Lake and McHenry County Scanner Police say they are investigating after a burglary crew broke into multiple businesses simultaneously in a shopping center in North Chicago during overnight hours The North Chicago Police Department responded early Friday morning to the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr North Chicago Assistant Police Chief Gary Lunn said officers were alerted to the burglaries in the shopping center after receiving burglar alarm activations Officers arrived and found four businesses had been burglarized simultaneously It was unknown which business the fourth was Video surveillance showed a sedan pull up in the parking lot of the center and four suspects exit the vehicle The suspects forced entry through the front doors of the businesses At least one suspect used what appeared to be a brick The suspects stole cash and products before fleeing the scene in the vehicle prior to police arriving Lunn said the investigation remains active and ongoing No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens The NFC North is the best division in football and Minnesota all finished with at least 13 wins and made the playoffs weren’t far away from 9-8 if not for some cruel luck in some of their games after the bye week it was beyond obvious that GM Ryan Poles and his new coaching staff needed a strong offseason if they were going to close the gap on their rivals where they stated the Bears secured the best draft class in the NFC North The Bears followed suit with their offseason intention of building around Caleb Williams landing premier playmakers while also addressing other weaker roster points Chicago nabbed Colston Loveland (90.6 PFF receiving grade) and Luther Burden III (80.2 PFF receiving grade) with its first two selections rounding out a stellar receiving corps that also features D.J General manager Ryan Poles also landed high-upside players in the trenches: Ozzy Trapilo (80.5 PFF pass-blocking grade) and Shemar Turner (76.6 PFF overall grade in 2023) The Bears didn’t explicitly prioritize other positions of need But given a weaker group of drafts in the NFC North and their finalization of Ben Johnson’s offensive vision their draft was still relatively effective they didn’t let pressing needs dictate who they took It was more about just getting the best players Detroit opted for a defensive tackle in the 1st round no doubt still haunted by the slew of injuries they suffered last season Green Bay drafted a wide receiver in the 1st round for the first time since 2002 driven by their inability to elevate quarterback Jordan Love beyond his current “fine” status they seemed to start strong with quality guard Donovan Jackson the Chicago Bears seemed to land at least two immediate impact players with Loveland and Burden they managed two more talented additions for both sides of the line of scrimmage and Luke Newman didn’t generate much excitement from fans or the draft community If the Bears come away with two or three reliable starters Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else my best friend’s sister gets $92 an hour on the internet…o she’s been laid off for two months the previous month her paycheck was $20328 only working at home for a couple of hours each day…check out…… This article is exactly what I was saying. Too many are focused on the names instead of what they accomplished in college The majority of these guys the Bears drafted had top marks in their PFF grades I believe the PFF grading system is a way better indicator then some random dude on a site no one’s ever heard of These guys are all great players at their positions in college Only time will tell how they will develop in the pros The Bears had a solid draft and I look forward to seeing these guys on the field… Read more » but supposedly it’s the system so we will see but the rest are just fine for day three picks The Bears job isn’t to please the fans or the pundits with their picks We won’t know if that happened until the real games begin go to this site home tab for more detail thank you…… ­w­w­w.Netpay1.com The coroner has released the identity of a 31-year-old who died after being wounded in a shooting in North Chicago Wednesday as investigators work to track down the gunman The North Chicago Police Department and North Chicago Fire Department responded around 4:59 p.m Wednesday to the 1600 block of Victoria Avenue for a report of a person shot Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesperson Christopher Covelli said officers arrived and found a gunshot victim just outside of a home Paramedics transported him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he died in the emergency room An autopsy was performed Thursday morning by the Lake County Coroner’s Office Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the victim as Carl Marder-Grant The Lake County Major Crime Task Force was called to the scene to assist the North Chicago Police Department in the investigation Covelli said Marder-Grant was outside the home when the shooting occurred The shooter was on foot when he shot Marder-Grant The autopsy performed showed that Marder-Grant died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest Investigators have not released the number of shots fired or how many times the victim was hit by gunfire Major Crime Task Force investigators and North Chicago police detectives continue to actively investigate the homicide The incident marks the fifth homicide in Lake County in 2025 and the first homicide of the year in North Chicago In 2021, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced that Marder-Grant was among 10 suspects charged after the sheriff and federal authorities dismantled a street gang operation in the county Marder-Grant pleaded guilty to a gun charge in the case and was sentenced to 18 months in the Illinois Department of Corrections Anyone with information is asked to call the North Chicago Police Department at 847-596-8774 or contact Lake County CrimeStoppers through their website at www.lakecountycrimestoppers.org An alleged gunman is in custody and charged with murder after investigators say he fired over a dozen shots at a group Prosecutors said a ShotSpotter alert was received and multiple 911 callers also reported the shooting An autopsy performed showed that Marder-Grant died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest Covelli said Saturday that a thorough investigation was conducted and task force investigators and North Chicago detectives determined Carlos D was responsible for shooting and killing Marder-Grant Investigators determined Marchan opened fire on a group of people standing outside of a residence Marder-Grant was struck and killed by one of the rounds Prosecutors said 16 spent shell casings were recovered at the scene Covelli said it is believed the shooting was gang-related based on the circumstances and evidence in the case The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved the charge of first-degree murder against Marchan Marchan appeared for a First Appearance Court hearing on Sunday morning The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Marchan in custody while awaiting trial Marchan is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on Monday afternoon No other suspects are being sought but additional charges could be filed against Marchan Marine veteran after prosecutors say he fired over a dozen shots at a group fatally wounding a Waukegan man who was visiting family Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffery Facklam said a ShotSpotter alert was received and multiple 911 callers also reported the shooting Officers arrived and found a gunshot victim just outside of a home in the yard on the corner of 17th Street and Victoria Avenue according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesperson Christopher Covelli Facklam said officers found numerous spent shell casings in the intersection of Lincoln Street and 17th Street Marder-Grant was visiting a family member and other people The group was sitting outside the residence when the shooting occurred which showed a gray SUV driving down the street and parking at the curb A person was seen exiting the driver’s seat and running towards the intersection of 17th Street and Lincoln Street The suspect was just out of frame when 16 gunshots were heard on the video who was wearing a black mask and dark clothes ran back to the SUV and the vehicle drove away The SUV had distinct chrome wheels and other chrome features License plate reader cameras showed a gray GMC Terrain with the same chrome features traveling south in Waukegan toward North Chicago just before the shooting Facklam said the GMC is registered to Carlos D Officers later located the vehicle with the license plates removed in North Chicago Officers then conducted a traffic stop on a truck that was registered to the same address where the GMC was located His driver’s license was suspended and he was taken into custody Clothing was recovered from the home of a family member of Marchan that matched the description from the video Facklam said Marchan had been living at that residence for a couple of weeks and the family member reported that Marchan got home between 5:30 p.m “The defendant committed a brazen act of violence in broad daylight at 5:00 p.m in a residential area,” Facklam said adding that Marchan fired 16 shots in the direction of multiple people who were simply sitting on a porch Marchan is a convicted felon with a prior conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and is not allowed to possess firearms He also has a prior conviction for domestic battery Law enforcement reported that Marchan has an association with a street gang “Defendant fired indiscriminately in the direction of all those present and it is not known if he was targeting Mr Marder-Grant or someone else,” Facklam said The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved two counts of first-degree murder against Marchan Marchan appeared for a detention hearing on Monday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition Marine Corps veteran and he argued that there was no evidence that Marchan committed the offense “There are no witnesses who will identify this young man as being at the scene […] There is no evidence presented as to the link between Marder-Grant and this defendant,” Stone said adding that Marchan is not a member of a street gang The attorney also argued that there is no physical evidence tying Marchan to the crime scene Marchan remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 23 for a preliminary hearing The Major Crime Task Force is investigating after a 31-year-old was shot in North Chicago and died after being rushed to the hospital Wednesday evening Paramedics transported him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he died An autopsy was expected to be performed Thursday morning by the Lake County Coroner’s Office has not been released yet by the coroner’s office Covelli said the