José Andrés’ Riverside Cafe and Two More Chicago Restaurant Closures to Know

Fall is a tough time for Chicago restaurants and September was a particularly slow month. These challenging conditions have led to a rash of restaurants closing around town, a mix of new concepts and community staples. Below, Eater is cataloging both temporary and permanent restaurant closures in Chicago. If you know of a restaurant, bar, or another closed food establishment, please email chicago@eater.com. We will continue to update this post.

For summer closures, go here.

The Loop: Cafe by The River, the riverside coffee shop inside the Bank of America Tower backed by celebrity chef José Andrés has closed. An Instagram post describes it as a temporary gesture — perhaps it could be a seasonal move as Chicago nears winter. Bank of America has begun mandating more workers to be in the office over the last year, which should have been a boost for the cafe’s business, but who can really understand the habits of Loop workers after the pandemic? Both Bar Mar and Bazaar Meat, which are also in the tower, remain unaffected.

The Loop: A lack of downtown workers has also impacted another after-work icon. Tradition Gastropub and Kitchen, 160 N. Franklin Street, closed in September. It was known for burgers, flatbreads, and happy hour specials.

Uptown: Anna Maria Pasteria, a Uptown staple for 35 years at 4400 N. Clark Street, has closed. Owner Anna Maria Picciolini announced she’s retiring in a note posted online. She thanked her customers and workers: “ Your unwavering support, your loyalty, and your love for our food have meant the world to me. It has been an honor to serve you and be a part of your lives.” Block Club Chicago has more details.

October 17

Lincoln Square: 016 Restaurant, a rare spot for Serbian specialties, closed in early October. The pandemic hurt the acclaimed restaurant at 5077 N. Lincoln Avenue: “We gave our best in the last almost 6 years but we hit a point where it is just not possible to keep it going under present problems and circumstances,” a Facebook post reads.

Lincoln Square: Dimo’s Cafe, which opened in April in Lincoln Square has closed. The cafe was meant to be an expansion of the Dimo’s brand, showing customers they could do more than pizza. But the location at 4647 N. Lincoln Avenue was too tough. Block Club Chicago caught up with the owners.

North Center: Sticky Rice, a pillar of the North Center and Lincoln Square Thai community, closed on Sunday, October 20. The restaurant opened 20 years ago at 4018 N. Lincoln Avenue.

River North: After seven months, Gemini Grill has closed in River North. A rep for owner Ballyhoo Hospitality says Wednesday, October 16 was the final day of service at 748 N. State Street. Ballyhoo’s French restaurant on the second floor, Petit Pomeroy, will remain open. Ballyhoo will keep the Gemini space and has plans for a new restaurant that should open sometime next year. Gemini Grill is a spinoff of Lincoln Park’s Gemini, which excels at offering something for everyone. River North presents a bigger challenge, with restaurant owners trying to figure out customer patterns closer to downtown which offers plenty of competition. Workers at Gemini Grill were offered jobs at the restaurant upstairs, and at Ballyhoo’s upcoming Highland Park restaurant, a second location of DeNucci’s in Highland Park. As a replacement restaurant should open soon, Ballyhoo hopes to hire some of its old workers to staff the new concept.

Glencoe: Honey Butter Fried Chicken is closing its Glencoe restaurant, 10 months after opening on the North Shore. An emailed newsletter announced the shutter at 668 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe on Thursday morning. While ownership writes the opening was a success, they couldn’t sustain it. Rising costs, exasperated by the pandemic and shifting customer habits were too much to overcome: “It became clear over the following months that despite our best efforts and intentions, HBFC just wasn’t a great fit for the location.” The original location in Avondale remains in strong shape, according to ownership.