Chicago’s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings for Spring 2023

Taste of Chicago may or may not arrive in 2023, but the city’s chefs are cooking up a fleet of delicious menus set to debut this spring. That means Chicagoans won’t have to endure 90-degree temperatures and trek through Grant Park to experience some of the city’s best new tastes. Eater Chicago’s most anticipated spring 2023 restaurant openings are packed with variety.

Read below to find the restaurant openings that will create the most buzz in the city.

Listed in alphabetical order.

Bastien Steakhouse

Address: 214 W. Erie Street, River North

Key players: Doug Psaltis, Hsing Chen, Chef Christian Eckmann, Eat Well Hospitality

The owners of Andros Taverna and its partners have kept this River North project a secret since 2020 when they purchased the Flair Building, a 140-year-old gallery space that hosted parties and shows. Crews kept the facade but gutted the space to make way for a Spanish steakhouse in the vein of the type of restaurants visitors would find in San Sebastián in the Basque Country. This is not the typical River North beef barn with creamed spinach and roasted mushrooms. The beef comes from a farm in Pennsylvania – they started raising cattle two years ago so the steak could be ready for the March 2023 opening. There are multiple private dining options and a promise to bring back some of that culinary energy that the pandemic has stripped from downtown Chicago. Doug Psaltis, who ran the RPM wing of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, has experience sourcing fancy beef, so look for specials diners can’t find anywhere else. Hsing Chen, the talented pastry chef who is also a partner in this project, says the seafood selections will also be top notch.

Eat well hospitality

The beautiful view

Address: 1031 N. Rush Street, Gold Coast

Key players: Jim Banks Fred Barbara

Tavern on Rush closed last year, and it ended a chapter of Chicago nightlife. The owner of the building has decided to take over operations and the remodeled space is called the Bellevue. The two-story space will be open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late-night drinks. The property is excited about a new patio that will offer views of Rush Street.

The beautiful view

daisies

Address: 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave. Logan Place

Key players: Joe Frillman, Leigh Omilinsky

Daisies closed their original space the weekend of March 4 as they prepared to move to Fullerton and Milwaukee, inside a space that primarily housed the German-American restaurant Radler. Pasta pro Joe Frillman has a dynamic all-day concept with pastries from former Boka dessert master Leigh Omilinsky. She is also a partner in the operation. Daisies is an Italian restaurant assembled with parts from the Midwest, an operation that allows Frillman and company to have fun. Maybe for Father’s Day, he’ll blast Guns ‘n’ Roses, serve ribs and tell dad jokes. It’s this kind of attitude that endears Frillman to the community and with more space, look for bigger and better menu options.

daisies

Federales Logan Square

Address: 2471 N. Milwaukee Ave. Logan Place

Key players: Four corners

Federales is a taco bar in West Loop with a large patio that has earned a reputation as a 20-year-old party spot. It’s a Four Corners concept, and they consulted Brendan Sodikoff of Au Cheval originally on the menu seven years ago. They found a similar footprint in Logan Square where they will have a retractable roof and possibly the infamous patio bell. It’s the target of customers who slam an ice shot glass and then throw the container at the bell. It has become a tradition, and Federales’ arrival in Logan Square has concerned some residents who feel it represents a turning point in how the neighborhood will be received. Because when there is a Federales, what other bars can follow? Look for a spring opening.

Four corners

Kimsky 2.0

Address: 954-960 W. 31st Street, Bridgeport

Key players: Won Kim, Maria’s Community Bar, Marz Community Brewing

Won Kim probably doesn’t get enough credit for what he does behind the scenes to cheer on his fellow chefs. Chicago native Kim was Kimski’s opening chef and heralded an era of Polish and Korean mashups, giving meaning to his employers, Marz Community Brewing’s Marszewski. Now, seven years after opening, Kim is looking for a reset. The graffiti artist and DJ is feeling more confident in his craft and is cooking up a menu that leans more Korean. Now people can argue about authenticity, but Kim doesn’t want to hear it. Look for kalbi, rice cakes and chap chae in early April.

Kimsky

Peace

Address: St. Regis Chicago, 363 E. Wacker Drive, Lake Shore East

Key players: Hisanobu Osaka, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is planning two restaurants inside the new luxury $1 billion St. Regis Chicago near Navy Pier. The first restaurant is a Japanese place called Miru, designed to meet the daily responsibilities of hotel guests. But instead of mailing it, LEYE tapped chef Hisanobu Osaka to create a restaurant that’s part of izakaya, a sushi restaurant, and serves a contemporary American breakfast. Perhaps they will bring traditional Japanese morning offerings in the future. Look for an early spring.

Rockwell Group

Smoked steak

Address: 3310 N. Elston Avenue, Avondale

Key player: Barry Sorkin

Smoque Steak is the second concept of Smoque, one of the best barbecue restaurants in Chicago, regardless of bias on the north or south side. Now they want to open a neighborhood steakhouse using sous vide and other techniques to make even lesser-known cuts of meat taste like butter. Smoque Steak owner Barry Sorkin says a spring start is the plan.

Smoked steak

Thattu

Address: 3118 N. Rockwell St., Avondale

Key players: Margaret Pak, Vinod Kalathil

Signs are up in Avondale for Thattu, the buzzing South Indian restaurant. Chef Margaret Pak draws inspiration from her mother-in-law’s recipes, who lives in Kerala, India. They traveled many times, exploring the country and seeking inspiration. They will first open for lunch and continue until dinner. It is an independent business as Pak and her husband Vinod Kalathil have been saving for years. They are known for beef curry and appam, a grilled cake. They would like to open by the end of March and are instituting a no tip policy. Their prices will take into account the cost of the service. There’s a ton of ambition in this restaurant, so look for more coverage soon.

Ashok Selvam / Eater Chicago

954-960 West 31st Street, IL 60608
(773) 823-7336

3800 North Pulse Road, Chicago, IL 60641

5419 N Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60640