man was outside the home when the shooting occurred The shooter was on foot when he shot the victim has been arrested after the sheriff says he was caught selling cocaine to undercover detectives in Lake County The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) began an investigation in April 2023 into Michael Cansler Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the investigation began after the group learned Cansler was possibly dealing cocaine Members of SIG began an undercover investigation and confirmed Cansler was trafficking cocaine in Lake County Covelli said SIG conducted an operation and on two occasions Cansler sold cocaine to undercover detectives Both deliveries involved nearly 30 grams of cocaine for a total of nearly 60 grams of cocaine Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kailey Hopkins said the drugs were verified through testing at the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Lab SIG detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Cansler in January 2024 He was charged with one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance Cansler had been wanted for over a year and was arrested on the warrant on Friday The arrest came after the Lincolnshire Police Department conducted a traffic stop and Cansler was an occupant in the vehicle The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Cansler pending trial arguing he poses a real and present danger to the safety of the community Hopkins said Cansler is a convicted felon with prior convictions for manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance in a 2005 Lake County case and aggravated battery to a pregnant person in a 2005 Lake County case He additionally has a prior case for felon in possession of a firearm and armed robbery A detention hearing was held on Monday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the petition argued during the hearing that his client does not pose a danger to the community and noted that the alleged offenses occurred two years ago “It’s a jump to say he’s a danger now My client is very insistent that at this time he was not selling cocaine and this was not him,” Weinstein said adding that Cansler’s prior convictions are from 20 years ago Cansler was released from custody with Level 3 pre-trial services monitoring placed on a curfew at pre-trial services’ discretion and ordered not to possess any weapons and not to consume illegal drugs or alcohol A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23 “The idea came from the way we eat in the Balkans,” explains Ivan Iricanin, owner of the newly opened Ambar “Food is always on the table; as soon as you come the host is doing something wrong and people are not happy!” That’s how Iricanin wants guests to feel at Ambar which offers an all-you-care-to-eat approach and a robust menu which included me until recently — what exactly is Balkan food the Balkans run from Slovenia all the way through Macedonia and if you know anything about world history you know that a lot of various invaders have tramped through the empires in that part of the world That mélange of influences has created a cuisine with elements of Turkish slow-cooked flavors are the unifying element “We have these deep-flavored dishes,” Iricanin says you see a lot of restaurants with a whole lamb or whole pig slowly turning and roasting next to the road.” these inspirations are all over the menu — lamb shoulder with onions and potatoes and pork shoulder with cabbage come from the oven while cevapi made with ground beef or chunks of housemade smoked pork sausage come from the grill A wood-fired oven turns out traditional savory cheese pies meat pies with ground beef and minced leeks and a variety of flatbreads derived from Macedonian pastrmajlija he didn’t speak English and found that the fastest way to make a living was in restaurants He started as a busboy at a restaurant in Richard Sandoval’s restaurant group and worked his way up to the national director of operations for the group But even after all that restaurant experience he couldn’t find a good place to eat his home cuisine in his home city (Washington D.C.) and made it his mission to open the first Balkan restaurant there Iricanin chose Chicago because it has the largest Balkan population in the U.S we are being really well received by the Balkan community,” he explains “You can see by last name — 50 percent of the reservations are Balkan.” The approach to service at Ambar is as interesting as the cuisine Ambar is taking something akin to an all-you-can-eat approach you can order unlimited items off the menu for two hours You can start with kajmak (Balkan clotted cream) “You can order whatever you like and experiment; if you don’t like it designing an unlimited menu that won’t break the restaurant’s bank account took a lot of learning and tweaking The food isn’t the only draw at Ambar; it also has what must be the best rakia list in Chicago and was traditionally made at home from whatever fruit was available Ambar has focused on a few small distilleries and is bringing in the entire selection from those distilleries so diners can do comparative tastings of different types of rakia with special prices if you do the unlimited tasting (house wines made just for Ambar are $7 a glass and cocktails are $8 to $9) Iricanin is confident that Chicago will embrace Ambar “We think we are bringing something new — it’s hard to be another steakhouse in Chicago or another Mexican restaurant,” he laughs “This is a style of food that is rare in the United States.” Tags: Dining & Drinking Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered Chicago’s Best Outdoor Dining Spots Chicago’s Best Margaritas The Best New Restaurants in Chicago, May 2025 New taquerias seem to pop up faster than Tuesdays on a calendar with a hunger resulting in a rich taco landscape from weather-defying market stall cooks to backyard kitchens to taco trucks with celebrity chefs Here’s a list featuring a mix of classic haunts and a few exciting new ones The listing highlights some of Mexico’s better-known taco types — Additional reporting by Ashok Selvam and Serena Maria Daniels tamales are the name of the game at Santa Masa Tamaleria recently added to the city’s Northwest Side near Dunning by Daniel Espinoza and Jhonna Ruiz But the neatly edited menu of tacos are the perfect addition to any tamale run Try the taco adobada — pork made with a fiery adobo sauce — or tacos stuffed with chorizo verde and potatoes or with poblano peppers and melted cheese Then be sure to indulge in a tamal of the month which has included one filled with Italian beef Where to Chomp on the Best Italian Beef Sandwiches in Chicago Acclaimed chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier and his CDC Azazi Morsi bring Portage Park Migos Fine Foods a casual neighborhood spot featuring an array of halal tacos like barbacoa available with lamb or beef Round out the meal with the eatery’s popular hand-battered fried chicken Run by father-and-daughter duo Everardo Macías and Jessica Perjes this taquería is a haven for birria lovers who will find a variety — tacos But it’s the quesabirrias that are a crowd favorite flavor-packed treats are a celebration of culinary creativity Whether you are swinging by for a single taco or a pound of birria The eatery even offers an at-home kit for quesabirrias that will feed a group of six to eight Tacotlán serves a range of Mexican staples with creative twists with various tacos featuring outer skirt steak a tender and chewier cut than its famous counterpart A post shared by Tacotlán (@tacotlantacos) This “CTA” is a transit-themed taqueria along Irving Park Road The Chicago Taco Authority has several nods to the CTA inside the small A unique “surf and turf” taco comes with bacon-wrapped shrimp The skirt steak and chicken tinga are tops While tacos are usually best enjoyed directly from the hands of a taquero tacos de canasta (basket tacos) were born to travel Getting their name from being bundled together and tightly packed into baskets The family behind Rossy might have Guerrero in their name rest assured that their tacos de canasta scream central Mexico adobo (a dish made with beef and guajillo chilis) Rossy delivers on the traditional filling assortment offering mole instead of adobo Another detour from the Mexico City taco de canasta experience is that Rossy serves its patrons from Thursday through Sunday making the experience a much more leisurely one for most Rossy’s menu includes other popular items such as picaditas (small masa patties with different toppings) and quesadillas A post shared by Tacos De Canasta Rossy (@tacosdecanastarossy) Fans of tacos al pastor will jump for joy from seeing Lucido’s slightly crispy thinly sliced pieces of meat atop a warm tortilla which started as a weekend home-based kitchen Order your al pastor “con todo” which means Make sure you ask for pineapple for that acid Salsas add a different dimension to the flavors but you can start by only adding a hint of lime A post shared by Lucido’s Tacos (@lucidostacos) Taco Sur in Little Village offers a Baja-inspired menu boasting a selection of tacos al carbon with three protein options: asada the meat for al carbón is cooked over coals resulting in a smoky flavor and a little char Other interesting dishes on the menu include tostadas called volcanes which looks like a traditional al pastor but has an entirely different flavor the open kitchen features elements commonly seen in Mexican establishments such as molcajetes The taqueria is family-friendly and has a small parking lot for convenience A post shared by @tacosurchicago Chicago’s Best Cozy Comfort Food Restaurants for Winter Way before the birria boom driven by social media hit our feeds the Zaragoza family had already been serving the festive Jalisco stew for nearly 15 years And while there are many ways to enjoy birria the Zaragozas stick to a 100-year-old heirloom recipe from the Los Altos de Jalisco region recently featured on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles takes great pride in their process and ingredients The meat is seasoned and cooked for several hours and served with a tomato consommé Follow the juicy and tender birria with a goat head taco The molcajete sauce made with fire-roasted tomatoes and chilis is not to be missed A second taqueria recently opened in Uptown A post shared by Birrieria Zaragoza (@birrieriazaragoza) Brothers Ernesto and César Gonzáles have made their family recipe for steak tacos famous at their Logan Square establishment An alternative to the asada tacos made with finely chopped meat tacos are served with juicy chunks of top-notch beef that have been tenderized with a citrus marinade and spices The result is a delicious flavor that takes you back to a backyard “carne asada” there are many other tacos on the menu to sample Don’t forget to bring dollar bills because L’Patron is cash only a newer location on Damen in Bucktown — L’Patron Grill — does accept