Essex, IL Food & Drink and More

publisher · 6.0K followers

The heart of Hemmingway will take its final beats this month

After 25 years, Hemmingway’s Bistro is saying its final “Au Revoir” to Oak Park. The French restaurant at 211 N. Oak Park Ave., is owned and operated by Chef Christopher Ala and his wife Lucia Ala. For over two decades it has been a testament to resilience...

Oak Park, IL · 1d

WBEZ

How a retired Chicago Army veteran found peace and purpose through baking

At 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, with most of Chicago still asleep, Quinton McNair already was in the kitchen. By 9 a.m., the 49-year-old had baked enough cookies, muffins and other treats to fill the display cases at his Hyde Park bakery. And McNair still had the rest of another long day ahead of him.

Chicago, IL · 3d

WBEZ

publisher · 6.0K followers

From Irish pub to Chicago blues hub: What happened to Biddy Mulligan’s?

In Rogers Park, a block from the lake, weeds are growing in front of a shuttered Irish pub. A sign above the door reads Mulligan’s Cafe, but a marquee above that identifies this closed business by another name: Biddy Mulligan’s. This unassuming storefront was once a hot spot for blues fans on Chicago’s North Side in the 1970s and 1980s.

Chicago, IL · 4d

juliescafebakery.com

9 Chicago Restaurants Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner in 2026

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26 this year, and Chicago’s best tables fill fast. Some restaurants run a buffet, others serve a set menu, and a few build the meal around a whole bird. These nine restaurants have posted their 2026 menus. Prices are the latest published figures, so...

Chicago, IL · 23h

hoodline.com

publisher · 7.1K followers

Hazel Crest Welcomes 5918 Catering, Chicago Soul Food Pop-Up Gets a Kitchen

After serving up soul food through pop-ups around the Chicago area, Anthony and Rhonda Williams are getting a kitchen to call their own. The couple behind 5918 Catering & Events has leased kitchen space at 17503 Kedzie Avenue in Hazel Crest. The lease, carried out by Matanky Realty, places the...

Chicago, IL · 15h

Secret Chicago

Bears star D’Andre Swift names his 3 favorite Chicago restaurants—and launches a limited-time Philly-meets-Chicago menu

Caleb Williams has already made it known that his favorite restaurant is Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna, calling his love for it “ the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. “ Now, fellow Bears star D’Andre Swift is sharing his own go-to Chicago restaurants —and his list offers plenty of inspiration for your next dinner out. D’Andre Swift shares his favorite Chicago restaurants While Williams’ pick might settle your next pizza order, Swift’s shortlist gives you a few more options for a night out: West Loop steakhouse Adalina Prime, Lincoln Park steakhouse & cocktail lounge The Bull Moose , and Asian bistro & nightclub TAO . For something a little more game-day-ready, though, you can try a menu the running back helped create himself. What’s on D’Andre Swift’s menu at Jake Melnick’s? Swift has teamed up with Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap on “Da Swift Picks,” a limited-time lineup that mixes Philadelphia-inspired flavors with Chicago favorites. Here’s what’s on the menu: High Step Hoagie Dip ($12.95): Salami, prosciutto, hot peppers, provolone, and cream cheese, served with fresh Sidewinder Fries. Swift City Wings ($19.95): Long hot pepper-garlic butter, giardiniera rub, parmesan, and a Cooper’s Wiz sidecar. Hometown Fries ($9.95): House-cut fries,

partner publisher · 45.5K followers

Cheapism

12 German Restaurants Across America Known for Keeping Things Traditional

Explore 12 German Restaurants Across America serving schnitzel, sausages, sauerbraten, and other traditional favorites, plus tips for your visit.

Chicago, IL · 4d

juliescafebakery.com

7 Chicago Foods You Need to Try at Least Once (Beyond Deep-Dish Pizza)

Ask a Chicagoan where they actually eat and the answer rarely involves a knife and fork. It usually involves a paper bag, a cash-only counter, and a very specific way of ordering. These seven places keep coming up in local roundups, review sites, and Reddit threads. Each one comes with...

juliescafebakery.com

7 Chicago Bakeries and Shops Taking Thanksgiving Pie Orders in 2026

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, and the best pie orders close well before the holiday. One deadline lands tomorrow. These seven shops have posted their 2026 details. Prices and dates are the latest published figures, so check the shop before you pay. Brown Sugar Bakery. This Chatham bakery has a...

