The success of places like Revival Food Hall and Latinicity in the Loop are a testament to the popularity of this trend .
Janet : You ’ ll often find me grazing at Eataly , claiming my favorite spot at the oyster bar at Shaw ’ s Crab House , having breakfast or lunch meetings at Beatrix or hitting Noon O ’ Kabab on the weekend for Persian cuisine . For takeout , Opart Thai is a favorite , a rotisserie bird from Chicken & Farm Shop at Soho House is a staple , and so is Sushi X , when I ’ m in a maki state of mind . Noreen : Well , let me tell you about some of my favorite places that I dine and do a “ course ” at each . I ’ d go to Logan Square ’ s Buona Terra , where if there were no weight consequences , I would sit and eat their fresh bread with jalapeño and garlic spread and hummus for a meal alone ( their pappardelle is fabulous , too ). Topo Gigio for their Joe ’ s Salad any time , but especially in the summertime in their outdoor space . If you have never indulged in ( and it is truly an indulgence ) the lasagna at Bacchanalia , it is divine and worth the trip to 26th and California .
Both with my kids and co-workers , Sweet Mandy Bs is a staple for cupcakes and their incredible apple cinnamon “ pop tarts ”. I adore Bavette ’ s for its old school dark and romantic feel , with my drink preference being the Champagne Smash , a delicious concoction that includes Gin , Lillet Rose , mint and lemon .
What food / foods do you constantly crave ? Ryan : I should say sushi , kale salads and lean cuts of turkey , but let ’ s get real : I ’ m on that chocolate , coffee and Cheetoh crave-kick all day ! ( And pizza , duh !) Victoria : I can never say no to some really good New York style pizza . Dough Bro ’ s in River North has some of my favorite in the city . Janet : If my waistline would cooperate , pasta would be on the menu … every day . Both of my parents are from the Lazio region of Italy , and I grew up in a household where the pasta was made fresh and we enjoyed it a few times each week . There is sugo running through these veins ! As an adult , I try to recreate my mom ’ s traditional dishes at home but I also love to experiment with new sauces and pasta varieties .
What , or whom , will everyone be buzzing about in the restaurant scene in spring 2017 ? Victoria : I think Poke will still be a thing with more and more spots opening up . Rum clubs will be hot , with a few opening soon , including the highly anticipated Flamingo Rum Club and Ronero . Wifi free coffee shops - I ’ ve been seeing more and more spots across the country trying to make people disconnect and make everyone actually talk to each other and enjoy the moment instead of being plugged in all of the time . Ryan : That is a great question . Personally , I have an upcoming client that I can ’ t wait to share . Certainly going to create a stir in Gold Coast and be a new eclectic hub for creative and business people alike . Aside from SIX4 ventures , I am looking forward to seeing what some of the smaller groups / one-off chefs around town might be working on , like Rachel and James , who just opened Pisolino , http :// pisolinochicago . com , hoping they are the next buzzed about spot on the block ! I love a fun surprise from a lesser-known team that hits the scene and takes over . Excited to see if some of the whispers around town come true . Janet : Everyone is always keeping an ear to the ground to see what the city ’ s preeminent restaurant groups will unveil next . The teams at One Off Hospitality , Boka Restaurant Group , The Fifty / 50 Group , Cornerstone Restaurant Group and so many others are always innovating , bringing exciting new projects to the forefront .
I ’ m also hearing about several chefs in Chicago who have more casual restaurants in the works , many of them in the “ fine quick service ” space . This has been an emerging trend of the past year that has only gained in momentum . Quality , chef-created meals made fast and fresh are something that people gravitate towards , and in most instances , with the upside of saving both money and time . The success of places like Revival Food Hall and Latinicity in the Loop are a testament to the popularity of this trend .