credit A post shared by L' Patron (@lpatron16) When you first arrive at this Little Village restaurant you might question if you’re in the right place — after all its name suggests a focus on Asian cuisine But you’re in the right place as customers will see after catching a glimpse of the prominently displayed trompo Tacos al pastor are the highlight of the restaurant’s minimal Mexican offerings Unlike other executions of the dish that are soggy or cubed The charred-yet-juicy pieces of meat are served in small tortillas to maximize the bite-to-flavor ratio and closely represent what you would expect the dish to be And don’t forget to order the pastor fried rice This is a Chinese restaurant whose owners let the cooks have some fun A post shared by @onionandcilantro From behind the counter of this half-Mexican grocery store and half-taco wonderland taquero César “El Molusco” Castillo consistently delivers some of the best tacos in town hot surface with a dome-like center known as a “comal con sombrero,” just like the ones you will find on the streets of Mexico City Start with the juicy and flavorful suadero a Defeño darling featuring a thin cut of meat that is finely chopped and served with cilantro and onion Try the steamed tacos de canasta with pressed chicharrón or beans before diving into the more adventurous items like cabeza (made with many parts of a beef’s head) which are go-tos for regulars of this Little Village favorite Featured among a few others on this list in the Netflix series Taco Chronicles owner Angelina Hernández prides herself on serving a taco “that tastes like Mexico.” Incredible tacos at La Chaparrita in Little Village - Clockwise: The famous crispy tripe, tongue, cabeza, asada, and longaniza...best taco place in Chicago. #lachaparrita A post shared by Sean (@seankm_) on Apr 7 La Zacatecana survives from good word of mouth It’s been in business for more than 25 years as a no-frills establishment with a small taco menu and popular options like tripe tongue and chile relleno (stuffed poblano peppers) But it is their juicy and flavorful grilled steak tacos that take center stage The eatery is now offering handmade tortillas on Tuesdays to take their taco game to the next level (available from 11 .m A post shared by Taqueria La Zacatecana (@taqueria.la.zacatecana) La Casa de Samuel is an established destination for authentic regional Mexican plates Founded in 1989 by celebrated chef Samuel Linares (who died from COVID in 2020) the Little Village restaurant features an impressive range of options that seamlessly bridge the well-known with the exotic and even bull testicles along with their spectacular freshly-made tortillas Where to Order Takeout Food in Chicago During the COVID-19 Pandemic no-frills establishment with a dedicated following Low on cliché but big on consistent quality this time-tested haunt draws a crowd that spans cities and state lines all yearning for its headliner — grilled-to-order steak tacos Their freshly fried chips and guacamole are not to be missed They are go-to spots where neighbors exchange stories and where kids get their first taste of real tacos Shoppers will also find groceries and ready-to-eat delights Carnicería Maribel has been a cornerstone of its neighborhood for more than three decades hidden away in an unassuming counter in the back patrons will find a short taco menu featuring favorites like a lean and flavorful asada and chorizo plus less common ones like the dry and salty cecina or the incredibly tender tongue Tacos are served in generous portions that spill from the tortilla The double-tortilla or copia system lets you craft the perfect bite Don’t forget to snag some snacks on your way out A post shared by Carniceria Maribel (@carniceria_maribel) And there’s no better example of this delicious duo than the mouth-watering dish known as carnitas  With a third-generation Michoacano recipe Carnitas Uruapan must be doing something right as patrons keep coming back to order either one taco And the lines were already long way before the story of this 49-year-old Chicago staple was a James Beard Award semi-finalist Second-generation owner Marcos Carbajal speaks with enthusiasm about the Michoacano-style tamales The tamales which are made with two different masa types and stuffed with either queso fresco or Swiss chard can replace a tortilla as a vehicle for the carnitas Corundas are served with chile de árbol sauce Carnitas Uruapan has a second location in Gage Park There are four locations of Carnicerias Guanajuato a full-service grocery store that stocks a myriad of Mexican goods; often customers can grab packs of tortillas from the shelves that are still warm as delivery trucks drop them off fresh from various factories Wild idea: Why not offer customers fresh tacos using all these ingredients available on hand The cafes inside these grocery stores offer simple menus of chorizo All are tasty and served with zesty salsa (not bland like a certain spot up the street) as you can walk out spending less than $10 From a bustling stall at Maxwell Street Market to a permanent home in Pilsen Rubi’s has been the go-to spot for mouth-watering asada tacos and quesadillas served on freshly made tortillas for more than 25 years But it’s not just the asada that keeps patrons coming back — their complex mole and chicharrón en salsa verde a delicious dish prepared with tomatillo sauce and pork rinds squaring up proudly with the best you’d find in Mexico the team at Rubi’s is taking its fervor for “Vitamin T” (tortas They’re folding their beloved asada and al pastor taco stuffing into tortas And for those with a taste for breaded delights A post shared by Brenda Storch (@lavitaminat) chef Stephen Sandoval channels his San Diego upbringing into a menu inspired by the street food scenes of Ensenada The result is a celebration of their ingenuity including fish tacos and the increasingly popular taco gobernador — a Sinaloan delicacy made with cheese and shrimp The tacos dorados might pack potatoes instead of fish the all-terrain tacos de canasta stuffed with potatoes and salsa cruda keep the party going until 2 a.m dishing out an elusive breakfast taco (at least in Chicago) with eggs and those lucky enough to be in Pilsen can indulge in their very own themed taco crawl Carnitas are the staple with a few other items including cactus salad and brain quesadillas only on weekends start by choosing your preferred meat (beginners might want to go with maciza) and then decide how much you want — orders are weighed by the pound You will turn these carnitas into tacos with the complimentary condiments and tortillas Lines are long particularly on the weekends Consider getting there early to avoid missing out A post shared by Carnitas_Don_Pedro (@carnitas_don_pedro) The Restaurants That Define Chicago's South Side 11 Delicious Tacos to Try Now On Chicago's South Side Downtown Chicago’s most competitive neighborhood for restaurants has a few stellar choices When most people mention Downtown Chicago restaurants, they’re usually locked on one neighborhood in particular. River North is many things, with Hubbard Street overburdened with tourists during the summer and long lines pouring out of deep-dish pizza joints But a River North dining experience doesn’t have to be pedestrian Check out this listing of the best the neighborhood has to offer but these spots will have your party applauding your dining judgment several restaurants dropped off due to closure Two additions have jumped on board: OUD Cafe and Sifr — Additional reporting by Naomi Waxman Torchio Pasta Bar remained closed for much of the pandemic but it’s back and this noodle-focused restaurant delivers but a restaurant with carefully made pasta Come hungry and check out this family-owned spot Where to Find Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Chicago Chef Carlos Gaytán is a household name in Chicago and Mexico Gaytán became the first Mexican-born chef with a Michelin-starred restaurant diners will find a beautiful dining room that breaks the mold of the boring design that plagues many of Chicago’s restaurants Gaytán’s food still blends French techniques with Mexican ingredients There’s also a killer brunch featuring baked goods that deserve more spotlight in Chicago Chicago is undergoing a coffee and bakery renaissance We’re no longer bound by Western traditions as more and more international flavors are finding venues for their sweet baked goods and there are unique treats like stuffed chocolate-covered dates — the perfect pick-me-up when you don’t need a whole pastry Obelix expertly navigates modern and traditional French cooking in a comfy space But there’s a smile from the French American owners who grew up in Chicago the children of the founders of Le Bouchon Fun dishes like a foie gras taco bring different flavors and perspectives to the table and make Obelix special There’s also a portion of the menu dedicated to duck Louie Alexakis wants to give diners more than gyros (but do try the gyros here; they’re delicious) Lamb chops and skewers are juicy and tender Killer Frozen Cocktails to Beat the Chicago Summer Heat Blending French and Indian food isn’t a new concept — it’s one championed by the late great Floyd Cardoz Indienne takes some of those principles and modernizes it for the Chicago audience Chef Sujan Sarkar — he started the Rooh chain for Indian restaurants — has created an affordable tasting menu where Indian food fans will recognize their favorites which are presented in a more Westernized manner It’s unique and will be oft-putting to those used to the AYCE buffets but it’s great for an impromptu special night out Indienne became the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Chicago This is it: the Italian beef stand where the first season of The Bear took place the TV show didn’t really take place here; they just filmed the exteriors because the real-life Mr Beef is much smaller than the fictional Original Beef of Chicagoland Chicagoans have varied opinions of Italian beef but it’s best to pick an independent place that actually cooks the beef onsite versus one that just heats meat from a bag Basque-inspired restaurant Asador Bastian upends expectations of a Chicago steakhouse with delectable cuts of beef sourced from various farms around the world This special Basque restaurant has also launched a new early-bird seasonally changing menu from 4 p.m two courses for $60 or three courses for $73 Sifr is a Middle Eastern restaurant by way of India with chef Sahil Sethi and the crew from Michelin-starred Indienne delivering a unique menu of fire-grilled meats which has housed many different restaurants in previous lives has received an upgrade thanks to an all-seasons rooftop deck for some of the most gorgeous views in the city We can’t get a recent duck rice special out of our heads The aroma of saffron with braised meat somehow blends Persian and South Asian sensibilities into a sensataional dish One Off Hospitality successfully transformed this