New restaurants: Australian-Mexican fare, seafood and steak
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Executive chef Victor Avelar at Bar Sol Mariscos. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Bar Sol, in the sunny former Riva spot on Navy Pier, is reopening this month as Bar Sol Mariscos with Latin American seafood from the owners of Beat Kitchen and Subterranean.
What to expect: Fan favorites like the whole fried red snapper in a garlic sauce and new complex South American ceviches from chef Victor Avelar's recent training with celebrated Peruvian chefs Aristoteles Breña and Telly Garcia.
The intrigue: At 23 years old, Avelar is one of Chicago's youngest executive chefs.
- "I don't like to tell people my age because they might think I'm not capable," he tells Axios, "but I've been in kitchens since I was 5."
- The northsider is an Amundsen grad whose plans to finish culinary school were scuttled by the pandemic.
The Greggory brings a Gibsons vibe to northwest suburb South Barrington, and it's no wonder given the pedigrees behind this vast steakhouse with a central hearth and cozy feel.
The bites: Steak, rotisserie meats, seafood and four fresh daily pastas by former Gibsons Italia chef José Sosa.
What they're saying: "We're a little over budget but confident we've built something that's filling a void out here," Gibsons alum Gregg Horan told Axios at a recent preview.
- He hopes to serve both regulars and special occasion diners with prime steaks but also a "great 10-ounce Gregg'r burger" with caramelized onions and Mahon cheese for $19.
Sophia Steak opened this month in the former Gold Coast Gemini Grill spot just downstairs from Petit Pomeroy, uniting Ballyhoo Hospitality with Glen Keefer of the erstwhile Keefer's.
The bites: Classic surf, turf, salads and sandwiches with daily specials like a Wednesday short rib with a mascarpone polenta ($48) or Sunday fried chicken with cornbread ($35).
Guzman Y Gomez's sixth suburban location opened this week in Evanston, bringing Australian-Mexican food closer to the city before the Bucktown location opens this summer.
- It has 200+ locations in Australia and Asia where it's known as GYG.
The bites: Ultra fresh Mexican-inspired fare with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and minimal additives.
- Think Chipotle meets Taco Bell with booze, fries, coffee, breakfast and a condiment/salsa bar. Plus, mini sizes of most entrees.
What they're saying: "If it's your first time you have to get the Cali burrito, which, instead of rice and beans, has fries, chipotle mayo, sour cream and guacamole and any type of filling," GYG founder Steven Marks told Axios.
- "I made it because I was so paranoid that a kid would say to his family, 'oh I wanted to go to GYG but they don't have fries,'" said the Brooklyn-born Aussie.
What's next: Marks promises more veggie options soon, including shiitake mushroom burritos and tacos.
Extra bites: More new spots include green-minded Eco Cafe, a sister of The Eco Flamingo next door in Lincoln Square.
- A new Levant Coffee Bar opened in the old Jennivee's Bakery spot at Sheffield and School with intriguing offerings like a baklava latte.
- Rendang Republic seems poised to launch some of the city's only Indonesian fare in a storefront on Clark in Wrigleyville any day now.
- A fresh Cozy Corner opened in Irving Park on Pulaski.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Guzman Y Gomez opened its sixth (not fourth) suburban location this week.