Hubba Hubba, Hub 51

Hub 51 came out on top in the second-annual 312DD Nightlife Poll. (Photo: Hub 51)


Big props go out to River North newcomer Hub 51, which took first place in 312 Dining Diva's annual Who Came Out on Top Nightlife Poll (scroll to the bottom of the page for results).

The contest included a number of local new hot spots that generated buzz in '08, from beautiful penthouse boîtes Vertigo and C-View to hipster hangouts Angels & Kings and Cat's Meow.

But in the end it was all about Hub 51, which has managed to gain a loyal following in a short few months. Whether Hub 51 won because of its sexy underbar Sub 51, potent Hub Punch or stylish singles scene is unknown, but whatever the case, the fans came out to give it a landslide victory over the competition.

Congratulations!

Hub 51 tied with Vertigo in Nightlife Poll

Hub 51 is battling Vertigo for the title of "best new bar of '08." (Photo: Hub 51)


The Who's on Top in '08?! poll is off to a great start, on its second day.

Frontrunners are Hub 51, the trendy bar/restaurant hybrid by brothers Jerrod and R.J. Melman, and Vertigo, the posh penthhouse-level lounge crowning the dana hotel.

To vote, just scroll to the bottom of the page!

Who's on Top in '08?!

Vertigo Sky Lounge, atop the dana hotel, was one of the hottest new bars to open in 2008. (Photo: Vertigo Sky Lounge)


We had fun this year. I mean a whole lotta fun.

We partied our asses off—as the whole world watched—at various hot spots when a new president was elected right here in our fair city.

We kicked it hard all summer in some of the best outdoor venues we've ever had, including C-View, Vertigo and Zed451.

We mocked the Eat & Drink Club, a vicious pack of freeloaders hitting every open bar in town they could sniff out.

And we saw several triumphant comebacks, particularly from Crescendo and Trader Vic's (opens Dec. 15!).

So, it's that time of year again; time for you to pick your favorite new venues in the second-annual nightlife/dining poll: Who's on Top in '08?!

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and vote (If you don't see your favorite, then feel free to post in the comments section)! And because we're here in the infamous Windy City, vote often!

'We're opening in about a week . . .'

. . . is the word from Jerry Suqi (Narcisse, Sugar) on the opening of his new Ukrainian Village eatery Chick Pea, which was exclusively written about way back in July.

With the way openings are going this season, we'd say look for it to make its debut sometime in mid- to late-November.

Province ready to open?!

Randy Zweiban's Province had its "friends and family" sneak preview event last night, so it looks like it should be opening this weekend as scheduled.

Working on getting more info on what went down . . .

UPDATE: In the meantime, Zweiban's released his opening menu, which is surprisingly very budget friendly. It offers "small," "big" and "bigger" entrees, including a spice-rubbed grilled Ahi tuna taco with serrano chile tartar salsa ($8), slow-roasted Gunthorp Farms pork with rice beans and braised greens ($10/$19) and 10-hour braised lamb with eggplant, chorizo and cornbread ($12/$22).

UPDATE 2: It opens today!

UPDATE 3: A tipster who was there last night tells me: "The steak was delicious. . . baby pork taquitos were fairly small and were only $3 . . . pretty room, nice service, price points were perfect for this challenged economy." He loved the shrimp & grits with manchego cheese, and the grilled beef tenderloin drizzled with housemade steak sauce was also a big hit.

Debbie Sharpe of Cru Wine Bar & Cafe was also in the house.

After hours at Publican—on its first night

Donnie Madia at his first restaurant, Blackbird.


Just stopped by Publican to sample one of those well-publicized craft beers everyone's been talking about lately. But guess what?! It was after midnight and that spot was closed.

But that's OK, we probably didn't need anything to drink anyway.

Publican partner Donnie Madia graciously gave us a tour of the airy, one-room space dominated by the color beige and over-sized chandeliers. What drew our attention the most, however, were the eight or so booths lining the walls. They had their own little doors—for semi-privacy—which should get interesting when the clubby crowds from next-door Lumen get wind of it. You know what I'm talking about. . . .

We'll be back soon to get an actual taste of those highly anticipated pork-focused dishes (peep their little mantra: "Here's to the swine, that animal divine, who through mud and slime, grit and grime, gorges over time into meats divine."), and the fab $45 Sunday Feast that Urban Daddy just discovered.

