Four years into the pandemic, Chicago’s recovery attempts are still being hampered by inflation and labour issues, so the city isn’t exactly back where it started.
The previous year may have seemed like a step backward for many who were hoping for clearer skies and a return to life as it was before the COVID, as new obstacles surfaced along with real fears about the state of the economy.
If nothing else, 2022 provided cooks and restaurant owners with the opportunity to more carefully plan out the dishes they envisioned making. A number of projects that were originally scheduled to take place in 2022 have been pushed back to 2023, while operators have announced new initiatives.
If everything goes according to plan, this year is going to be extremely busy. Because there is going to be so much amazing stuff in Chicago, Eater Chicago is, for the very first time, going to include a “honorable mention” section for its most anticipated list.
Therefore, fasten your seatbelts and continue reading in order to discover Eater Chicago’s most anticipated restaurant openings for the year 2023.
Atelier
Location: 4835 North Western Avenue, in the Lincoln Square neighbourhood
Tim Lacey, the mystery chef, is a key character here.
Tim Lacey, proprietor of Atelier, has stated that he is not yet prepared to disclose the identity of the chef who will be working at his new restaurant, which will take the place of Iliana Regan’s renowned Elizabeth. During the pandemic,
Lacey took over the business, but now that there has been a change in the chef, he believes it is time for a fresh start so that he may take on the next frontier. Lacey reports that the restaurant with the tasting menu will open in February and that a chef should be in place very shortly.
Boonie’s Filipino Restaurant
Lincoln Square location can be found at 4337 North Western Avenue.
Joe Fontelera is a pivotal figure.
Joe Fontelera, who departed Arami at the end of 2020, hopes to graduate from his food stand at Revival Food hall in the Loop and move on to bigger and better things at Lincoln Square, where the next chapter for Boonie Foods will be written.
Fontelera says the restaurant, which is now known as Boonie’s Filipino Restaurant, will build on the foundation he established at Revival, but he will increase the number of options available inside the space that formerly housed Crab Pad. He plans to make his debut either towards the end of January or the beginning of February.
Also Read: Food Delivery Apps DoorDash, Uber Adjust To Changing Customer Needs On Pandemic Recovery
Daisies
Location: 2375 North Milwaukee Avenue, in the Logan Square neighbourhood
Joe Frillman and Leigh Omilinsky are two of the most important players.
In the first year of the pandemic, Joe Frillman, owner of Daisies, a neighbourhood haven in Logan Square for pasta and top-notch Midwestern cooking for nearly six years, transformed his restaurant into a gourmet weekend market.
Daisies is a neighbourhood haven for pasta and top-notch Midwestern cooking. Frillman is doubling down on the market’s improbable success and will bestow a new Daisies upon the city with a full-time market in 2023.
At the time, the transition to retail wasn’t unusual for restaurateurs who were in need of a revenue stream at the time. However, nearly three years later, as many return to business as usual, Frillman is doubling down on the market’s improbable success.
The new location will be only a few blocks away from the original and will feature a dining room, espresso bar, pastry counter, and grab-and-go section inside its 5,500 square feet of space. The group has set its sights on opening the brand-new entrance somewhere between the end of February and the beginning of March.
Also Read: Life-changer Dairy Queen, Which Drinks Are Sold ?
Don Bucio’s Taqueria
Location: 2764 North Milwaukee Avenue, in the Logan Square neighbourhood
Rodolfo Cuadros and Don Bucio are two important players.
Rodolfo Cuadros, owner of the pan-Latin restaurant Amaru and the vegan mega-hit Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, will further explore the garden path of meat- and dairy-free cuisine in 2023 with the launch of Don Bucio’s Taqueria, or DBT,
which he describes as a “humble Mexican restaurant that just happens to serve vegan food.” Cuadros was nominated for a James Beard Award and is the owner of Bloom Plant Based Kitchen. Cuadros, who is originally from Colombia but has been in Chicago for the past nine years, decided to name his restaurant after a devoted kitchen prep worker he has known during that period.
Bucio is originally from Mexico but has lived in the Windy City for close to three decades. In recent years, he has followed Cuadros from Carnivale to his other restaurants that he owns and operates. Customers can anticipate a revolving menu of tacos,
which may include vegan alternatives to traditional dishes like al pastor. The taco shop is scheduled to launch in the beginning of February.
Itoko, Little Goat Diner, And GG’s Chicken Shop
The location in Lakeview is 3325 North Southport Avenue.
Gene Kato, Stephanie Izard, Lee Wolen, and Boka Restaurant Group are some of the most important participants.
The James Beard Award–winning hospitality group Boka is poised to come roaring back with a number of ambitious projects, including a three-restaurant hub in Lakeview in the former home of the historic bar and bowling alley Southport Lanes.
After a relatively quiet 2022, Boka is poised to come roaring back with a number of ambitious projects. The first will be GG’s Chicken Shop, which will be owned and operated by chef Lee Wolen. This will be a place that is suitable for families, since it will have a walk-up counter, a dining room, and outdoor seating, in addition to a wall of rotisserie birds that are ready to be devoured.
Itoko (which literally translates as “cousin” in Japanese) will be the next venture for chef Gene Kato, formerly of Momotaro, and will feature a more relaxed take on traditional Japanese cuisine such as sushi, hand rolls, and things grilled on a robata grill.
Little Goat, Stephanie Izard’s lovable all-day diner that made its debut in 2012 on Randolph Street, is finally getting a second outpost, which will be opened by the winner of Season 5 of Top Chef, Stephanie Izard.
The opening timelines are still subject to change. It is Boka’s intention to release Itoko either early or in the middle of February, followed by GG’s release perhaps later in the same month. It is anticipated that the reborn Little Goat will open in the month of March.
Final Words
Inflation and labour have slowed recovery four years into the pandemic in Chicago. As new obstacles and economic concerns arose, the previous year may have felt like a step back for those hoping for clearer skies and a return to pre-COVID life.
Chefs and operators should better plan their creations in 2022. Operators announced new projects and postponed 2022 projects. Schedules permitting, this year will be full. Eater Chicago is adding a “honourable mention” section to its most anticipated list for the first time since Chicago has so much wonderful things.
