New Restaurant Roundup: Notable Openings in Chicago
Sacco Bruno
2151 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL
278-8202
Sacco Bruno's Facebook
A new Italian deli market in Bucktown serving imported meats and cheese, homemade pasta and pizza, and fresh salads and sandwiches, Sacco Bruno ("brown bag" in Italian) is a slice of heaven for grab-and-go foodies. We're particularly excited about the Italian Sub and the Oven Roast Ribeye Italian Beef Grinder. And veggie lovers will be glad to know that Sacco Bruno is also a fresh organic market offering locally grown produce. Now, that's something we want in our brown bag.
Love Italian? Read our picks for the Best Italian Food in Chicago.
Perennial Virant
1800 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL
(312) 981-7070
www.perennialchicago.com
Twitter: @PerennialCHI
With just a minor name change, chef Paul Virant (of the award-winning Vie) takes over Perennial in Lincoln Park and reopens it as Perennial Virant, dedicated to sustainable, locally sourced contemporary American food. And the menu definitely reflects Virant's passion for farm-to-table dining. We recently had a peek at the menu (which we expect to change seasonally) and saw a prix fixe and several a la carte options, all sourced from local farms. We want to try the confit of Slagel Family Farm pork shoulder with spring vegetable giardiniera and Gunthorp Farm chicken fricasse with oyster mushrooms. And for dessert? The honey nougat glace sounds divine and perfectly summery.
Check out other buzz-worthy restaurants. See our list of Best Celebrity Chef Restaurants.
Dirty Betty's
2475 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
(312) 348-0300
www.dirtybettys.com
During the day, the retro dessert spot Cookie Bar is now housing the new doughnut pop-up shop Dirty Betty's. Are doughnuts the new must-have sweet treat? With lines forming around the block for the Doughnut Vault, they just might be. If you're worried about the waistline, though, you'll be glad to know that Dirty Betty's doughnuts are baked (not fried), and gluten-free and vegan offerings will be added to the menu soon. The doughnuts are moist, and come in 10 flavors, including chocolate nutella glaze and the must-try ginger with key lime glaze. Delish.
For more sugary sweet goodness, check out our Best Bets for Donuts in Chicago.
Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar
230 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 662-4888
www.eatatunion.com/
With its street art-influenced, colorful graffiti interiors, the newly opened Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar has been dubbed "Chicago's first American-Japanese restaurant." But we're more excited about the open-flame robata grill, which is said to reach over 600 degrees, and the wide selection of grilled-and-skewered dishes such as beef filet with ginger-soy, prosciutto-wrapped scallops with wasabi-avocado puree and cauliflower with red miso. The diverse menu also offers classic and special sushi rolls, braised pig tail and sweet potato gnocchi. We think we'll be back here for dinner a few more times.
Craving sushi? Here are our picks for Chicago's Best Sushi.
Pleasant House Bakery
964 West 31st St.
Chicago, IL
(773) 523-PIES
www.pleasanthousebakery.com/
Twitter @PHBakery
Are savory pies your thing? You're in luck. One of the newest kids in Bridgeport's block is Pleasant House Bakery, which serves the British delicacies known as "royal pies." Filled with meats, vegetables and stews--they're a meal on their own. They also have fish and chips--fried fish dipped in light batter and served with triple-fried chips and lemon tartar sauce. But if you want something sweet to top off these delicious discoveries, try one of their desserts. We hear the strawberry tart is to die for.
Want to try more British traditions? We've got the Best Afternoon Tea in Chicago.