And while we were at it, we asked Madia to confirm the recent rumors about his team buying the Pontiac Cafe venue, which is reportedly shutting down next week.

"It's true," he admitted reluctantly, "but we wanted to keep that info below the radar before we decided what we wanted to do with it. These days you can't keep anything a secret."

Province preview

If the offbeat ceiling is any indication of Province's design, we're in for a treat! (Photo: Hungrymag.com)


Hungry Magazine gets an exclusive sneak preview of Randy Zweiban's Province, which looks like it will open on schedule next week.

So much more coming your way . . .

Urban Belly's ramen with pork belly, shiitake and pho broth is one of the hits of the menu. (Photo: Hungry Mag)


All those foodies and critics going nuts over Bill Kim's tiny Logan Square noodle joint Urban Belly will be thrilled to know that they're expanding. And soon. Word from some serious Ultimate Insiders tell 312 Dining Diva that UB is taking over a larger space next door. That means no more waiting outside for people to vacate those seats. This will be great, especially as cold weather approaches. Also, my sources tell me that they're already looking for a location for a downtown UB.

Another hot bite is the new open-to-the-public eatery going inside of the uber-trendy East Bank Club (500 N. Kingsbury St., 312-527-5800). They're still working on a name—and the concept hasn't been firmed up yet—but they're planning an opening at the beginning of October. Isn't that like right now?! Someone had better move fast!

Vertigo, the Dana Hotel's high-stepping rooftop lounge, opens on Saturday. It was scheduled to launch in late August, then late September, but you know how that goes. Luckily, 75 percent of the space is "indoors" and heated so we won't freeze our asses off when the weather turns.

Publican, the project from the dynamic team behind Blackbird, is scheduled to open this week.

And finally, former Nacional 27 exec chef Randy Zweiban is debuting Province in mid-October.

Beer-focused eatery finally opens in Bucktown

The Bristol opens in Bucktown on Tuesday. (Photo: Urban Daddy Chicago)


After all the high drama, false starts and flood damage, The Bristol finally opens tomorrow.

Is it worth the hype?! Urban Daddy Chicago gives us a sneak preview of what to expect, including a 60-plus beer list and a chalk wall full of menu items like Taco-Stand Corn on the Cob and Grilled Whole Fish with Sour Cherries.

Sounds good to moi.

Get ready for something new

Paul Kahan (left) and Donnie Madia are behind The Publican.


Two very high-profile places are set to open soon:

The 411 just dropped in my inbox about The Bristol debuting on Sept. 18 in Bucktown.

And The Publican—the long-awaited beer-focused lounge from the team behind avec, Blackbird, Violet Hour and Sonotheque—is arriving sometime next month in the Warehouse District.

I'm so there.

It's almost here!

Hungry Magazine's Michael Nagrant scores a podcast interview with Brian Huston of The Publican, scheduled to open mid-September in the Warehouse District.

Up, up in the sky

The yearround Vertigo rooftop lounge is set to open in mid-September. (Photo: Dana Hotel)


I've been holding on to the generous gift card given to me at the Dana Hotel/ajasteak opening party simply because I've been waiting for the opening of their gorgeous rooftop lounge Vertigo.

Scheduled to open in mid-September, the 3,100-square-foot bar will have amazing views of State Street, with much of it covered so we can go play there yearround. And what'll really set it apart from the others is that Vertigo will have a deejay spinning sexy grooves, several bars (including a martini bar), a central fire pit, and those low-slung chairs and Ottomans certain to keep party people here for hours.

Since that opening's still a few weeks away, here's where to play today:

C-View: Located on the 29th floor of the Affinia Hotel, this former penthouse will make you feel like a rock star. A limited menu of shareable dishes from the first-floor C-House is available, and of course an awesome skyline view.

NoMI: Signature champagne cocktails NoMI Bloom (St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, Hisbiscus infused syrup) and Park Flower (with rose essence, Chambord, lychee puree) should be sipped on the elegant seventh-floor rooftop lounge adjacent to the restaurant.

Zed451: Ever since this River North hot spot extended its rooftop hours to 2:30pm (11:30am on weekends!), it's been even crazier to get onto. It's totally worth the wait, especially for light bites like the short rib sliders and fondue platter filled with meats, cheese and bread.

Kanye, do we really need another burger joint?!

Apparently we do as commenters on The Stew are getting all huffy over their fave hamburger hangouts.

