands selling falafel, kabobs and other Middle Eastern dishes are all over the region. But a locally-owned concept – with locations in Skokie and the West Loop – differentiates itself, by hand-stacking their shawarma each day into giant cones that are cooked slowly. Crave Kabob 1521 W. Madison St. 312-600-6800 http://www.cravekabob.com 7240 Niles Center … Continued
For years, fans of the Jewish deli have lamented its demise in Chicago. Only a handful remain, like Eleven City Diner or Manny’s in the South Loop. But a couple of new options have emerged during the pandemic – offering takeout – including one in the West Loop that’s sure to be a destination once indoor dining … Continued
With the holidays approaching and most restaurants closed to indoor dining, bakeries seem to be opening at a frantic pace. This week, I visited two new spots in the city where creative pastry chefs are leading the way. Sugargoat 820 W. Randolph St. 312-667-0108 www.sugargoatsweets.com Brite Donuts & Baked Goods Available at Metric Coffee, 2021 W. … Continued
“U.S. Pizza Cup” from Paulie Gee’s Logan Square If you’ll excuse the alliteration, the pandemic has made plenty of pizza parlors pretty popular, particularly for pickup. But for the last century or so, ordering a pizza in Chicago meant you had one of three options: a round, thin-and-crispy, square-cut pie; a circular deep-dish – chunky … Continued
The Japanese dish known as okonomiyaki was created in Osaka. And ever since I traveled there a few years ago, I’ve been wondering why this savory pancake – made with cabbage and your choice of beef, pork or seafood – hasn’t taken off in Chicago. “Okonomi” means “what you like” so of course, you can customize … Continued
Stephanie Izard is one of the city’s busiest, high-profile chefs. Not only does she oversee several restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop, she’s also an “Iron Chef” on TV and does a lot of charity work. But she recently added a new restaurant to her portfolio – this one more Peruvian inspired – and it’s … Continued
Restaurants come and go all the time, but it was a surprise in the food community when Grace suddenly shut its doors last year in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. A legal dispute between the chef, GM and owner led to a high-profile vacancy. However, a new restaurant called Yugen opened in the space by an all-female … Continued
If you’ve been following my Instagram at all in the past year or so, you’ll see an inordinate amount of pizza. Slices, pies, wedges and all sorts of oven situations. I’m not opening a pizzeria, but rather, building a tour business. My book, “Pizza City USA: 101 Reasons Why Chicago is America’s Greatest Pizza Town” … Continued
When you order a cocktail in a bar, you probably don’t give much thought to the ice inside of it. But a new business on the South Side, called Just Ice, does. They are creating “craft ice,” which now sits in the freezers of more than 150 bars and restaurants in the region, including Prairie School, … Continued
The West Loop continues to be the Wild West when it comes to restaurant development. There are new concepts from out-of-town, right alongside local brands that continue to expand in the area. But one of those out-of-towners is truly special. It’s well-known in Rome, but only recently decided to open its first location in the United … Continued