[UPDATE] Restaurant News: Socca Closing, Scofflaw Opening New Bar

By Anthony Todd in Food on May 9, 2013 4:40PM

- Scofflaw likes to tease us. They've won every best-of award there is, and rightly so, but now they're winning a new one: "Best mysterious press release." In a blog post yesterday, Scofflaw posted a redacted release announcing a new Logan Square bar "from the same folks that brought you Scofflaw." It's on Milwaukee, but they won't say where, and there will be food and drink. Our favorite part? "This new project aims to fill the Bonny's-sized hole in your heart."

- Socca, everyone's favorite Wrigleyville date spot, is closing. 312 Dining Diva reported late yesterday afternoon that Roger Herring, the owner of Socca, didn't renew his lease. No details yet on the last day of operation, but we're sure there will be a big closing bash. UPDATE: Apparently, Herring didn't speak for all of his partners. In some form, the restaurant may be staying open. The owners sent a statement to 312 Dining Diva which reads, in part: "Socca's current lease expires on June 30 (which may be extended), and we plan on serving the same great food that you have been enjoying for the past decade...Rest assured, the culinary team of Joel, Ricky and Pelone, who have been leading the charge in the kitchen for the past couple of years, will continue to create the dishes that our guests (have come to love)." Leading the charge? Is that veiled snark we sense?

- Uncle Fatty's is no more. While we can't say we're in mourning (especially because Headquarters Arcade Bar is expanding into the space and we love video games) we will miss their often-ridiculous twitter feed. Redeye collected some of the best tweets from Uncle Fatty's over the years. Our favorite? "On a scale of one to America, how free are you tonight?"

- Eater Chicago reports that Tony Hu is expanding his empire yet again. Lao Sze Chuan Uptown is barely out of its test-and-adjust period and now two more are coming to the suburbs! One is coming to Evanston and the other to Schaumburg, and both should be open by the end of the year. He's also opening a karaoke bar.