Lao You Ju’s Four Seasons won ton
In an interview last year, Tony Hu told us his passion was to show Americans “how wonderful real Chinese food is.” More than that, we’ve learned from his three Chinatown restaurants (Lao Sze Chuan, Lao Shanghai, Lao Beijing) about the marvelous diversity of Chinese cooking. His fourth spot, Lao You Ju, will show us how sexy it can be, with a sleek central bar (Hu: “You never see bars in Chinese restaurants”) and contemporary small plates from virtually every region of China. As if playing up the restaurant’s name, which means “old friends coming together,” Hu plans to have monthly dinners for professionals from different fields, including doctors, writers, basketball players, and engineers. And nothing’s sexier than engineers. 2002 S. Wentworth Ave.; 312-225-7818.
Photograph: Anna Knott