LTHForum.com

Ideally, I'd like to eat it every day. Unfortunately, I spend Monday through Friday running to catch the Western Express, which often passes me when I am only a few feet away. The bus driver often acknowledges my effort, but continues on their way. Then, I struggle to catch any other passing buses or power walk my fat ass to the blue line. Now that Vella is gone, breakfast is often a cup of coffee. If I'm lucky, I'll have a health muffin from Sip or some pastry from Red Hen. I am also shamelessly addicted to Starbucks breakfast sandwiches. Makes me miss being unemployed. I eat brunch every weekend, of course.

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I'm sure you at least provide some entertainment for the bus passengers.

Stopped by today to take a closer look, and--while every storefront around them is papered over--Sh. Rustaveli is not.... Still the same rather bedraggled curtains in the window. They were not open today, however, it appears--either on my way out Dempster in the early afternoon or on my way home in the early evening.

Also on Dempster, bad news--the "Coming Soon--Kabul House" sign has been replaced with one announcing "Coming Soon--State Farm Agency" with a smaller sign advertising additional office space for rent....

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"Life is a combination of magic and pasta." -- Federico Fellini

The past few weeks I've driven by, they've appeared to be closed, even on Friday and Saturday nights. Calling, I get the message "Your call cannot go through." But I have occasionally seen their minivan parked in front.


That is bad news. I've seen dumpsters and evidence of workers there; I was hoping it meant the opening of the new Kabul House was imminent.

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Chicago Craft Beer Week!

On the Randhurst front:

Source

Care to speculate? Chick-Fil-A perhaps?

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What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
-- Lin Yutang

RIP, Mandarin in Rogers Park. I'll miss their bi bim bop and the friendly family who ran the place. Sign in the window promises a sushi restaurant.

Mandarin Restaurant
6803 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago
Tel: (773) 465-1299

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"Why don't you dance with me? I'm not no Limburger."

Jacky's on Prairie, Central Street in Evanston will have their Grand (re)Opening October 7th 2009.

They now have their menu online.

http://www.jackysbistro.com/

Fatburger?

Maybe Smashburger. They said they are opening 11 stores in the Chicagoland area.

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When I grow up, I'm going to Bovine University!

I have trouble believing Five Guys wouldn't have a deal with the shopping center to be the exclusive burger place, so I think Fatburger/Smashburger are unlikely..

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

It's called Grand Coffee Shop and Grand Sandwich Place. I knew it was something generic and vague. There has been a sign for Opening Soon for months now. Since I am only at the train station in the morning & evening, it's hard to know if there has been any progress on the inside.

My guess is Jersey Mike's- there's currently locations in Vernon Hills, Naperville and Gurnee.

Anyone been there? Are they good?

Jersey Mike's is coming to Streets of Woodfield (near Jamba Juice).

A look at their website/menu did not inspire confidence that this will be anything special.

http://www.jerseymikes.com/

yeah, not good - in the subway-quizno vicinity.

definitely a step above subway/quiznos. the meat is sliced fresh when your sandwich is ordered...that alone puts it a notch above.

nothing that will blow your mind, but a decent sub.

Meanwhile in Berwyn...

Trying to open since May (but being held up on inspections) in the old Cappuccino's space at 7111 Harlem is Los Anafrez Taqueria and Grill.

Interior appears finished and ready to go with napkins on the tables and pans behind the counter.

Last round of inspections... Hand-washing and mop sink and ADA accessible restrooms.

Talked to the owner of the beauty supply in the same strip mall and the owners might be losing interest with all of the trouble.

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Update on the old powerhouse space -

"New City Tavern" is opening on October 13th at 4:30pm. I poked my head through the window - looks like the more "casual" part of powerhouse got a fresh coat of paint, some new upholstery and pictures of trains. As long as they can improve on the lousy, indifferent customer service from the previous tennants, it can only be an improvement. I am not expecting anything more than the standard bar fare, but hopefully it will be a good addition to the neighborhood.

