2 Exciting Chicago Restaurant Openings & 1 More We Can't Wait For

By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 19, 2016 3:06PM

It's been a big week already for restaurant news, so let's jump right into it!

First, we reported back in August that a new steakhouse, Knife, was coming to Lincoln Square. They were a bit overly optimistic on the timing (opening was supposed to be in September), but Chef Timothy Cottini announced that as of Tuesday, the restaurant was open for business. The new restaurant, located at 4343 N. Lincoln Ave., boasts a large selection of steaks, an ambitious cocktail program and old fashioned flourishes like tableside caesar salad service. We'll be keeping an eye on this one.

Eater Chicago reports that SafeHouse, Milwaukee's famous spy-themed restaurant and bar, is coming to Chicago. We didn't get to SafeHouse on our last visit to MKE and most of the Milwaukee residents we talked to said that it's gotten a little bit stale, but they're just being too cool for school—we're still pretty excited for this new spot. Expect things like passwords, hidden doorways, authentic spy memorabilia and more. If the food and drink are decent, frankly, that's just a bonus. The restaurant is coming to the AC Hotel at 630 North Rush. No opening date yet.

Finally, Bad Hunter, the new spot from Heisler Hospitality (Queen Mary, Lone Wolf, Sportsman's Club and more) is opening Wednesday in the West Loop. The restaurant will be "veg-forward" which we kind of love, as it's not a holier-than-thou vegetarian spot but will still showcase awesome produce without forcing diners to choke down 20 ounces of beef. The chef, formerly of Nico, will be wood-grilling, smoking and fermenting grains and veggies, in what promises to be a unique, delicious and, dare we say it, healthy addition to the West Loop restaurant scene. The complete menu isn't available online, but the restaurant will offer dinner at first, with lunch and brunch coming soon.