Hope you got your dibs, Chicago.
And that you’re staying warm. After indoor dining officially reopened in Chicagoland last weekend, our reporters took the mood of restaurant owners and diners regarding the state’s reopening plan. We also dish on a new, Greek-inspired restaurant coming to Logan Square.
Meanwhile, this city can’t stop eating pizza. Chef Bill Kim (Urbanbelly) will bring his eponymously named Pizza & Parm Shop to Wicker Park starting next week for a pop-up, plus seven other pizzerias have recently risen onto the scene. We’ve got everything you need to know about the lot. See you Friday.
— Adam Lukach
Chicago-area restaurants ready to reopen for indoor service again
In the latest turn of events for hospitality in Chicagoland, the state allowed indoor dining in Cook County to reopen last weekend for the first time since late October. Some restaurants and bars will take advantage; others say that they will wait.
Among owners, optimism is tempered with concern: about health and safety, about whether the cost of reopening is worth the business it will bring and about the possibility of another shutdown as the COVID-19 pandemic persists, new strains emerge and vaccinations trickle forth slowly.
Indoor dining officially allowed back in Chicago, Cook County under COVID-19 restrictions, offering some restaurants “a breath of fresh air”
Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop to pop up in Chicago
After taking Oak Brook by storm, chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop will pop up for a stay in the city, beginning next week in Wicker Park.
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The virtual kitchen by the Korean-American chef serves creative riffs with Asian flavors: a Korean barbecue pizza, a giardiniera Parmesan sandwich and Buffalo Seoul wings (chicken or cauliflower). Now, hurry up and take my money.
Pop-ups, chef collaborations and more have become more common as the pros adapt to weather the pandemic
Chicago pizza boom expands with 7 more great new spots
Are we living in the Golden Age of Chicago Pizza? Because it sure tastes like it.
The city has added a slew of outstanding pizza-makers to its already-elite roster during the last 12 months, and here come seven more quality pie-slingers to join the (pizza) party. Reporter Nick Kindelsperger orders up and and delivers a complete breakdown of each slice.
Chef Doug Psaltis returning with Andros Taverna
Chef Doug Psaltis (RPM Italian, RPM Steak, Bub City) is making a return, teaming up with acclaimed pastry chef — and his wife — Hsing Chen for the Greek-influenced Andros Tavern, coming to Logan Square by Valentine’s Day.
The restaurant will be takeout-only upon opening, but stay tuned for more.
How Chicago restaurants are adapting to draw you back in
City shuts down gallery hosting a private party
Last weekend was the first day of indoor service for many businesses, but the city had to shut down a private party for violating the remaining COVID-19 guidelines.
A South Side bar that hosted a well-publicized Trump rally in November was among 13 establishments shut down last week for violations.
The 20 best Italian beefs in Chicago
A snowy winter week in Chicago has our brains thinking, “Where’s the beef?” — and not in a trademark-infringing way.
We are wondering, nay, dreaming of our beloved Italian beef sandwiches, a fine option in any season, but one that hits different during the winter months. (Or maybe we’re just making excuses to eat more Italian beef; it’s a fine line)
Amazon Fresh opening second Chicago-area grocery
Amazon Fresh, the online behemoth’s high-tech grocery store, plans to open its second location in the Chicago area Thursday in Schaumburg.
The store’s signature features include checkout-free Dash Carts — which utilize cameras, sensors and scales to identify items selected and ring them up — and voice-enabled Alexa terminals. A third Chicago-area location is reportedly planned for 95th Street in Oak Lawn, but no opening date has been announced.
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Beam Suntory moving global HQ to New York
Beam Suntory, the liquor company behind Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, announced plans to relocate its global headquarters from Chicago to New York City. That office currently sits in the downtown Merchandise Mart, a location that will transition to being the company’s North American headquarters.
The whiskey giant’s sales suffered during the pandemic as bars and restaurants shuttered, and people drank less alcohol overall.