As for the Prairie Fire part of the space -- it was all papered up.

Black Beetle was papered up today - anyone know the deal?

from their twitter feed:



http://twitter.com/blackbeetlebar

We noticed the paper up in the windows on Tuesday morning, but we thought they were just remodeling. I wonder what will go in its place.

Has anyone tried Baza?

Attended a community meeting last night in which the owner and the head chef of Cuna came to introduce themselves to the organization. The concept of the place doesn't sound earth-shattering, but the head chef is Kendal Duque, formerly executive chef at Sepia. So that block of Belmont (between Seminary and Clifton) could become culinarily more interesting. From the website:



A menu on the website does sound pretty good. Entrees top out at $16.

If I remember correctly, the owner spoke of a November opening.

I believe I read that Kendall Duque is consulting on that place, hence the "featuring the culinary creations of....". I don't think he will be the chef there on a day-to-day basis.

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Edzo's Lincoln Park on Facebook or Twitter.

You may be right about this; if so, it's something they artfully "finessed" at the community meeting. I could swear I heard the words "head chef," but without a transcript, I guess I can't really be sure. I know I came away with the impression that Duque will be the chef there in body as well as spirit.

Anyone know anything about Pasha at 804 w. Randoplh. I hear it is to be a tapas place. Just curious.

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"A fruit is a vegetable with looks and money. Plus, if you let fruit rot, it turns into wine, something Brussels sprouts never do."
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Got all the dirt from Joe today while getting my haircut at Sal's. Roscoe Village update:

1. Kaze is most likely not re-opening. They sold their deep fryer to the guy down the street (I'm guessing the guy mentioned above with sandwiches and charcuterie).

2. If Kaze is to reopen it most-likely will be with a different chef.

3. Costello's has been sold recently, nothing known about the new owners. Chris Costello sold both locations.

Knew is well new. It's at about 2600 W. Fullerton across from the Bob Inn. Sol, I think, was there before. I drove by the place on my home and couldn't stop. It seems to have a trendyish modern decor inside. No idea about the food though.

Aurora/Fox Valley

Lorenzo's Steakhouse, in the parking lot of Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, is closed for remodeling. It had been there since 1994, and was a high-end Italian restaurant. Sign says it will re-open as Basil's, serving Greek food. I don't know if it's the same owners, just different concept, or not.

Also, work is underway for an Indian restaurant in a little strip mall at Ogden & Fronterac. Looks like maybe it will be mostly carry-out.

A new, mostly Middle Eastern restaurant has opened in the former Skewers space on Lincoln with a grand opening sign attached to the awning. This storefront has quite a history of fairly short-lived restaurants. Skewers' closing was noted by whiskeybent in this thread on Jan. 24, 2009.

I picked up a menu, which seems pretty ambitious. Hours are 10 am to 10 pm seven days a week. Delivery begins at noon. They offer dine-in (byob, no corkage), carry out and catering. Prices run a bit higher than on Kedzie. Along with most of your Middle Eastern standards, there are some dishes that I do not recall seeing anywhere on Kedzie. There is a beef or chicken shawerma lunch special with choice of hummus, baba ghanouj, rice, tomato or dorshi for $8.00. Three beverages do not give a very good idea of orientation: Turkish coffee, Greek frappe coffee and Persian tea. Even the name is a bit muddled.

I think that they have quite a challenge ahead. Too many people in Lincoln Square seem rather unadventuresome where Middle Eastern food is concerned while the others are more likely to go to the nearby Kedzie strip where the restaurants tend to have pretty clear identities as well as lower prices and a less bad parking situation. Maintaining food quality with a broad menu could be an issue if business volume does not build up pretty quickly.

Mediterranean Grill and Cuisine
4609 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Phone 773-293-4491
Fax 773-292-4492

This place is almost ready to open, and I for one am looking forward to a new Greek food place in the area.

Oh, and BTW, I pulled into the parking lot to count the spaces as the post above sounded like an exaggeration. It is. I counted 21 parking spaces.