The rap super stud is bringing West Coast crave Fatburger to the south 'burbs, but folks are also begging for an In-N-Out Burger, Jack In The Box (which we used to have here way back in the 1970s!) and the East Coast's Five Guys Burgers.

Me, personally?! I'm still dreaming about that quarter of an all-natural cheeseburger I sampled at Epic Burger's media opening party a couple of weeks ago!

The Bristol set to open in Bucktown

Former Tru sous chef Chris Pandel created something called an ELT (broiled eel with lettuce, tomato and spicy aïoli) for the menu at The Bristol, set to open Sept. 9 in Bucktown.

His roasted organic chicken with cornbread stuffing and a grilled flat-iron steak with blue cheese ravioli should also be a hit on this rustic Midwestern menu with Mediterranean roots. Other offerings will include brunch, bar snacks (we want the Monkey bread with dill and sea salt!), and a rotating chalkboard menu featuring salumi and charcuterie.

What's up next, yo . . .

The Stew takes a look at Freshii, the Loop's newest health-conscious option, but they didn't love it.

And Time Out Chicago gives the 411 on Logan Bar & Grill, the new watering hole from the guys behind Black Beetle and the Northside.

Go to Manor . . . Stay for more . . .

Stay, Manor's upper-level, late-night lounge, offers a more cool-out vibe than its clubby downstairs sibling. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


Got an exclusive, sneak preview this afternoon of three of the hottest spots to hit River North this summer:

Those guys behind RiNo and Manor are already sitting pretty with two of the biggest celebrity hangouts in the 'hood. Now comes their latest—Stay—which aims for a high-end clientele looking for low-key action. The top-level lounge to Manor has a separate entrance on Erie Street, its own deejay cranking out chilled-out beats and no bottle service requirements (!!!). And the best thing about it?! They're keeping the decor simple with understated, yet refined hard wood accents and a booming sound system that'll jack the party up when you need it to. 4am during the week; 5am Saturdays. Look for Stay to open later this summer.

Hub 51 has gotten mad media attention within the last few days, but nothing's been said about the lower-level bar called Sub 51. It's a simple room, looking like the perfect spot to throw a basement bash, with cushy leather sofas and dim lights so you can push up on a sig other. But co-owner R.J. Melman's fave seats—and ours too!—are tucked away behind the bar, and no one will ever know you're there unless you want them to. It's the perfect cove for a couple. Hub 51/Sub 51 officially opens on Friday.



Hub 51's subterranean lounge Sub 51 offers one of the sexiest hidden nooks in town. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


And Donnie Kruse changed up his gastropub BB's for something completely different in Madame Tartine. If you were around when he owned Butterfield 8, then you've got the idea. But this time, he's stepped it up . . . way, way up . . . with a seductive French theme that's a nod to the 1960s. Check the vintage fixtures, wallpaper, artwork and music, but don't go expecting something fuddy duddy. That's all we're saying, for now. Madame Tartine opens in early July.

A 'first look' at Hub 51

I'm a little salty because I was told Hub 51 wasn't going to be open until another week or two, but here is The Stew with its first-impression review.

UPDATE: Hub 51 opens to the public on Friday.

This is not a joke

I just tried making reservations for tonight at graham elliot, and was told by the hostess that the earliest opening was 10:30pm!

The latest . . .

. . . on what's going on:

Perennial, that long-awaited project from Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz (Boka, Landmark), is now coming at ya on June 19.

The Dana Hotel's Japanese steakhouse, ajasteak, hits town June 16, but the bar opens on Friday, June 13.

True underground night spot Spy Bar is back in biz on Friday after a multi-million $$$ makeover.

And also on Friday the 13th, new after-hours club Religion finally has its grand-opening party with special performances by Harry Choo Choo Romero and B96's DJ Flipside.

They're still keeping their lips sealed!

Blackbird's Paul Kahan and Donnie Madia are set to open their unnamed, beer-focused restaurant in the Warehouse District in July. (Photo: Michael Stryder)


Just how long have we been waiting now for those rascals from Blackbird to give us a name for their new beer-focused eatery in the Warehouse District?!

Paul Kahan and Donnie Madia are part of the rock-star team of restaurateurs (also Terry Alexander and Eduard Seitan) that's been working on this heavily anticipated spot since late last year.

And though it's still got no name, they've finally released some of the menu items: Seafood and meat dominate with offerings like marinated Spanish mackerel, wood-roasted black sea bass and fine sliced ham complemented by goat butter.

Scheduled opening date is in July.