Assorted offerings to be served at Boka Restaurant Group’s dessert shop, Milk Bar
Chicago’s flourishing restaurant scene will welcome an array of long-anticipated restaurants this year, bringing flavors from across the globe to your neighborhood.
200 N. Green St. / Website
The first Midwest location of New York City-based dessert shop Milk Bar is coming to the first floor of The Hoxton this fall, opening in partnership with Boka Restaurant Group. Founded by James Beard award-winning pastry chef Christina Tosi, the bakery will serve a curated lineup of signature cookies with flavors like cornflake chocolate chip marshmallow and confetti, plus cake truffles, pies, milkshakes, “MilkQuakes” and bread, including cream cheese-filled “Bagel Bombs.”
1045 W. Fulton St., Fulton Market / Website
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.
View this post on Instagram
71 W. Monroe / Website
The fourth-generation family owners behind The Village are bringing a new Italian-American comfort food restaurant to The Loop just in time for the holidays. Located in the basement of the Italian Village restaurant complex, Sotto will serve Italian-inspired shareable dishes with nods to global cuisine (Japanese, French, Scandinavian cuisines and more), like smoked sweet potato tortellini, giardiniera-braised short ribs and lamb bolognese bianco, brought to fruition by chef Steven Mendez. Beverage director Jared Gelband is behind the concept’s beverage program, which encompasses reserve bottles from Italian Village’s award-winning, 1,300-label wine cellar, plus Italian varietals and Italian-inspired cocktails like The Reggiano parmesan-infused espresso martini and the Mirto Beach gin sour.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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, Cafe Yaya
2431 N. Lincoln Ave. / Website
This winter, James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Zachary Engel and partner Andrés Clavero are opening all-day dining and event destination Cafe Yaya, located next to the pair’s Michelin-starred fine-dining inaugural project, Galit. With a pastry program helmed by Galit’s longtime pastry chef Mary Eder-McClure, guests will enjoy a selection of bourekas, crunchy baklava, challah and more, paired with coffee from Sparrow Coffee Roastery. Dinner offerings combine French, Jewish, Southern, Middle Eastern and Midwestern culinary techniques, coupled with a convenient counter-service model and beverage pairings led by Scott Stroemer, including varieties from independent winemakers, a vast by-the-glass selection, craft cocktails and seasonal spirit-free libations. The eatery’s second floor will serve as a multi-use space for community events and private gatherings, from wine tastings to pop-up dinners.
198 E. Delaware Place / Website
Chicago’s first Aussie restaurant and café 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. Uldridge has appointed executive chef Jorge Mosquera to lead the restaurant’s culinary program, a hospitality veteran who’s held positions at properties like Marriott, Hyatt Hotels, Maggiano’s and Bravo Restaurant Group “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.”
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.
View this post on Instagram
531 N. Wells St. / Website
A River North neighborhood pizzeria and tavern from Boka Restaurant Group will open on the corner of Grand and Wells in early 2025, featuring an Italian-inspired culinary program from Boka Restaurant Group chefs Chris Pandel (Swift & Sons, Cira and Swift & Son’s Tavern) and Lee Wolen (Boka, Alla Vita and GG’s Chicken Shop). Zarella!’s menu will include an ever-evolving menu of specialties, fresh salads, entrees, small bites and tavern-style and artisan pizzas, including a range of specialty pies (also available with a gluten-friendly crust) with flavors like spicy vodka with Calabrian chili and mozzarella; carbonara with pancetta, pecorino and egg; and Italian sausage with giardiniera, oregano and mozzarella.
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.
See also: The 17 Most Sought-After Reservations In Chicago
Photography by: Photos of Gus’ Sip and Dip 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 restaurant; photo of Zachary Engel and Andrés Clavero by Brian Cassella; photo of Vicolo courtesy of Matt Reeves, photos of Milk Bar courtesy of brand
