Restaurant News: BLT Closes, Arami To Open New Location

By Anthony Todd in Food on May 2, 2012 3:40PM

- That didn't take long. BLT American Brasserie, Laurent Tourondel's latest attempt to break into the Chicago market, closed so fast that most of you probably didn't notice it had opened. It only took 4 months for the restaurant, in the former Brasserie Ruhlman location, to give up the ghost. Based on the critical response, the general response from Chicago foodies seems to be "good riddance." Grubstreet collected some of the critical gems about the restaurant - our favorite came from the Reader. "BLT is for the ditherers, inflexible eaters whose best expressions of compromise amount to social tyranny. You know, those killjoys everyone must accommodate on group dinners, whose dietary pickiness is such that they'll only be satisfied at the one place that makes everyone else miserable?"

- Soon, you will be able to take a break from shopping to get some decent Sushi. 312 Dining Diva reports that Arami, everyone's favorite sushi powerhouse, is opening a River North location steps from The Shops at North Bridge. The new location is at 203 E. Ohio, and they'll reportedly be focusing on lunch. This is definitely one you'll want to keep an eye on.

- Eater Chicago reported Monday that The Bongo Room, the temple to sugar-bomb desserts (and block-long lines), has opened a third location. We'll see if they can take on M. Henry's brunch-time dominance. The new location is at 5022 N. Clark. Despite our complaints, one of our favorite sandwiches is served at the South Loop location of the Bongo Room - here's hoping they bring it to the new location.