By Penny Pollack and Graham Meyer
L2O's new executive chef, a 28-year-old veteran of NoMI, One Sixtyblue, and Joël Robuchon at the Mansion talks about seafood, the Michelin Guide, and foie gras in a cook-it-yourself hot pot. Read more
Graham Meyer
By Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer, and Carly Boers
Four Questions for Tona Palomino
Palomino met Michael Sheerin in 2000 on the line at Jean Georges in New York. They’ve stayed connected ever since... Read more
By Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer, and Carly Boers
Interpretive History
“I kind of thought I would do this my whole life,” says Rachel Dennis, referring to fulfilling her goal of opening her eclectic-rustic restaurant Lake Street Kitchen + Bar... Read more
By Penny Pollack and Graham Meyer
Like a Mahlerian orchestra, Chicago is adding another piccolo. Piccolo Sogno Due (340 N. Clark St.; no phone yet) is under construction in River North... Read more
By Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer, and Carly Boers
(North) Shore Fire
With M, Benjamin, and two cupcake shops already opened in the past year, suburb-of-the-moment Highland Park added 2nd Street Bistro... Read more
By Penny Pollack and Graham Meyer
Given what a big city Chicago is—and what a big country China is—there are very few Chinese restaurants outside of Chinatown or the Argyle Street area worth their salt (or soy sauce). The restaurateurs behind a project under way at the corner of Hubbard and La Salle Streets aim to change that. Red Violet (121 W. Hubbard St.; no phone yet), an upscale 200-seat restaurant and lounge, is scheduled to open by the end of November, serving the food of Beijing, Sichuan, and Shanghai... Read more
By Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer, and Carly Boers
Trench Foothold
Trenchermen, the long-awaited project from the former Blackbird chef Michael Sheerin, took on a clearer shape this week... Read more
By Penny Pollack and Graham Meyer
Nella Grassano first drew the drooling hordes at Spacca Napoli, where she made the Neapolitan-style pizzas that packed the place as soon as it opened in 2006. Then Grassano teamed up with Scott Harris of the Francesca’s chain in late 2009 to open Nella Pizzeria Napoletana on Clark Street in Lincoln Park, with plans for a second location in Little Italy... Read more
By Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer, and Carly Boers
& How
When their kids were on a play date, Lisa Fosler Kelly and Jennifer Wisniewski discovered they shared the dream of opening a wine bar... Read more
By Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer, and Carly Boers
O Say Can You See
Sports bars have a certain sameness to them—greasy fried food, beer, and lots of big TVs... Read more