{"id":636990,"date":"2026-03-06T19:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T19:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/636990\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T19:20:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T19:20:21","slug":"et-chi-brings-turkish-fusion-to-lincoln-square-goosefoot-finds-a-new-home-and-more-food-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/636990\/","title":{"rendered":"Et Chi Brings Turkish Fusion To Lincoln Square, Goosefoot Finds A New Home And More Food News"},"content":{"rendered":"

LINCOLN SQUARE \u2014 The owner of a Lincoln Square coffee shop is opening a restaurant next door, and a popular fine dining\u00a0restaurant has found a new home on Lincoln Avenue near Welles Park.<\/p>\n

In Irving Park, a Mexican restaurant\u00a0that opened in 2024 has closed, as has a longtime Pho shop in Albany Park.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s more of what\u2019s happening in the North Side restaurant scene this spring:<\/p>\n

Lincoln Square<\/p>\n

\"\"The interior of the former Market Square at 4701 N. Lincoln Ave. on March 5, 2026. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Et Chi<\/strong><\/p>\n

4701 N. Lincoln Ave.<\/p>\n

Market Square<\/a>\u2019s owner Ed Duman closed the business in November with the goal of reopening it as a new Turkish fusion restaurant offering \u201cfine, casual dining\u201d as soon as this summer, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"A sign visible March 5, 2026 announcing the new business coming to the former Market Square at 4701 N. Lincoln Ave. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

\u201cThe concept is centered around slow roasted meats prepared in a gas-fired, stone-domed oven,\u201d Duman said.<\/p>\n

Once it opens, Et Chi\u2019s menu will feature dishes inspired by authentic Turkish cuisine that\u2019ll be modernized for contemporary diners\u2019 palates, Duman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo think ancient fire with immortal tastes,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Market Square opened in 2023. Duman is also the owner of Oromo Cafe<\/a>, which has locations next door to the new restaurant as well as in Bucktown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"A king salmon dish served at Goosefoot\u2019s previous location. Credit: Linda Garard\/Goosefoot\/Instagram<\/p>\n

4520 N. Lincoln Ave.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Acclaimed restaurant Goosefoot has a new home just north of Welles Park on Lincoln Avenue near \u201cthe heart of downtown Lincoln Square,\u201d owners Chris and Nina Nugent stated on the restaurant website<\/a>. The new location is the former home of DueLire Vino & Cucina, which closed in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The owners posted the following on the Goosefoot website.<\/p>\n

\u201cgoosefoot\u00ae has a new home!<\/p>\n

We are happy to announce that we have relocated to the heart of downtown Lincoln Square.<\/p>\n

A friendly note: We are no longer BYOB<\/p>\n

Our team is delighted to offer a thoughtfully curated wine program to elevate your dining experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear when the new location will open. Messages left with the owners were not immediately returned.<\/p>\n

The owners initially opened Goosefoot at 2656 W. Lawrence Ave. in\u00a02011<\/a>, specializing in fine dining. The\u00a0$145\u00a0multi-course tasting menu<\/a>\u00a0at the BYOB restaurant included Angus beef with heirloom squash, aigre-doux and beurre noisette; and a diver scallop dish with lemongrass, coconut and lobster. According to the announcement, the new Goosefoot space will include a \u201ccurated wine program.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners pivoted to takeout-specific menu<\/a> of comfort food at Goosefoot Food & Wine, 2654 W. Lawrence Ave., the shop they opened next to their restaurant in\u00a02014<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By 2018,\u00a0Chicago Magazine<\/a>\u00a0had ranked Goosefoot as No. 8 on its list of the city\u2019s best restaurants. Before the pandemic, the spot had a waiting list of reservations.\u00a0The owners announced that they were closing the Lawrence Avenue locations with plans to relocate in February 2024, according to the Sun-Times<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Ardor By Chance<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4624 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-312-6497
5-10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5-9:30 p.m. Sundays<\/p>\n

The duo behind North Center\u2019s Amano Bistro<\/a> opened a restaurant a few steps away from the Davis Theater in January. It features live jazz music every other Thursday, co-owner \u00a0Nikola Paunovic said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an elevated American bar and grill mixed with a speakeasy bar,\u201d Paunovic said. \u201cSo it\u2019s got a very dark, intimate atmosphere.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cozy interior\u2019s dark walls are adorned with oil paintings, contrasting the restaurant\u2019s white tablecloths.<\/p>\n

Ardor By Chance\u2019s menu features items like filet mignon, wet aged ribeye, Chilean sea bass and grilled salmon. Other menu items include pizzas made with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and goat cheese and appetizers like beet tartar and Cajun grilled shrimp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a nice wine list and craft cocktails as well,\u201d Paunovic said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Lincoln Square Food Wine & Spirits Manager Jay Patel at the shop on March 5, 2026. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Lincoln Square Food Wine & Spirits<\/strong><\/p>\n

