Chicago’s restaurant openings roundup is your resource to find out what’s on its way in. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to chicago@eater.com.
NORTH RIVERSIDE — West Loop favorite Good Ambler has
opened its second location on the west side of the Chicago River. The expansion brings the cafe’s lineup of chocolates, artisanal bonbons, chocolate bars, and other confections to the area alongside its usual offerings of coffee, loose-leaf tea, salads, and sandwiches. 2 N Riverside Plaza.
DOWNTOWN — Groundswell Coffee Roasters landed at the historic Fine Arts Building, marking the first cafe in the landmark since Artist Cafe closed in 2019. Per a release, the shop opened on Monday, July 13, serving an exclusive Groundswell x Fine Arts Building roast alongside pastries from Good Ambler, breakfast burritos, and all-day sandwiches. The cafe will be open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., serving the building’s artists, visitors, and downtown workers. 410 S. Michigan Avenue.
RIVER NORTH — Motel Bar, the latest project from Monty’s operator Episcope Hospitality, brings Wisconsin-style supper club vibes to River North. The menu leans into Midwestern comfort food with carved-to-order prime rib, Friday fish fries, ice cream floats, and cocktails blended with vanilla ice cream. 600 W Chicago Avenue.
LINCOLN PARK — The Bull Moose, the steakhouse perched above Beaumont’s American Tavern, officially opened Wednesday, July 1. The intimate dining room is doing the classic steakhouse thing with tufted booths, dim lighting, and a fireplace, while the menu balances old-school favorites with contemporary touches. The meaty offerings are joined by classics like French onion soup and wedge salad, alongside dishes like a griddled double cheeseburger with beef-fat fries and rolls with salted honey butter. Large-format steaks are dry-aged and butchered in-house before being served with Robuchon potatoes and a choice of soup or salad. 2020 N. Halsted Street.
LOOP — Puerto Rican flavor has landed in the heart of the Loop. Reopening after its Pilsen location caught fire, the Jibarito Stop offers full and half versions of its iconic Chicago plantain sandwich, along with mofongo, vegan options, and sandwiches like a chopped cheese with pan sabao. 174 N Wabash Avenue.
LINCOLN PARK— Greek restaurant Noema recently opened in Lincoln Park under chef Konstantinos Kvasilava and hospitality veteran Stelios Mitris. The menu highlights Mediterranean flavors through dishes like smoked eggplant, sea bass, Madagascar king shrimp, and Sea & Shell linguine, with citrusy, herby sauces appearing throughout the menu. 1443 West Fullerton Avenue.
DOWNTOWN — Hand roll bar Midōsuji opened inside the Chicago Athletic Association in mid-June as part of the building’s second-floor renovation. Helmed by Boka Restaurant Group chef and partner Brian Lockwood, the eight-seat counter specializes in hand rolls, bites, and highballs. Standouts include the tempura rock shrimp hand roll, miso eggplant dip, and caviar service. 12 S. Michigan Avenue.
PILSEN — Café Jon, a gallery, event space, and coffee shop, is creeping towards opening in Pilsen. The cafe is hosting service every weekend in July from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an official opening happening later this year. The coffee program is led by Monday Coffee, with pastries by Saints Bakery. The shop has happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., which requires an RSVP. 2002 W 18th Street.
LINCOLN PARK —Muhājir and its sibling cocktail bar Bobo are now open on the Northside. The restaurant from executive chefs Zubair Mohajir and Jacob Dela draws on personal histories to shape the menu. Mohajir, originally from India, has also lived in Qatar and Chicago, while Dela brings Filipino American influences to the kitchen. Signature dishes include Navayath “Bhatkali” goat biryani, a 17-ounce bone-in New York strip, South Indian red rice, and wood-fired focaccia, reflecting the restaurant’s exploration of migration and regional flavors. Past the kitchen, find an intimate Filipino-influenced cocktail bar and a small menu of bites, including — potentially — late-night lumpia. 2630 N Clark Street.
SOUTH SHORE — The Stony Island Arts Bank has expanded its hospitality offerings with Yunomi, a walk-in cocktail bar, and Han Cha, a Korean-inspired high tea salon from entrepreneur Heiji Choy Black and artist Theaster Gates. Together, the two spots transform the landmark into a destination where art, hospitality, and conversation intersect. Han Cha’s $75 prix fixe tea service pairs rare teas from across East Asia with three courses inspired by Japanese flavors, while Yunomi serves cocktails created in collaboration with Chicago artists and poured into handmade ceramics from Gates’s Dorchester Industries studio. 6760 S. Stony Island Avenue.
WEST TOWN — Guillotine Bakery has officially opened in West Town, bringing French technique and imported ingredients to Chicago’s growing bakery scene. The highly anticipated shop uses butter sourced from Normandy and flour from France to produce croissants, pains au chocolat, kouign-amanns, baguettes, and naturally leavened sourdough loaves. Opening weekend drew lines that stretched for hours despite the rain, confirming Guillotine as one of the city’s most anticipated bakery debuts of the summer and resulting in a four-pastry limit for customers. P.S.: A hot dog croissant will soon grace the menu. 1711 W. Chicago Avenue.
WEST LOOP — Just in time for summer, Nova has opened inside Cone Gourmet Ice Cream, bringing self-serve Greek frozen yogurt to the West Loop. The shop starts with one plain tart yogurt base, then lets diners customize it with toppings ranging from olive oil, sea salt, and toasted coconut flakes to rainbow sprinkles, Oreo crumble, and chocolate sauce. 1047 W. Madison Street.
WEST TOWN — Made for the city by someone from the city, Josephine’s, the latest project from Chicago curator and designer Joe Freshgoods, opened inside his Every Now & Then retail store in partnership with Drip Collective. Its name is an ode to Freshgoods’s grandmother. The full menu is still rolling out, but visitors can currently order drip coffee, lattes, and pastries before browsing the shop. 1843 W. Chicago Avenue.
