photo: courtesy Eleven City Diner
At Eleven City Diner's new Lincoln Park location, step into a time warp to the year 1955. And have a root beer float while you're there.
Openings
• Tuesday 6/25: Eleven Lincoln Park (2301 N. Clark St., 773-244-1112) the second location of the Eleven City Diner, is in full swing. This classic diner sports an in-house soda jerk; candy bar, pie, and cake service; and a full delicatessen menu.
• Wednesday 6/26: The specialty grocery store Plum Market (1233 N. Wells St., 312-229-1400) has opened in Old Town. Shoppers looking for local produce will find it here, along with plenty of organic and seasonal selections. The store also offers eco-friendly body-care products and gift ideas.
• Friday, 6/28: The Berkshire Room (15 E. Ohio St., 312-894-0800) is Benjamin Schiller’s ode to old-world bartending. The cocktail lounge will store its boozy batches in aged wine barrels and serve up spirits in antique medicine bottles. Look to the food menu from executive chef Chris Curren and pastry chef Chris Teixeira for high-end bar snacks.
• Monday, 7/1: Chef Matt Eversman has been working on his concept for OON Restaurant (802 W. Randolph St., 312-929-2555) since 2011. Eversman and partners Jon McDaniel and Sean Currie will finally open their West Loop location this weekend, serving up Contemporary American and Southeast Asian cuisine.
Morsels
DMK (DMK Burger Bar, Fish Bar, Ada Street) has plans to open County Barbecue (1352 W. Taylor St., no phone yet) this July. The latest news is that the 40-seat restaurant will house a hickory smoker, carry craft beers on draft, have monthly-featured cocktails, and include Chicago’s second bacon bar.
Cronuts have arrived. The croissant-doughnut combination popularized (and trademarked) in New York has been popping up at Chicago bakeries the past few weeks. La Boulangerie (2569 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-358-2569) dubs theirs “crognets”, while the word is “doughssant” at West Town Bakery & Diner (1916 W. Chicago Ave., 773-904-1414). Glazed and Infused (813 W. Fulton Market, 312-226-5556) calls their version Scott’s Hotts in honor of owner Scott Harris. We have even seen and tried a few dossants from Chicago Pastry (142 Bloomingdale Rd., Bloomingdale, 630-529-6391). Check out our First Bite analysis here.
In other doughnut news, Glazed and Infused will open another branch on the corner of Hubbard and State streets in the Courtyard Marriot. They recently replaced their Intelligentsia coffee with a signature blend made specifically for them by Bow Truss (2934 N. Broadway St., 773-857-1361). Expect espresso and pour-over coffee service within the next few months.
Tickets go on sale today for Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company’s Rockin’ Lobster Bash. The seafood extravaganza takes place Monday, July 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Three Aces (1321 W. Taylor St., 312-243-1577). Guiseppe Tentori (GT Fish & Oyster), Paul Virant (Vie/Perennial Virant), and Mark Steuer (Carriage House), are just a few of the chefs contributing to the evening’s tasting menu. Tickets are $65 and can be found via Groupon.