IN THE NEWS: Crain’s Chicago Business News reports that after 28 years in business, La Strada Ristorante is closing to make way for a 40-story apartment tower planned at the Italian restaurant’s current home at the northwest corner of Millennium Park. Michael Mormando, the owner of La Strada and J. Randolph’s Bar & Grill next door, which also will close, says he is in talks with the developer of the proposed high-rise about reopening La Strada in the new tower when it’s complete in 2010. The two restaurants will close Jan. 5, according to a news release. chicagobusiness.com … The Chicago Sun-Times’s Fran Spielman reports that the 1 percent tax on downtown restaurant meals that helped expand McCormick Place could move north to the area surrounding Wrigley Field to finance either renovation of the landmark stadium or improvements in the neighborhood. Tribune Co. senior vice-president Crane Kenney, who oversees the Cubs, said extending the northern boundary of the downtown restaurant district at least seven blocks — from Diversey to Waveland — is one of several possibilities to finance stadium renovations if the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority agrees to a Tribune Co. plan to acquire and renovate Wrigley Field. The Sun-Times’s Pat Bruni visits Woodlands, in the Promenade (aka eating and shopping mall) in Bolingbrook. suntimes.com …

The Trib’s Phil Vettel gives three stars to Brasserie Ruhlmann (500 W. Superior St., 312-494-1900) and reports that Alinea chef/owner Grant Achatz has completed his chemo- and radiation-therapy treatments for his Stage 4 oral cancer and has gotten his doctors’ OK to use the word remission for the first time. … Monica Eng has a first bite at Uncommon Ground (Edgewater/Rogers Park, 1401 W. Devon Ave.; 773-465-9801). chicagotribune.com … Chicago magazine’s Dish columnists Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby with Sarah Desprat detail the openings of Rustik (2515 N. California Ave.; 773-235-0002) and a Loop location of Eppy’s Deli (162 N. Franklin St.; 312-345-7771), and also report the Dec. 31 closings of Grotto on State (1030 N. State St.; 312-280-1005) and Wicker Park’s Mas (1670 W. Division St.; 773-276-8700). chicagomag.com … ChicagoBites.com visits Petterino’s (150 N. Dearborn). … Drive-Thru reports the closing of Cyberia Café. gapersblock.com/drivethru

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Filed under: Chicago Restaurants | Tags: Alinea, Brasserie Ruhlmann, Cyberia Cafe closed, Grant Achatz, Grotto on State closing, J. Randolph's closing, La Strada closing, Mas closing, Petterino's, restaurant tax, Uncommon Ground, Woodlands, Wrigley Field |