The Details On 2 Big Restaurant Openings (And One Sad Restaurant Closing)

By Anthony Todd in Food on May 31, 2017 2:29PM

Crudite platter at Clever Rabbit. Photo via Facebook.

It's been a surprisingly busy couple of weeks in important restaurant news (and it's not all just about Nutella). Check out some openings and closings!

Today, the latest outpost of Beatrix, the healthyish casual spot from Lettuce Entertain You, opens in the West Loop. This huge location is across the street from The Publican, and is the third location for the mini-chain. Eater Chicago has photos of the interior; offerings includes all day dining, a full breakfast menu, coffee and pastries, juices and a full bar. This location also has a market with grab and go food, including a salad bar and a hot bar. I gave a good review to the first location of Beatrix when it opened, though I admit it hasn't drawn me back much in the intervening years.

An interesting North Center restaurant gave up the ghost last week, as Via Lima closed its doors. The Peruvian restaurant announced the closing on Facebook, and posted a thanks to its staff and customers. I was a big fan of Via Lima, but the space was huge and often not full, despite being on a busy section of Lincoln Avenue. Possibly, North Center just wasn't interested in a relatively pricy, upscale option that wasn't some variation on a sports bar.

Clever Rabbit opened in Wicker Park last week, and continues the recent trend of almost-vegetarian restaurants started by Bad Hunter last year. The menu, created by Chef Matt Lair (of the dear-departed Bom Bolla), looks amazing, and includes veggie treats like carrot dumplings with ginger and honey, chinese broccoli with fermented black beans and a monster $38 crudite platter. There's also some nods to the meat eaters, including oysters, salmon and a double cheeseburger with sherry mustard.