Chicago, IL · 22h

takemetotn.com

7 Illinois Restaurants Where Dinner Comes With A Show The Kids Won’t Stop Talking About

Dinner with no fork sounds like a kid’s wildest dream, and at one Illinois spot, it’s actually the rule. You eat a four-course meal with your hands while knights joust a few feet away. That alone would be enough for me. But this list goes further, with servers...

Rock Island, IL · 4d

blockclubchicago.org

Trader Joe’s Uptown Store Opens Monday

UPTOWN — A Trader Joe’s is opening on the Far North Side sooner than expected. The popular grocery store chain is opening 9 a.m. Monday at 804 W. Montrose Ave. in Uptown, a company spokesperson said. Last month, the company said the store wouldn’t open until next year.

takemetotn.com

This Nostalgic Illinois Diner Serves Chicago Deli Classics With A Side Of Old-School Charm

The house potatoes here get cooked in beef tallow. That one detail alone made me sit up and pay attention. Then there’s the homemade root beer, poured at a spot that also serves matzo ball soup, lox, and a Reuben with a name you won’t forget. Breakfast runs all day, so pancakes at dinnertime are completely fair game.

publisher · 12.7K followers

WTTW - Chicago PBS

While Sujan Sarkar Expands His Restaurant Empire, Sahil Sethi Keeps the Chicago Spots Up to Snuff

More than ten years ago, Sahil Sethi and Sujan Sarkar met in the kitchen of a Mediterranean restaurant in India. Many years, restaurants, cities, and awards later, they are still working together, with Sarkar expanding into a global presence based on the reputation of restaurants in Chicago that Sethi helps to oversee and maintain as culinary director.

partner publisher · 5.3K followers

Axios Chicago

Alley cafes and plants in the Pedway: 3 ideas to transform Chicago's State Street

From more green space to interactive installations, three winning proposals reimagine what could make Chicago's State Street "that great street" once again. Why it matters: The plans could help breathe new life into a part of the Loop that was once a retail, cultural and social attraction. Driving the news: The Chicago Architectural Club, World Business Chicago and other civic organizations on Wednesday announced the winners of this year's Burnham Prize . Context: In April, the groups called for ideas for "The Future of State" — ways to make State Street a vibrant, inviting and modern urban center. Zoom in: The three winning projects take different approaches to best utilize what already exists along State Street, as well as what new infrastructure is needed. Thickness: From Corridor to Urban Field focuses on the spaces between the buildings. It would turn parking lots into green space, alleys and the Pedway into spots to meet and drink and build elevated walkways to move through the Loop. Unlocking State Street centers on the Chicago Federal Center block, a Mies van der Rohe-designed complex surrounded by Dearborn, Clark and Adams Streets and Jackson Boulevard. The plan would move the security barriers that exist around

publisher · 2.7K followers

Hyde Park Herald

Ja’ Grill closes Harper Court restaurant after 11 years in Hyde Park

Ja’ Grill, the Jamaican restaurant and bar that has anchored Harper Court since 2014, closed last week after 19 years in business. The restaurant, located at 1510 E. Harper Court, announced the closure in an Instagram post Oct. 28 and stayed open during regular hours through its final week. When the Herald visited on closing night, the restaurant was jam-packed.

partner publisher · 12.4K followers

Timeless Dishes

8 Regional Hot Dog Styles and Stands, From Chicago to Seattle

From Chicago's garden of toppings to Seattle's cream cheese, eight regional hot dog styles and stands, each with its own bun, sauce and story. The post 8 Regional Hot Dog Styles and Stands, From Chicago to Seattle appeared first on Timeless Dishes .

Chicago, IL · 3d

Siliconera Nandemo

partner publisher · 826 followers

Chicago couple opens pizza from Keith Lee-recommended restaurant. Uh, that definitely shouldn’t be in there: ‘And its a knockoff? im ccryyinnn’

'I need ANOTHER pizza for FREE.'

Chicago, IL · 3d

whatnow.com

Fifty50 Restaurant Group Building Cocktail Bar Concept in Andersonville

Andersonville is getting another bar addition, this time on the more upscale side. Sin & Tonic is the name of a new drink concept on the way to Andersonville, per a recent Block Club Chicago report. This is coming to 1481 W Berwyn Avenue, next to the iconic Devil Dawgs location. Fifty50 Group, which is managing the concept, is hoping to debut it in mid-December.

unearththevoyage.com

Monster Memorabilia Covers Every Wall Of This Quirky Chicago Café Serving Comfort Food

I only stopped because I needed coffee, and I figured any counter with a cup would do. Then I looked up and found a room packed with monsters, glowing posters, and retro toys staring back at me from every corner. Illinois hides plenty of surprises in plain sight, but few...

hoodline.com