08/27/08

05:42 PM

A New Urban Legend

Rubbing the Belly

The most beloved new restaurant in Chicago right now? Urbanbelly (3053 N. California Ave.; 773-583-0500), Bill Kim’s noodle-and-dumpling BYO in Avondale. On The Huffington Post, Steve Dolinsky called it “the best first-day opening of any restaurant in Chicago,” and approximately a zillion Yelpers, LTHers, and other species of foodies have already weighed in with praise. A pair of trusted FODs who live in the neighborhood went nuts for the...

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08/20/08

04:12 PM

When You Wish Upon A Sushi Bar

Yeah, I Wish for 10,000 Hamachi Rolls

Andy Park was the executive chef of Blu Coral (1265 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-252-2020) when one of his longtime customers told him he was building a mall. Turns out the guy was Mike Jaffe, the developer of The Arboretum, a soon-to-open 600,000-square-foot open-air lifestyle center in South Barrington. Next thing you know...

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08/13/08

05:42 PM

Goodbye, Erba

Bummer of the Week

Erba (4520 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-989-4200), a rustic Italian spot in Lincoln Square that made Chicago magazine's 2007 list of best new restaurants, will close on September 13th, according to Robert Butterfield Jr., the owner. "It's a lack of business," said Alan Pirhofer, Erba's chef. "People are being more cautious with their money. The neighborhood is changing." As for Pirhofer's future, he's...

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	Dining Tidbits Hub 51, Café Orchid, Steve's Deli, Mexique
	Dining Out: Mad About Mado Laid-back and green, a Mediterranean storefront opens in Bucktown; Topaz takes Burr Ridge on a Euro tour. Dennis Ray Wheaton
	Dreamscape Tony Priolo finally has his little dream: Piccolo Sogno, a casual 80-seat Italian restaurant in the coveted former Thyme space. Jeff Ruby
	Magic Pan An $8,000 pure silver San Lorenzo sauté pan Jeff Ruby
Pour Dennis Ray Wheaton on the small-batch gin and vodka by Death’s Door Spirits Dennis Ray Wheaton

• 124 Best Dishes
• Best New Restaurants 2007
• The Rest of the Best

Front Burner: Stephanie Izard September 2008: Sautéed Marinated Shrimp with Corn Yogurt and Corn, Green Tomato, and Bacon Salad

10 places everyone's talking about—and dining at—in August. In order of heat:

GRAHAM ELLIOT Chef Bowles leaves his cushy niche as exec chef of Avenues and starts a bistronomic revolution in River North. 217 W. Huron St.; 312-624-9975

L2O No one gets the name, but everyone plays the game: Eat exotic fish or live in foodie shame. 2300 N. Lincoln Park West; 773-868-0002

AJASTEAK Kobe beef. Decorated chefs. A "floating" sushi bar: The force is strong with this one. Dana Hotel and Spa, 660 N. State St.; 312-202-6050

PERENNIAL The Boka/Landmark team hit the trifecta with this seasonally correct bistro. 1800 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-981-7070

MADO Everyone loves a husband-wife chef team. Especially when the food's as good as Rob and Allie Levitt's. 1647 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-342-2340

C-HOUSE Intrigued crowd gathers to watch chef Marcus Samuelsson dip his toe into the sea. Affinia Hotel, 166 E. Superior St.; 312-523-0923

MEXIQUE Who ever heard of Mexican food with a French twist? By now, all of West Town. 1529 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-850-0288

SOUL American classics in a modern setting save west suburbanites serious gas money. 1 Walker Ave., Clarendon Hills; 630-920-1999

SIXTEEN The ridiculous Trump-related opening hype is gone. The customers are not. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, 401 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-588-8030

PARK 52 Eternally starved for a decent restaurant, Hyde Parkers got a pretty good one in this stylish ode to Americana. 5201 S. Harper Ave.; 773-241-5200

Recipe File Salsa Verde and Salsa Roja at Fonda del Mar Jennifer Tanaka