River North spot into the second location of one of Chicago’s most popular restaurants Avec helped define Chicago’s restaurant scene with popular items like the legendary bacon-wrapped stuffed Medjool dates like pizza and small plates (chicken liver crostini is a winner) A post shared by Ian Watkins (@edub04) Where To Order Passover Meals for Carryout or Delivery in Chicago Mid-century landmark Ohio House Motel entered a bright new era in 2023 with the debut of Schneider Deli Perennial Virant) ode to Ashkenazi-style Jewish deli food and culture the team is serving up hits like corned beef hash A post shared by Schneider Deli - River North (@schneiderdeli) Chicago’s Best Passover Meals and Specials Where to Find The Best Latkes for Hanukkah in Chicago star chef Carrie Nahabedian has treated loyal fans to a special type of French dining Brindille has all the elements customers would expect from a French bistro but the chef sprinkles a little of bit of an Armenian touch A post shared by Brindille (@brindillechicago) All of Chicago’s Past James Beard Award Winners Chicago’s Best French Brasseries and Bistros It’s a medley of Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish ingredients and techniques that make up this restaurant’s Peruvian plates which celebrate the diverse landscape of the South American country an ode to the Canton immigrants of the 1800s that includes garlicky pork fried rice with a fluffy shrimp omelet a Japanese-inspired strip of rice that’s topped with tender skirt steak A post shared by Tanta Chicago Peruvian Cuisine (@tantachicago) Chicago’s Best Thanksgiving Takeout Fest Options This family-owned institution is Chicago’s oldest steakhouse the restaurant offers exceptional steaks and chops Kitchen + Kocktails is built around special occasions with plenty of drinks and spaces where customers can snap photos The menu is a medley of southern food with lamb chops Owner Kevin Kelley has famously instituted a dress code The design of this corner space is spectacular Kyuramen has all the design details down pat for an authentic Japanese ramen experience The owners of Roop Chicago have gone more casual with this pub This is a great place for light dinners with sandwiches Vegan chain Planta arrived in Chicago to deliver an upscale experience with plenty of Japanese which eschews fish in favor of vegetables that are manipulated to look like the rolls customers would find in a traditional sushi spot but the food — including the dumplings — benefits from the absence of meat because they’re lighter and won’t fill you up as in the case of conventional sushi restaurants the food at Planta is plenty satisfying if you order enough Where to Indulge With the Best Bottomless Brunch in Chicago Celebrities and locals love this gorgeous steakhouse that exudes understated glamour. Opened in 2014, RPM Steak staff have served President Obama among other famous faces to make an appearance at this see-and-be-seen spot It’s now serving wagyu from Kawaguchi Farm in Japan; ownership says they’re the first in America to offer Namiki beef RPM also serves over-the-top desserts like a 14K chocolate cake A post shared by RPM Steak (@rpmsteak) While Au Cheval gets most of the national spotlight Hogsalt’s River North flagship has built quite a following since opening in 2012 Bavette’s recipe takes the menu from a traditional chop house and blends it with the atmosphere of a French bistro It’s an intimate affair — this is where to take a carnivore you want to impress (there is a vegetarian menu A post shared by Bavette's Steakhouse (@bavettessteakhouse) Chicago’s Best Desserts Served at Restaurants This Chicago classic is a sports fan’s dream with nostalgia packing the walls in the forms of photos Named for the baseball announcer who called games for both of the city’s teams Harry’s is an old-fashioned Chicago steakhouse with great pork chops and calamari so come in and grab a classic drink and escape the elements A post shared by Ross Allen (@rossallen15) Where to Drink Espresso Martinis in Chicago This Winter Where to Eat Near O’Hare International Airport (ORD) Metro Detroit native chef Justin Vaiciunas is making his splashy Chicago debut this spring When chef Justin Vaiciunas is considering a new dish on his menu he’s looking for elements beyond the flavor He sees a plate the same way a painter sees a canvas Vaiciunas and business partner Michael Mauro took this approach last year when launching their first restaurant, the Jackson (named after American artist Jackson Pollock), in the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills. This spring, the pair will bring their vision to Chicago when they open, LIA in River North The menu is still being developed, however, visitors can expect a variety of artfully presented new American options, drawing inspiration from across the globe. Diners may see items already on rotation at the Jackson’s menu such as the Miro shrimp that sits on a bright layer of saffron aioli and is named after the Spanish painter Vaiciunas says he will design the tasting menu to reflect his interpretation of the works by local artists that will be displayed in the restaurant I will create a menu working with the artist At 24, he landed at Zin Wine Bar in Plymouth (now closed), serving as its executive chef. At the time, he tells Eater, writer Nicole Rupersburg who ran the blog Eat It Detroit noted that a cheesecake he made looked like an edible Pollock painting That comment led him down a rabbit hole of researching and developing an appreciation for the famed American artist and thinking about the ways that the experience of going to a restaurant can be amplified when incorporating art into the mix I wanted to make a restaurant bigger than just the food and beverage component But I wanted one more layer of an element to it,” says Vaiciunas Working in partnership with Vaiciunas is Mauro who holds sommelier certificates from the Court of Master Sommeliers To coincide with the chef’s global influences that he plans to incorporate into the menu Mauro will curate a selection of wines and spirits along with cocktails that play into the arts vibe The duo — who make up the founders of Canvas Hospitality — opened the Jackson on June 10 The goal is to open LIA by that date this year so that they can say they opened two restaurants in a span of 365 days LIA Illinois Street; planned for a late spring opening A network of correspondents providing impartial news reports and analysis in 33 languages from locations around the world Up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world and in Chicago Hosted by WBEZ's Mary Dixon and NPR's Steve Inskeep Newshour is the award-winning flagship program of the BBC World Service the world’s largest news gathering operation 1A convenes a conversation about the most important issues of our time smart reflection on world news as it’s happening innovators and artists from around the globe with news from Chicago from WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz Reset digs into how the news has moved since you left the house discussing and unpacking the biggest stories and issues in Chicago and beyond right in the heart of the day Fresh Air is a weekday “talk show” that hardly fits the mold Fresh Air Weekend collects the week’s best cultural segments and crafts them together for great weekend listening The show is produced by WHYY and hosted by Terry Gross and features from Chicago and around the world Hosted by WBEZ’s Melba Lara and NPR’s Ailsa Chang A daily take on business and economics news for the rest of us hosted by Michael Barbaro and powered by The New York Times’ journalism 7pm Hour -- A focus on what’s changed here in the U.S since President Trump was inaugurated -- looking at everything from the culture to the shape of the federal government From tariffs to the downsizing of the Department of Education how has Trump made good on his campaign promises From shifting alliances to trade agreements to changes at the U.S we’ll ask how President Trump has altered international relations since January 20 Covering everything about science and technology — from the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies — Science Friday is your source for entertaining and educational stories and activities From their humble beginnings on Chicago’s radio airwaves to their evolution through television and today’s streaming platforms "Stories Without End" unpacks how soap operas have shaped popular culture and told intergenerational stories that continue to resonate a new theme and a variety of stories on that theme Sound Opinions is hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot In-depth interviews with brilliant creators A mix of live performances and interviews from WXPN Philadelphia’s daily program featuring important established and emerging artists Weekly film podcast and radio show from Chicago featuring in-depth reviews The first 50 years of modern advertising was based on hard-sell The next 50 years was persuasion through creativity and media tonnage But as advertising squeezed into the 21 century it was forced to shed its elbowing ways and become a delicate dialogue The goal is no longer to triumph by weight CBC's Under the Influence is hosted by Terry O'Reilly A wrap up of the week's news and a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up It's Been a Minute features people in the culture who deserve your attention Plus weekly wraps of the news with journalists in the know Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers A radio journal of news and culture produced from a Latino perspective and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior shape our choices and direct our relationships Your guide to examining how the media sausage is made Important ideas and practical advice: Code Switch features fearless and much-needed conversations about race—and Life Kit offers practical advice on things in life no one prepared you for Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX Reveal is public radio’s first one-hour radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting A weekly program presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser Probationary workers at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago were fired by the Trump administration were still being paid though they were not allowed to work left their jobs at a military and veterans hospital in North Chicago and stopped to pick up a heart-shaped chocolate cake to share with their three kids Noschese’s phone lit up with one of the alerts he had set up 10 months earlier when he started supervising a team of technicians in charge of keeping equipment running at Lovell Federal Health Care Center he had identified more than $10 million in cost savings and had a long list of ideas to improve operations and complete long-delayed projects it wasn’t about a problem with the ventilation systems elevators or emergency generators that he monitored even when he was away from Lovell