Quick looks at some of the newest and soon-to-open restaurants.
Volo Restaurant and Wine Bar
2008 W. Roscoe St., 773-348-4600
Scheduled to open mid-April is this new concept by Jon Young, the guy who brought you Kitsch’n on Roscoe and its new River North sibling. This time, Young trades retro irony for a chic, urban-loft look. Chef Stephen Dunne (MK, Spago) plans a seasonally focused, small-plate menu with an organic focus.
Curry Hut
410 Sheridan Rd., Highwood, 847-432-2889
Veterans of Chicago’s Indian Garden locations have opened this Indian/Nepali spot in Highwood’s recently defunct Two Guys From Italy space. Don’t be fooled by the name–this is no food court joint, but rather a casually elegant restaurant. The menu features classics like spicy chicken and lamb vindaloos ($12.95), tikka masalas ($12.95), and, naturally, tandoori specialties ($11.95-$17.95). But also look for Nepali entrees and appetizers like the steamed mo mo, a chicken-stuffed version of a potsticker.
Butter
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130 S. Green St., 312-666-9813
Hey, ladies: Restaurateur Jason Chan has got a place for you. He says his new West Loop spot, slated for an April 15 soft launch, was inspired by the posh, sexy New York restaurants that Carrie Bradshaw and her gal pals frequented on “Sex and the City.” From chef Ryan Poli, whose background includes Napa’s acclaimed French Laundry, you can expect inventive contemporary-American creations, without the French Laundry’s prices: Entrees here top out at $28.
Sal & Carvao
739 N. Clark St., 312-932-1100
The popular Brazilian churrascaria has just launched its long-awaited River North location not far from another wildly popular Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao (and the soon-to-open Brazzaz). Its $48.50 fixed-price lineup of all-you-can-eat dinners boasts 14 different meats (including pork, sausage, lamb, beef and chicken), all dramatically presented at your table by gaucho-clad servers. The price also includes access to a “salad island,” an oasis of veggies, fruit, cheese and smoked salmon. The lunch menu ($29.50) offers the same meaty lineup with slightly fewer salad options.
Oysy
50 E. Grand Ave., 312-670-6750
This growing sushi chain (pronounced oh-EE-she, which means “delicious” in Japanese) has opened a new location in River North. Expect the same maki menu ($6-$14), but also plenty of tapas-sized cooked small plates, including Flaming Dynamite ($8), a scallop-and-crab meat combo served flaming on a giant clam shell. So how do you say “Opa!” in Japanese?
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