Assorted menu offerings and mezze to be served at Ēma Glenview
Chicago’s flourishing restaurant scene will welcome an array of long-anticipated restaurants this year, bringing flavors from across the globe to your neighborhood.
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1015 N. Rush St. / Website
Stefani Restaurant Group (Castaways Beach Club, Bar Cargo and Broken English Taco Pub, to name a few) has just announced the reopening of Gold Coast mainstay Tavern On Rush, with a new two-level, 16,000-square-foot space located on the ground floor of the Thompson Chicago. Carrying on its 25-year legacy, the iconic steakhouse will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and weekend brunch, with menu offerings like fine USDA, prime-aged steaks and chops, fresh seafood and more—plus an advanced beverage program with luxe wines and craft cocktails. The new location will feature modernized, refined decor and a main dining room, a cocktail lounge, a bar, an outdoor patio and multiple rooms for private events. Tavern on Rush will also offer room service for the hotel and catering for the banquets on the third and fourth floors.
2914 N. Broadway St., Lakeview / Website TBD
Experience France in the Windy City at Le Petit Marcel, Maison Marcel’s highly awaited sister restaurant. Expected to open in the spring season of 2024, the concept will serve authentic French cuisine—with the added flair of contemporary flavor profiles—in an elegant atmosphere reminiscent of the glamour and sophistication of 1920s Paris. Judging by its sister restaurant, Le Petit Marcel is forecasted to wow with a decadent menu and beverage offerings that bring the Parisian lifestyle straight to your plate.
Ēma Glenview's summer salmon entrée
1320 Patriot Blvd., Glenview / Website
The second location of Lettuce Entertain You Restaraunts’ Golden State-inspired Mediterranean restaurant, Ēma, will make its Glenview debut at the end of the summer of 2024. Ēma Glenview, led by chef-partner CJ Jacobson and executive partner and divisional president Marc Jacobs, will focus on dips, spreads, assorted mezze, vegetables and seafood with delectable signature dishes such as grilled octopus and Faroe Island salmon kebab, toasted almond and garlic spread, ahi tuna and pomegranate and sweet corn farro and stracciatella made in-house.
1045 W. Fulton St., Fulton Market / Website TBD
Top Chef Season 15 winner, celebrity chef and culinary director of Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse, Joe Flamm, will introduce his newest restaurant concept, il Carciofo, with Day Off Group, led by Flamm, Frank Callero, Kara Callero and Steven Zaleski, in the late fall of 2024. Guests can expect a seasonal menu of elevated Italian favorites, including prosciutto di parma, crispy carciofo and suppli con ragu antipasti, Roman-style pizzas from a custom wood stone oven, traditional hand-rolled pasta, market-driven main courses and house-spun gelatis and sorbettis, maritozzi and zabaglione for dessert. Drawing inspiration from Roman trattorias and ristorantes, the eatery will feature lush interiors with dark woods, natural stones and handmade tiles, plus an open kitchen with a chef’s counter, a dining room and a sprawling patio.
748 N. State St. / Website
Ballyhoo Hospitality, the group behind favorites like Coda di Volpe, Old Pueblo Cantina and many more, is unveiling its eleventh restaurant, Petit Pomeroy. The sister restaurant to Winnetka’s Pomeroy will bring Parisian fare like onion soup gratinée, warm tomato tarte and bouillabaisse to River North in an elevated, romantic atmosphere. The eatery will also feature a beverage program with pairings spanning French wines, sparkling wines, Champagnes and renditions of classic French brasserie craft cocktails such as the French 75, Le Spritz and Le Pamplemousse.
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1601 Payne St., Evanston / Website
Co-founders chef D’Andre Carter and Heather Bublick have announced the opening of Soul & Smoke’s soon-to-debut Evanston eatery, located in the same building as the neighborhood spot’s original location. Chef Carter and Bublick are currently transforming a century-old 5,500-square-foot barn into a backyard-inspired dining destination, complete with a visible smoker room with two custom A.N. Bewley offset smokers sourced from Dallas, Texas. The restaurant’s newest location will boast many of its beloved signature dishes like smoked brisket, pastrami, rib tips, gumbo and more, coupled with a lineup of new offerings led by chef Carter.
950 W. Fulton St. / Website
This fall, Avli Hospitality Group, the team behind Avli Inspired Greek, will unveil a quick-service Fulton Market dining spot specializing in Greek street food. Greek for “little pie,” Pitaki will serve pita wraps, bowls, savory Greek pies, salads and desserts crafted with high-caliber ingredients like Berkshire pork, wagyu beef and fresh vegetables. Open for both lunch and dinner, the restaurant concept will feature a convenient counter for walk-up service, along with limited in-house seating and a catering program.
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939 W. Randolph St. / Website
A buzzy New York pizzeria will arrive in Chicago this fall on Randolph Street's “Restaurant Row.” Prince Street Pizza will offer square, Sicilian-style slices and original Neopolitan pizzas prepared daily from scratch. Visitors will get their pick of popular combos like “The Spicy Vodka” with fresh mozzarella, spicy vodka sauce and pecorino romano and the “Green Machine” with nut-free pesto, shredded mozzarella, ricotta and black olives, alongside Chicago-exclusive offerings.