which is run jointly by the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs “This is to provide notification that the Agency is removing you from federal service,” the email began that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest the Agency informs you that the Agency is removing you from your position with the Agency and the federal civil service effective February 13 Puzzled by the generic wording of the email which was sent by the VA’s chief of human resources But when he and Laurie got to work the next morning — he in the hospital’s HVAC shop she as chief of its multiple pharmacies — his boss looked defeated and confirmed that what the email said was true an electronic industrial controls mechanic supervisor at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago was placed on administrative leave on March 17 after he was terminated along with other probationary employees in February 2025 Noschese is one of more than 24,000 federal workers who were fired in February after President Donald Trump put billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in charge of cutting spending and shrinking the federal workforce as head of the Department of Government Efficiency This new entity swiftly commandeered the Office of Personnel Management which functions as the government’s HR department and set about terminating “probationary” workers whose relatively short tenures made them easier to fire 14 in the Puget Sound area and six in Walla Walla according to an internal email obtained by The Spokesman-Review Many had received exemplary performance reviews but they all got the same email saying that “based on your performance,” their work was not “in the public interest.” federal judges in California and Maryland ordered the government to immediately rehire the terminated employees The Trump administration has filed appeals in both cases but the VA recently began notifying its fired workers that they would be placed on administrative leave for an unspecified time receiving pay but not allowed to work until further notice sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie,” U.S District Court Judge William Alsup said in a hearing in San Francisco in February after unions sued the government over the mass termination the VA said all of its fired probationary employees had been reinstated but acknowledged that it didn’t have contact information for all of them Emails notifying the affected workers that their termination had been rescinded were sent to addresses to which they no longer had access Noschese told the Spokesman-Review Sunday that he was allowed to return to work last Friday Other probationary workers at Lovell who had been on administrative leave are expected to be allowed to return to work this week When the news reached them, several of the employees said they still felt apprehensive because they could be subject to a forthcoming “reduction in force” announced by VA Secretary Doug Collins on March 4 that aims to eliminate at least 70,000 positions In response to questions from The Spokesman-Review VA Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz said only that the department “is complying with the court’s March 13 temporary restraining order” and “cannot comment further due to pending litigation.” active-duty service members and their dependents along with the nearly 50,000 recruits who pass through the Navy’s only boot camp each year at the adjacent Naval Station Great Lakes will leave the facility at a dangerous deficit,” Noschese wrote in the justification memo noting that half of the positions in his job series already were vacant In performance reviews he provided to The Spokesman-Review Noschese scored “exceptional” in every category and he received a year-end bonus for “outstanding” performance Asked about the savings Noschese said he identified spokespeople at Lovell did not contest his claim As the head of a 12-person team responsible for ensuring clean water fire safety and other essentials required to maintain the hospital’s accreditation Noschese and his bosses hoped he would be exempted from the mass firing But after they sent the justification memo up the chain they got a curt response: The document was too long He should sum up his position in no more than three sentences Noschese was told that a member of hospital leadership did that “I’d never loved a job this much,” Noschese said in an interview March 17 before learning that his firing had been put on hold from the moment I stepped into that position to the moment I was forced out.” Noschese said he was drawn to the VA’s mission after his wife started working there during pharmacy school The high school sweethearts grew up on the northern edge of Chicago and got married after she graduated from the University of Illinois “The fact that the organization that I had dedicated my entire career to was the same organization that hurt the person I love that was a really hard thing to swallow,” said Laurie Noschese who had the additional burden of having to reassure the 160 people she supervises that “everything is going to be OK” while they knew her family was one of the first ones affected by the firings Ricky Noschese was looking forward to bringing back an apprenticeship program to get veterans into good jobs and replace employees who are nearing retirement Having to fill a vacant position is costly and hurts productivity and firing workers en masse under a false pretense is not only “completely and utterly wrong” but also inefficient Russ Vought, Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget and a lead author of the policy blueprint known as Project 2025, said in a private speech last year that his goal was to put federal employees “in trauma,” as reported by ProPublica and Documented “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” Vought said we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.” Elon Musk holds a chainsaw handed to him by Argentine President Javier Milei at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill a professor at Gonzaga University School of Law said while Trump himself may not choose to fire an HVAC expert or a supply-chain specialist their termination is the downstream effect of his administration’s sweeping effort to root out what the president calls a “deep state” of government employees who may get in the way of his agenda “The administration is painting with an incredibly broad brush on matters of regulatory policy and federal employees,” Cecil said “That’s the real-world implication of pursuing a political agenda in a very broad-stroked way It impacts people in communities all across the country.” After Megan-Richelle Cole gave birth to her son in June 2024 she returned to work at Lovell as an inventory management specialist in the pharmacy department where she managed the supply of medications and ensured that patients didn’t receive recalled or expired drugs an inventory management specialist at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago was placed on administrative leave on March 17 after she was terminated along with other probationary employees in February 2025 The Army veteran moved back home to the northeast corner of Illinois after she had to leave a similar job at the VA hospital in Charleston when her doctor’s recommendation that she work remotely during her pregnancy conflicted with the hospital’s in-person work policy Although she began working at Lovell in 2010 Cole was considered a probationary employee after returning to work in September Cole was in the final stages of buying a house the VA didn’t provide her with a form required to file for unemployment benefits and she had to withdraw from the home purchase until the sudden termination left her feeling humiliated and lost Cole’s supervisors tried to preserve her job They pointed out that reimbursements that she processed from recalled and expired drugs resulted in more than $775,000 in savings in fiscal year 2024 While her coworkers and bosses in North Chicago were supportive she said being fired left her feeling “very small” as she walked to her car in disbelief After 20 years in the Army — with deployments in Kosovo Afghanistan and Iraq — he retired at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2019 He started working for Washington state’s Emergency Management Division serving as chief of logistics during the COVID-19 pandemic and several major wildfires before his family decided to move to Illinois to be closer to his wife’s parents Mulvey knew Lovell would be a good place for his family to get their health care since it serves not only veterans but also the dependents of military retirees and he was surprised to learn that there was an opening for an emergency manager After talking with contacts at the American Lake VA near Tacoma he thought working for the department “sounded like a really good family.” 11 months before he learned that emergency management jobs were not exempt from the mass termination an emergency manager at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago Trump administration officials have suggested that the mass termination of probationary employees targeted people who didn’t want to work Speaking to reporters at the White House on March 4 Trump adviser Alina Habba pushed back on criticism of firing veterans who make up about 30% of the federal workforce “We care about veterans tremendously,” Habba said we have taxpayer dollars — we have a fiscal responsibility to use taxpayer dollars to pay people that actually work That doesn’t mean that we forget our veterans by any means We are going to care for them in the right way but perhaps they’re not fit to have a job at this moment Mulvey says he has enjoyed spending more time with his kids but after a few days he wanted to be back to work “It’s painful to not be working and doing that job on a daily basis,” he said adding that he wants his children to see him standing up for all the VA employees who lost their jobs but now they’ll see that I’m standing up for a community You can read the full Spokane Spokesman-Review version of this story here. Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale The parent company will move production to a nearby facility according to parent company Ferrara Candy Co. Ferrara Candy acquired Jelly Belly in November 2023, along with its nearly 800 employees and facilities in California Ferrera manufactures 20 major candy brands such as Black Forest then the EVP of global operations and distribution of Jelly Belly according to the November 2023 press release In Q4 2023, Ferrara also acquired Brazil-based candymaker Dori Alimentos. Along with the Jelly Belly Candy acquisition, the deals brought nearly $500 million of additional sales into Ferrara’s portfolio, according to its fiscal year 2023 earnings report the candy company also increased its manufacturing facilities from seven to 14 and expanded its global footprint to Mexico The confectionary industry has been making consolidation moves for years the global chocolate conglomerate behind Ferrero Rocher and Nutella bought the U.S.