Openings

A Closing (Pane Caldo) and Three Randolph Openings (Alimentari, Embeya, City Winery)

Pane Caldo.
Pane Caldo. Photo: courtesy Pane Caldo.

More evidence that Randolph Street is (as Dish sort of put it) the dense red giant sucking all other neighborhoods into its gravitational field— especially the Gold Coast, apparently. Eater reports that Pane Caldo, a longrunning Italian spot for ladies who lunch on Walton, closed quite abruptly earlier this week— paper up in the windows, phone disconnected— but a message on the website says they’ll relocate in the area. However, Dish reports that owner Antoine Cedicci will open a new restaurant next week in the former Meiji space next door to Blackbird. Alimentari, at 621 W. Randolph, will offer rustic Italian/Tuscan small plates, including a woodburning oven making Neapolitan pizzas. With the more expensive Blackbird and the soon to open Grace nearby, not to mention the always-packed Avec, it could be a smart location for a reasonably-priced, easy-to-like Italian spot.

Dish reports on another interesting-sounding spot that also drew talent away from the Gold Coast— in this case former RIA chef de cuisine Thai Dang and former Elysian Hotel vice president of operations Attila Gyulai, who have teamed up to open Embeya at 564 W. Randolph. Though Dang’s cooking experience includes L2O as well, this sounds as if it will be more accessible, if decidedly upscale, Vietnamese-influenced food.

And City Winery, the huge entertainment-food-and-drink complex opening August 1 at 1200 W. Randolph, has announced its opening concert series, including Lewis Black for a five-night engagement August 15-19, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame August 24-25, and various other ongoing series such as the Sunday Klezmer Brunch. Not to mention Los Lobos for New Year’s Eve. See the listings here.

A Closing (Pane Caldo) and Three Randolph Openings (Alimentari, Embeya, City