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15 W. Washington St. / Website
The Loop’s dining corridor Washington Hall, formerly Urbanspace, is currently undergoing a redevelopment helmed by entrepreneur and food hall artisan Anna Castellani, behind concepts like DeKalb Market Hall, ANA Bar & Eatery and The Hugh in New York City. The transformation will usher in a number of new vendors, including sandwich shop All Too Well, Mediterranean eatery Yunani, Dog House, Puerto Rican dining spot Dope Drip Cafe and more.
5230 S. Harper Ave. / Website TBD
Chef Erick Williams and Jesus Garcia (head of hospitality at Virtue Restaurant & Bar) are collaborating on a Mexican bar concept arriving in Hyde Park this fall. Cantina Rosa—a homage to Williams and Garcia’s grandmothers, Rose and Rosa, respectively—will feature an expansive Mezcal and tequila program, Mexican-inspired bar bites and a chic atmosphere with installations from local artists, spacious tables and cozy seating.
198 E. Delaware Place / Website
Chicago’s first Aussie restaurant and cafe is coming to the Hilton Magnificent Mile. Owned by Shawn Uldridge—the Australian investor behind The Publishing House and The Press Room—the eatery will offer refined twists on traditional Australian breakfast, lunch and dinner staples. “I am delighted to bring the concept of an Australian cafe to Chicago—from the recipes to the design, this project is very close to my heart,” says Uldridge. “If you’ve ever been to Australia, Chapel Street will be a very familiar experience.”
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3152 W. Diversey Ave. / Website
Common Decency’s vibrant, elevated older sister, Feverdream, will debut in Logan Square by the winter of 2024. Located in the former Thank You space, the restaurant will bring sophisticated plating, inspired cocktails and out-of-the-box ingredients into the limelight and onto its guests’ plates. Chef Mark Steuer, alongside his partners Kelsey Kasper and Jason Turley, has furthered Milkhorse Hospitality’s mission of incorporating dietary restriction-friendly menu offerings and providing sustainable employee support—including insurance, employee loyalty benefits and more—at the group’s latest culinary endeavor.
Chef Zach Engel and Andres Clavero of Galit and the pair’s newest restaurant concept
2431 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincoln Park / Website TBD
James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Zachary Engel and partner Andrés Clavero have unveiled plans to open their latest restaurant concept. Slated to open its doors in late 2024, the fine dining eatery will be next to the pair’s Michelin-starred fine-dining inaugural project, Galit. The second concept’s two stories and 6,000 square feet of dining space will be renovated by local architect Michal Mohr Architecture and designed by Chicago-based interior design team Siren Betty Design.
Beverage director and partner Kevin Beary
Address TBD / Website
This quintessential American cocktail bar is expected to debut in River North’s vibrant culinary scene in late 2024. The eatery’s drink menu will feature beverage mainstays helmed by Kevin Beary, partner and award-winning beverage director of Lettuce Entertain You’s Three Dots and a Dash and The Bamboo Room.
Chris and Megan Curren
7 S. Broadway, Aurora / Website TBD
The husband-and-wife-duo behind St. Charles’ The Graceful Ordinary, executive chef Chris Curren and Megan Curren, are back with their newest restaurant concept, Vicolo. The European-inspired cafe and pasticceria will feature Italian cuisine, handmade pasta and fresh-baked pastries in a 3,200-square-foot space. During the day, the dining destination will host live music, movie screenings and family-friendly performances. At night, a refined dining experience will be ushered in via craft cocktails and chef-curated menu offerings.
Chef and partner Thai Dang
Address TBD / Website
Renowned chef and owner of Pilsen’s James Beard Award-nominated HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen, Thai Dang, is unveiling his first restaurant concept with Lettuce Entertain You, anticipated to open in the early months of 2025. Crying Tiger will offer Southeast Asian dishes in a resplendent atmosphere, designed in collaboration with acclaimed interior architecture practice David Collins Studio—the team responsible for Tre Dita and the St. Regis Chicago’s iconic atmospheres.
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130 E. Randolph St. / Website
Chicago Loop Italian eatery Rosebud on Randolph is currently undergoing a three-phase renovation to debut a new Mexican-inspired restaurant helmed by renowned chef and Rosebud Restaurants veteran Mauricio Gomez. The popular eatery will remain open throughout the transformation, offering its signature dishes plus newly introduced carry-out fare from Esta Loca, like carne asada, al pastor, fish tacos, burritos and taco salad bowls. Once the renovation is complete, Rosebud on Randolph will be fully converted into Gomez's restaurant concept, marking the brand’s first venture into Mexican cuisine.
See also: The 17 Most Sought-After Reservations In Chicago
Photography by: Header and photo of Ēma, The Dip Inn and Crying Tiger courtesy of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants; photo of Joe Flamm’s concept courtesy of Kinship Company; photo of Chapel Street courtesy of Chapel Street; photo of Zachary Engel and Andrés Clavero by Brian Cassella; photo of The Graceful Ordinary's new concept, Vicolo, courtesy of Matt Reeves, photo of Pitaki restaurant concept by Mac Yellek; photo of Petit courtesy of Ballyhoo Hospitality.