-based Ferrara Candy to grow its gummy and seasonal candies in the U.S Ferrero also has an Illinois facility network. Ferrero North America opened its first chocolate processing facility in North America and third ever globally in Bloomington on May 7 The $75 million expansion grew Ferrero’s existing manufacturing campus in Bloomington private company with operations in 27 locations in North America China and Thailand which includes manufacturing Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The technology can make it easier for companies to use 3D printing and enhance the design process.  the Republican nominee focused on tariff hikes while the Democratic nominee talked of boosting clean energy production.  Subscribe to Manufacturing Dive for top news Want to share a company announcement with your peers The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A North Chicago alderman was arrested after a judge issued a warrant for him failing to appear in court in a felony case where he is accused of damaging government property was charged on March 13 in Lake County Circuit Court with felony official misconduct and felony criminal damage to government-supported property is accused in a two-count indictment of knowingly damaging the surveillance video system at the North Chicago Water Treatment Plant on August 8 The indictment said Coleman damaged the wire connection to a camera An investigation by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Financial Crimes and Public Integrity Unit was conducted Investigators found that Coleman cut the wires to a video camera in the plant and removed the camera according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Prosecutors said the camera was installed earlier in 2023 with the approval of the North Chicago City Council The City of North Chicago and the North Chicago Police Department referred the matter to Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office investigators to avoid a conflict of interest “Coleman gained access to the water plant as a public official and destroyed an appropriate and legal camera system This Defendant doesn’t get to overrule the City Council by destroying government property,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the charges were filed last month The state’s attorney’s office declined to provide a potential motive for Coleman’s alleged actions Coleman was sworn into his position in May 2023 after being elected to office The case is being prosecuted by Chief Kevin Berrill and Assistant State’s Attorney Russell Caskey from the Financial Crimes & Public Integrity Unit of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Coleman’s only comment on the matter was announcing that he would be running for mayor again in 2025 After the grand jury indictment was returned Coleman was issued a notice to appear in court He pleaded not guilty to the charges after being arraigned in April Booras placed Coleman on pre-trial services and ordered him to not leave the state without court permission The judge also ordered him to be processed in the Lake County Jail which included having his booking photo taken He was released from custody as the charges are non-detainable under the SAFE-T Act Court records show Coleman was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning for a case management conference Coleman failed to appear when his case was called and Booras issued an arrest warrant for him The North Chicago Police Department arrested Coleman and he was transported to First Appearance Court on Friday morning Ritacca said during the Friday hearing that Coleman was late for the Tuesday morning court hearing Lake County Judge George Pappas released Coleman following his arrest He is scheduled to appear in court again on November 21 Coleman was the second elected official in Lake County to be charged with felonies on the same day when the indictment was returned in March Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly was charged with over a dozen felonies after prosecutors say she illegally provided credits to businesses applying for liquor and gambling licenses. Her case remains active and a jury trial is scheduled for December 16. No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner. To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens. Adrian Kane, John Ringor & Veda Kilaru River North is a perplexing place: You love it Illinois 60654">.css-56eu0z{width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;line-height:1em;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray100);vertical-align:middle;fill:currentColor;}531 N Wells St Chicago Bar River North This walk-in-only restaurant has a pretty typical neighborhood scene—it's got a big center bar surrounded by leather booths and is full of date nights and post-work hangs The 30 drink options (all $12) include throwback recipes like a smooth The dishes are a little less exciting and more expensive but if you want a large meal to eat as you work through the extensive cocktail list get the $25 wagyu beef sandwich with crispy bread 9.0Bavette'sAmerican Bavette’s is our favorite steakhouse in Chicago because the actual steak here is the best in the city because the speakeasy atmosphere and 1920s jazz music make it feel different from a traditional Chicago steakhouse not order a steak (entrees like the fried chicken and the lamb chops are outstanding) and an order of buttery mashed potatoes and truffle mac and cheese that might as well come with a defibrillator How to get into Bavette's.css-a52oel{min-height:auto;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-4);}.css-orc1vi{font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-standard);font-weight:400;margin:var(--chakra-space-0);padding:var(--chakra-space-0);font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.6;font-style:normal;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-6);}Reservations are released online 21 days in advance at 9am They have bar seating and a couple of tables in the bar area available for walk-ins and if you get here early (they now open at 4pm Monday-Thursday and 3pm on Friday-Sunday) you’re likely to get one French Obelix is located in a quieter part of River North where, instead of witnessing drunken couples arguing with bouncers, you can enjoy some fantastic upscale French food in relative serenity. This spot is from the same team as Le Bouchon and while they have delicious staples similar to their longstanding sister restaurant the most exciting dishes are the fusion-y ones that have an international spin From their steak tartare with a spicy and pungent shio kombu to their impressively complex foie gras taco (aka foie-co) the combinations of flavors are interesting and unexpected Paired with an energetic rotation of hip-hop jams it makes for an exciting date night or small group dinner full of head-bobbing between savory foie-co bites How to get into ObelixReservations are released 30 days in advance But while dinner seats can be hard to nab (unless you want to eat at 10pm on a Thursday) it's much easier to snag a spot for weekend brunch at 10:30am-2pm 8.3Ciccio MioItalian Ciccio Mio is an Italian spot from the same team as Bavette’s and Gilt it’s located right in between those two places and larger entrees—and everything from the simple burrata with housemade fougasse to the crispy chicken parmesan is delicious the dining room (filled with old-timey pictures) feels a little like the setting for a murder mystery party but here you can pick your own fake persona How to get into Ciccio MioReservations are released online 21 days in advance at 9am There are a couple of tables available for walk-ins 8.4IndienneIndian Indienne is a fine-dining Indian restaurant from the original chef of Rooh in the West Loop It has a large dining room full of white tablecloths and staff bustling around in crisp jackets and the menu’s dishes are plated artistically or a six-course tasting menu for $125-$135 which feels affordable in a neighborhood overrun with valets parking rented Lambos Most of the food has some kind of French twist so you’ll find things like eclair canapes filled with goat cheese and chutney malai tikka formed into a terrine and sauced tableside and a cute little potato pave accompanying the perfectly medium rare lamb chop How to get into IndienneReservations are released 60 days in advance you’ll most likely find an empty seat or two and can order food off an a la carte menu if you’re not a gambler and need a guaranteed reservation 8.0SifrMiddle Eastern Sifr is a “modern Middle Eastern” spot from the Indienne team including blackened mushrooms in a peppery sauce and lamb kebab with tzatziki The space looks like a lot of new restaurants these days (full of plants and playing tropical house) but it’s a lovely place to spend a few hours 8.1Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone CrabChicago Cut Steakhousehere Access exclusive reservations with your sapphire reserve card 7.7Planta QueenVegan This Asian-fusion vegan spot is the rare plant-based restaurant where the food is really good and enough of a scene to earn its River North address has a thump-y music playlist that may briefly make you consider going clubbing afterward and the long menu is full of dishes that are objectively tasty—whether you’re vegan or not There’s spicy tuna nigiri made with dehydrated watermelon and firm udon noodles swimming in an unbelievably silky truffle mushroom cream sauce The large space has plenty of seats for couples but also enough big booths for a group of friends 7.6LivaDoma CafeSandwiches All of which are likely to distract you from whatever reports you’re supposed to be typing on your laptop 7.9SundaJapanese You probably either love Sunda or find it obnoxious And we respect both sides of that argument but we stand firm in our belief that it also serves great food From the adobo fried rice to the pork buns to the sushi (especially the rolls) 8.3RPM SteakAvli River NorthGreek We were initially skeptical when we heard Avli opened a restaurant in River North. After all, we weren’t particularly impressed with the Greek food at their small Lincoln Park outpost But this location is actually pretty great with dishes like gundagai lamb chops and chicken souvlaki—tender chicken breast skewers on top of a bed of fries topped with feta and yogurt sauce the large two-level space is perfect for groups while also being quiet enough to have a conversation 7.8Avec River NorthSpanish and is about 56 times larger than the original in the West Loop Other notable differences are that it doesn’t have communal seating and has a longer menu full of Avec classics (like the chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates and taleggio focaccia) along with a lot more small and large plates And because the space here is bigger and everyone gets their very own seat this is the better Avec for a group or business