IN THE NEWS: The Trib’s Phil Vettel reports that Meritage Café & Wine Bar (2118 N. Damen Ave.; 773-235-6434) will close Jan. 1 after a decade in business. … Vettel gives two stars each to suburban steakhouse chains Sam & Harry’s (1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, 847-303-4050) and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, 847-793-0333). … Karen Budell reports on the transformation of Gold Coast subterranean nightclub Le Passage to culinary cocktail lounge The Drawing Room (937 N. Rush St.; 312-255-0022, lepassage.com). … Monica Eng has a first bite at Wow Bao (1 W. Wacker Drive; 312-658-0305). chicagotribune.com … Time Out Chicago’s David Tamarkin reviews La Madia (59 W Grand Ave between Dearborn and Clark Sts, 312-329-0400), while Heather Shouse considers Thalia Spice (833 W Chicago Ave at Green St, 312-226-6020). Noted openings: Demera Ethiopian (4801 N Broadway at Lawrence Ave, 773-334-8787), and Powerhouse Restaurant and Bar (215 N Clinton St between Lake and Fulton Sts, 312-928-0800). timeout.com/chicago … The Sun-Times’s Pat Bruno reviews pizza place La Madia (59 W. Grand Ave., dinelamadia.com), while Thomas Witom considers Vietnam Bistro (600 E. North, Carol Stream; 630-510-8400). suntimes.com …

The Reader’s Mike Sula stops by Joy & James Cafe (4701 W. Lawrence, 773-736-2233) and notes the reopening of King Tut Restaurant and Hookah Cafe (3737 W. Lawrence). … The paper also details the recent openings of Old Town Brasserie (1209 N. Wells, 312-943-3000), Brasserie Ruhlmann (500 W. Superior, 312-494-1900) and Macello (1235 W. Lake, 312-850-9870). chicagoreader.com … ChicagoBites.com reviews Devon Seafood Grill (39 E. Chicago Ave) and Table Fifty -Two (52 W Elm). In the December issue, Chicago magazine’s Jonathan Black profiles restaurateur Richard Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (R.J. Grunts, Brasserie Jo, Ben Pao among them), while critic Dennis Ray Wheaton reviews Table Fifty-Two and Shikago (190 S. LaSalle St., 312-781-7300). Noted openings: Old Town Brasserie, Winston’s Market (3440 N. Southport Ave., 773-327-6400), Lockwood (Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., 312-917-3404), and A Mano (335 N. Dearborn St., 312-629-3500). chicagomag.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Filed under: Chicago Restaurants | Tags: Devon Seafood Grill, Drawing Room, Fleming's, Joy and James Cafe, La Madia, Lettuce Entertain You, Meritage Cafe closed, Richard Melman, Sam and Harry's, Shikago, Table Fifty-Two, Thalia Spice, Vietnam Bistro, Wow Bao |