Your Official First Look Inside Gilt Bar!

(Photo: Natasha Hernandez)


Our pals over at NBCChicago.com got a first-look inside Gilt Bar with video and this awesome slideshow.

The best part?! Owner Brendan Sodikoff on camera for the first time talking about his highly anticipated spot: "The concept is basically taking the best of fine dining and giving it to people in a much more casual and fun environment. Everyone's tired of the high prices and wants great drinks, great beer, and good food, so that's what we're doing."

It opens officially to the public on Friday.

What Will Happen To Old Tsunami Space?!

Former Tsunami owner Steve Song has moved on to open Masu Sushi in Lincoln Park, so everyone's wondering what's going to happen in that prime Gold Coast real estate he left behind.

Some media outlets had been speculating for months that Table Fifty-Two's Art Smith was planning to expand his upscale Southern celebrity haven (Just this week Table Fifty-Two attracted the likes of Jessica Simpson and Kirstie Alley) somewhere in the neighborhood, however, no one pointed at the Tsunami space.

Smith admitted to 312DD that there was going to be somewhat of an offshoot of his restaurant, but he is not the force behind it.

"The new restaurant is a creation of my investment partner, Fred Latsko," Smith says. "We are very excited about this fun BBQ concept that he is doing."

Who is Fred Latsko?! He just happens to be one of the most prominent commercial real-estate developers in the city, who was behind the new Barneys New York, Elysian Hotel as well as other major properties in Lincoln Park and Gold Coast.

According to this story in Crain's Chicago, the old Tsunami space at 1160 N. Dearborn St. is part of an 11-building portfolio that's been on the market for $46 million since June 2009.

We'll watch what happens . . .

Hope This Never Rolls Into Chicago!

(Photo: K! Pizzacone)


K! Pizzacone—specializing in pizza in cones—debuted in New York Wednesday to mixed reviews, and I can see why. Who the hell wants pizza grease and toppings dropping all over their clothing after the first bite?!

Gothamist reports that the concept was first popularized in Brazil, Portugal and Italy, so I guess it makes sense to launch it first in Manhattan in the United States.

Judging from the comments in the story, folks are not exactly crazy about it:

"I saw one of these on 5th and 34th. How exactly does it work? Won't cheese and shit pour out once you take a bite into the side of the cone?"

"There are many things that could be done to improve the quality of most of the pizza in NYC. This is not one of them."

"Ever since I heard about 'Cup o' Pizza' in the movie, 'The Jerk,' I always wondered why no one started one up. Now, 31 years later, the dream is reality."

But they did get at least one glowing review:

"My uncle and I tried this place on Friday because they were having a preview day to run out kinks and whatnot. I thought that it would just pour out once you take a bit, but it's not a crispy crust, it's softer than it looks. I enjoyed it, but it was expensive. I wish they had bigger ones because I would equate three of those to one actual slice of pizza. The amount of toppings they have is great though, and it tasted really fresh and not oily."

Whatever the case, we're sure it wouldn't get a warm reception in Chicago either. Hell, we're just now getting used to thin-crust pizza!