dinner when you don’t want to ask the boss to move whenever you need to go to the restroom How to get into Avec River NorthChase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers can unlock access to primetime reservations on OpenTable through the Visa Dining Collection. Find exclusive bookings here 7.6TzucoMexican Tzuco is an upscale Mexican restaurant that feels a little like a trendy installation at a desert art museum The food here is flavorful and well-executed to chorizo and mussels in a saffron beurre blanc This spot is a great alternative to the usual suspects in the neighborhood if you’re planning a business dinner or a group outing 7.8Mr. BeefThe Bear And if this counter service spot’s longevity isn’t enough to convince you of its greatness The meat and gravy isn’t too peppery or salty which allows the pure beefiness to shine through and the sturdy bread develops a pleasant softness as it soaks up all the juices so stop by an ATM before grabbing lunch (they’re only open until 4pm) but they do have an old-school communal table in the back 8.1TantaPeruvian The large Peruvian menu at Tanta has sections devoted to ceviche and skewers as well as main dishes like the pollo a la brasa so the best strategy is to come with a group so you can try as much food as possible and during the summer when you can eat on their fantastic rooftop 8.2RPM SeafoodSeafood 7.7Frontera GrillSushi-sanRamen-sanRamen Ramen San is a laid-back alternative to the upscale Their ramen comes with thin wavy noodles and a variety of flavorful broths from the vegetable ramen with mushrooms and tofu to our favorite: creamy tonkotsu with fatty chashu and a gooey soft-boiled egg The energetic atmosphere and large dining area works for a meal with friends or end-of-the-week drinks with your coworkers 8.2RPM ItalianKyuramenEmaMediterranean Ema is a Mediterranean small plates restaurant and all the dishes are designed for sharing You can keep it simple with basics like hummus and kefta or order some of the more interesting dishes like the parmesan farro "risotto" with mushroom ragu make sure you order extra housemade pita—it’s excellent There are plenty of round tables that can easily seat mid-sized groups 8.3Gilt BarShaw's Crab HouseBar SótanoSushi | Bar ChicagoSushi This 12-seat omakase is hidden in the back room of Lady May But where Sushi-San has things like poop emojis for bathroom signs Sushi Bar decides to go unconventional when it comes to the food you’ll get 17 courses of “new wave” nigiri and the atmosphere is fun enough that this is still a good option for a special occasion dinner 7.6Gene & GeorgettiXocoSiena TavernBeatrixMoti CafeGold Coast We’re big fans of this little counter-service Indian street food and pizza spot They have some build-your-own bowls and wraps But the best things at Moti are their snacks The chicken tikka and palak paneer versions of the pizza are the perfect balance of creamy and the personal sizes come on a wonderfully crisp slab of naan affordable meal before you decide to go spend $80 on a pair of socks 7.4Friends Station800 N State Street Chicago Friends Station is an AYCE shabu shabu spot where colorful plates of ingredients zoom past you on a conveyor belt and diners hectically stack empty dishes to try to make the most of the 80 minutes allotted for eating Our favorites are the thinly sliced lamb shoulder especially when topped off with some spicy Also great is the serotonin boost you get when you emerge victorious against your friend after racing to snag the same plate of beef 7.1Portillo'shot dogs Not every great restaurant in Chicago—just the ones you should have on your list while you’re getting acquainted Adrian oversees the Infatuation's West Coast and Midwest markets and has written hundreds of reviews and guides in Chicago John grew up in Albany Park and likes to play the xylophone when he isn’t busy eating and filling his camera roll with videos of pasta twirls she’s poring over her meticulously maintained restaurant spreadsheet for fun Firefighters battled a fire in sub-zero temperatures that caused heavy damage to a house in North Chicago where residents and their dogs were able to safely escape The North Chicago Fire Department and North Chicago Police Department responded around 4:38 a.m Tuesday to the 2200 block of Kristan Avenue for a report of a structure fire North Chicago Fire Chief John Umek said firefighters arrived to find smoke showing from a rear second-floor window The residents and several dogs had evacuated the single-family home after hearing their smoke detectors activate A Working Still Alarm was activated to bring several fire departments to the scene to assist Firefighters located heavy fire in a bedroom and extinguished the fire while performing extensive overhaul operations afterward Residents initially told firefighters that three puppies escaped into the frigid night but they were later found hiding inside the home No injuries were reported to any residents or firefighters The two residents who lived in the home were displaced due to heavy fire and smoke damage in the house Umek said neighbors assisted them until the American Red Cross could respond and provide alternative arrangements Temperatures were in the negatives at the time of the fire but no challenges related to the weather were encountered The cause of the fire has not been determined due to the heavy damage but there was no indication that it was arson The fire chief said it is important for residents to have working smoke detectors which are available for free to North Chicago residents who can contact the North Chicago Fire Department to facilitate the installation of them An 18-year-old man allegedly led police officers on a chase before resisting arrest and being caught with a loaded gun and drugs in North Chicago was charged with aggravated fleeing to elude enhanced five counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon possession of cannabis and window tint violation Officers with the North Chicago Police Department on December 30 observed a Dodge Charger according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd Officers attempted a traffic stop and the Dodge accelerated away from police The vehicle sped through a stop sign at Cummings and Jackson and then disregarded a red light at Belvidere Road and Jackson Street in Waukegan The Dodge nearly struck another vehicle when it went through the red light Officers called off the pursuit due to safety concerns and learned the registered address of the Dodge The home was a few blocks away and officers relocated to the address of the vehicle Shepherd said the same light blue Dodge Charger with heavy tint from the pursuit pulled into the driveway of the home just minutes later as officers surveilled the residence Officers conducted a traffic stop on the Dodge and blocked the vehicle in Acosta was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle He immediately began honking his horn and screaming Acosta refused to exit the Dodge for a substantial amount of time while honking and yelling trying to get the attention of his parents inside Shepherd said officers attempted to force entry into the car by striking the vehicle’s window with a baton but the window did not crack Acosta opened the door after the baton strike while continuing to refuse to exit the vehicle and screaming for his parents Shepherd said Acosta was removed from the vehicle and continued to fight with the police by pulling away and pushing on officers The man’s parents heard the commotion and came outside They talked with officers and were upset with Acosta Officers found a Glock 26 handgun in the car while preparing to tow the vehicle Acosta is under the age of 21 and does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card (FOID) or concealed carry license Acosta’s parents became even more upset with him when the handgun was found Acosta’s mother told him that he had promised he would not do this again to her they are f—ing stupid it wasn’t even loaded there wasn’t even one in the chamber,” according to Shepherd Officers checked the Glock and found it was loaded with an inserted magazine but did not have a round in the chamber Officers learned one of Acosta’s friends had recently been shot and killed Shepherd said Acosta “knows exactly the gravity of being armed with a firearm and using one.” Acosta was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a juvenile case That case was set for sentencing on January 29 Officers also located 10 THC vape pens each containing 2000 milligrams of a substance containing THC “This Defendant is clearly a threat to the community based upon not only his illegal possession of a loaded firearm but also the manner in which he evaded police because he had a loaded firearm on him and he has a sentencing date on his first firearm felony coming up in less than a month,” Shepherd said Lake County Judge James Newman granted a petition to detain Acosta pending trial following a detention hearing Acosta is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing Seven people were taken to the hospital with injuries after a minivan and sedan collided in North Chicago Wednesday morning The North Chicago Police Department and North Chicago Fire Department responded around 10:55 a.m Wednesday to Green Bay Road and Buckley Road in North Chicago for a two-vehicle crash with injuries Emergency crews arrived and found a minivan and sedan involved in the crash North Chicago Fire Department Battalion Chief Kim Schaefer said Both vehicles sustained moderate to heavy damage Schaefer said the minivan was occupied by five people and the sedan was occupied by two people Additional ambulances from the North Chicago Waukegan and Lake Forest fire departments were requested to the scene for a total of five ambulances All seven subjects sustained minor injuries and were transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan and Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital The North Chicago Police Department was investigating the cause of the crash An officer had to pull another officer out of the way to avoid being struck by a fleeing car that led police on a pursuit through North Chicago before the suspect was later arrested Officers with the North Chicago Police Department were on patrol near Broadway Avenue and Jackson Street around 12:30 a.m Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said officers saw Anthony D The car had dark-tinted windows and no front license plate The car pulled out of an apartment complex which is known for recent violence and shootings The car circled the block and officers conducted a traffic stop on the car Officers made contact with Hicks who was in the driver’s seat and a female passenger in the car Hicks identified himself to the officers and they asked him to step out of the car backed up and drove forward while fleeing the scene The car almost struck a police officer who was standing by the side of the car Another officer had to pull that officer out of the way to avoid being struck Police officers pursued Hicks’ vehicle which ultimately failed to stop at approximately 15 stop signs Vukovich said Hicks went through the stop signs at Elizabeth Avenue and 20th Street Hicks then traveled north on Greenfield Avenue and the North Chicago Police Department terminated the pursuit with the car proceeding into Waukegan The car was entered as a wanted felony vehicle into a law enforcement database and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office stopped the car later the same day Hicks’ mother was driving the car and reported that Hicks picked her up and dropped her at his car Hicks then had his mother drive his car and he drove hers Sheriff’s deputies were able to take Hicks into custody around 6:30 p.m He was charged with aggravated fleeing to elude two counts of disregarding a stop sign and plate violation Hicks was on pre-trial release in a felony burglary case out of Waukegan where he was non-compliant with pre-trial monitoring services Hicks was scheduled to appear in court in the Waukegan case on April 8 — the same day he allegedly fled from police in North Chicago — and failed to appear The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to revoke his pre-trial release which was granted by Lake County Judge Ari Fisz Hicks remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 6 for a preliminary hearing 2025 at 10:22 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Metra UP-N train struck a pedestrian near North Chicago Thursday morning halting inbound and outbound service and causing major delays File)NORTH CHICAGO — A train struck a pedestrian Thursday morning near North Chicago halting service on the line and creating major delays for commuters on the first business day of the year which was headed toward Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center struck a male pedestrian near the border of North Chicago and Waukegan The person's condition was not immediately available all inbound and outbound trains on the UP-North line were stopped while police investigated the scene Metra officials described delays as "extensive" and said passengers should expect disruptions throughout the morning originally scheduled to depart from Waukegan at 9:30 a.m. was rerouted to begin service from North Chicago instead It is running 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule was scheduled to accommodate affected passengers while buses were arranged to assist commuters at North Chicago and Waukegan stations Officials have not provided details about the circumstances of the collision or the identity of the person struck Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A former North Chicago police canine who retired in 2020 has died after serving seven years with the department during which time he suffered a duty-related injury North Chicago Police Department Canine Yaku retired from the department in late 2020 North Chicago Assistant Police Chief Gary Lunn said Yaku had success during his tenure Yaku assisted 37 other agencies in various crimes assisted in 39 multi-agency search warrants assisted in 23 article recovery searches and assisted in 42 school narcotics searches He was deployed 36 times to track and apprehend suspects of which 16 were apprehended after surrendering without a bite occurring Lunn said Yaku assisted in the seizure of 37 firearms 1,502 tabs of LSD and 166 illegal use pills The canine also helped in the seizure of $62,478 cash and participated in 12 community events said a ceremony was held on December 29 for Yaku Yaku was transported to the animal hospital to be put down following the walkout ceremony Florance said Yaku’s passing was due to quality of life The canine suffered a hip displacement and issues with his knees due to a duty-related injury Florance is also the handler of Canine Six who joined the North Chicago Police Department in the fall of 2020 after Yaku’s retirement Six remains active with the department and is certified in several areas One person was injured following a shooting in North Chicago late Friday night Assistant Chief Gary Lunn of the North Chicago Police Department said officers were called to the 1300 block of Jackson Street at 11:07 p.m Friday night for a report of shots being fired officers found a male subject who had a gunshot wound to the abdomen Lunn said the unidentified victim was transported to the hospital in stable condition Lunn did not release additional details about the shooting and did not give the current condition of the victim People on the Lake & McHenry County Facebook page said they heard 30 gunshots ring out during the incident adding the police department will release additional information when it becomes available A home under renovation was left a total loss after it was found engulfed in flames in North Chicago Tuesday just months after the house previously caught on fire The North Chicago Fire Department responded around 10:21 p.m Tuesday to the 3100 block of 22nd Place for a report of a structure fire North Chicago Fire Chief John Umek said a neighbor called 911 after arriving home and spotting the fire Dispatchers reported receiving four 911 calls reporting the fire The incident was upgraded to bring multiple fire departments to the scene to assist Firefighters arrived to find a single-family home that was fully engulfed in flames Fire crews worked quickly to get water on the fire and bring it under control in approximately 15 minutes No injuries were reported and crews remained on the scene conducting extensive overhaul operations The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the North Chicago Fire Department adding that he could not say whether the fire was believed to be suspicious in nature or not In August, the same home, which was also vacant at the time, caught on fire and sustained significant damage A North Chicago man is being held on traffic violations and other charges after fleeing Lake County sheriff’s deputies Thursday night was the driver of a Chevy Impala that was flagged by a license plate reader about 9:40 p.m. according to a sheriff’s office news release A deputy near Greenwood Avenue and Sheridan Road in Waukegan received an alert for the Impala that recently had been associated with a law enforcement alert involving a home invasion Cole had multiple outstanding arrest warrants including domestic battery violating an order of protection and obstructing identification The Impala was seen leaving a gas station but Cole refused to pull over and led deputies on a pursuit on several streets in Waukegan He fled on foot after reaching a dead end and was quickly apprehended Cole was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude DUI for alcohol and numerous traffic violations He was being held at the Lake County jail pending a detention hearing Friday afternoon The Jelly Belly manufacturing plant in North Chicago has permanently closed as of Friday after over 110 years in operation the company that owns Jelly Belly Candy Company announced in July it had made the “difficult decision” to end manufacturing operations at its plant in North Chicago The company said they performed a careful review of the current volumes produced at the plant and decided to move manufacturing to another facility The final day of plant production was Friday 66 employees who worked at the plant have been laid off from the plant Ferrara previously said they were focused on helping their North Chicago team members by offering them different roles in other manufacturing facilities Ferrara said they anticipate no impact on the Jelly Belly brand the products or the service to their customers “Jelly Belly remains a critical component of our growth trajectory.” The North Chicago factory was over 110 years old It opened in 1913 and was initially called Goelitz Confectionery Company hand-poured and packaged fine-quality buttercream candies including the highly successful Candy Corn a German immigrant who learned the art of candy making a generation before purchased the land and built a factory for the family’s growing candy venture Within a few years of producing in North Chicago during World War I the United States Navy was months away from implementing plans to use the factory for military production The effort was dropped when the war ended suddenly The company has made candy in the same location ever since The company changed its name to Jelly Belly Candy Company in 2001 A North Chicago man was arrested after investigators located him in possession of hundreds of child sexual abuse files The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Cyber Crimes Division and Special Investigations Division with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office State’s attorney investigators conducted an investigation after receiving a cyber tip that child pornography was being disseminated from Stewart’s residence in the 1500 block of Lincoln Avenue in North Chicago The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also received the same cyber tip and investigators determined that Stewart was the perpetrator in both reports The state’s attorney’s office and the sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at Stewart’s residence in July Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Electronic Storage Detection Canine Grip assisted during the search and helped locate electronic devices The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Cyber Lab conducted an analysis on the devices and discovered several hundred files of child sexual abuse material on Stewart’s cellular phone “Our Cyber Crimes Division and Special Investigations Division are unmatched Our Cyber Lab team is using new technology every day to protect our children and our community,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said and Grip a debt of gratitude for being on the front lines of this fight to catch and prosecute those who would exploit others,” Rinehart said Idleburg said that “protecting our most vulnerable is crucial” and the sheriff’s team will continue collaborating with its partners to do so “I am proud of the continued work of our staff and thankful for our partnership with the State’s Attorney’s Office,” Idleburg said Stewart was charged with three counts of dissemination of child pornography and eight counts of possession of child pornography Stewart appeared in First Appearance Court on Thursday morning and prosecutors filed a petition to detain him pending the case Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim ordered Stewart held until a detention hearing A 31-year-old man was fatally shot early Sunday during a fight in the River North neighborhood an argument between two males on a sidewalk in the 500 block of North Franklin Street turned physical when one male pulled out a firearm and began shooting was taken to Northwestern Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m. according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office