4605 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-961-7337
10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays<\/p>\n

The southern half of Lincoln Square has a variety of boutique shops, bars, restaurants and even a renowned music school. But until now, its convenience store options were a bit limited, said Jay Patel, Lincoln Square Food Wine & Spirits manager.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were passing through here in a car and someone we were with wanted a bottle of water. When we stopped here to look for a store, it was all restaurants,\u201d Patel said. \u201cWe had to head up to the Walgreens north of here. That\u2019s when my boss got in his mind, \u2018We need a convenience store like this around here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The business opened last month and offers a variety of snacks, liquor, beer and other staples for backyard barbecues and impromptu picnics, he said.\u00a0It also has some grocery items and some drugstore essentials as well.<\/p>\n

Restaurant Primo Chukis Uptown #2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2721 W. Lawrence Ave.
773-654-3482
10 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 10-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday<\/p>\n

This Mexican restaurant\u2019s menu offers dishes like al pastor, fish and carnitas tacos as well as chilaquiles con carne, huevos a la Mexicana and more. These late-night dishes are available for delivery as far west as Albany Park and all the way east to Montrose Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new Lincoln Square location compliments the owner\u2019s other location at 1708 W. Lawrence Ave.<\/a>, which opened in 2024.<\/p>\n

Irving Park<\/p>\n

\"\"Taquizas Valdez, 3038 W. Irving Park Road, on March 5, 2026. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Taquizas Valdez<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3038 W. Irving Park Road<\/p>\n

Chef Ivan Valdez\u00a0opened his Mexican restaurant\u00a0in 2024 as a love letter to the woman who taught him how to cook: his late mother, Rosa Valdez.<\/p>\n

But neighbors noticed the restaurant appeared to have closed for good. The restaurant\u2019s food license wasn\u2019t set to expire until 2027, and it\u2019s unclear what led to the closure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Valdez could not immediately be reached for comment, but announced the closure in a social media pos<\/a>t, saying, \u201cWith an incredibly heavy heart, we share that Taquizas Valdez is now permanently closed \u2026 [A]fter a year of working two jobs, navigating personal challenges, witnessing the toll our city has endured, and facing an economy that has been unforgiving to small businesses, we were forced to make a decision that deeply hurts \u2014 but one we know is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

The menu featured tacos, tortas served on bread baked in-house and starters like taquiza fries and torre de ceviche.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Big League Burger, 3732 W. Irving Park Road, on March 5, 2026. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

Big League Burger<\/strong><\/p>\n

3732 W. Irving Park Road<\/p>\n

The owner of the Cubs-themed burger restaurant announced he\u2019s decided to close the business after five years in a Feb. 21 social media post.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe may be turning off the lights, but the memories and relationships we created will never fade. This was never just about food \u2014 it was about community, love, and the people that were brought into our lives. God blessed this restaurant with family, friendships, and unforgettable memories,\u201d owner Peter Mihopoulos said in the Facebook post<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The restaurant opened in 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear why Mihopoulos decided to close the restaurant.\u00a0He could not immediately be reached for comment.<\/p>\n

Despite the closure, Mihopoulos hinted at a new chapter for his restaurant in his farewell post.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive years of hard work, love, and unforgettable moments live within these walls. Though this chapter ends, our journey continues,\u201d he said, in the post. \u201cSaying goodbye to this space is incredibly hard, but what we built here was real, lasting, and full of heart. This door may be closing, but our journey is far from over. This isn\u2019t the end Big League Burgers \u2014 it\u2019s the start of something new!\u201d<\/p>\n

Albany Park<\/p>\n

\"\"The outside of L.D. Pho, 4722 N. Kedzie Ave., on March 5, 2026.
Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

L.D. Pho<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4722 N. Kedzie Ave.
773-961-8551<\/p>\n

Chef-owner\u00a0Liu Dang opened his Vietnamese restaurant to offer traditional pho alongside rice dishes, French iced coffee and smoothes in 2015.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Albany Park neighbors noticed the restaurant had recently closed. Stickers from the Illinois Department of Revenue are visible on the restaurant\u2019s windows, saying, \u201cWarning. This business certificate of registration has expired.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

L.D. Pho also doesn\u2019t have any active business licenses with the city, according to a search of records.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dang could not immediately be reached for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The outside of L.D. Pho, 4722 N. Kedzie Ave., on March 5, 2026. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n

A GoFundMe<\/a> campaign was created by the owner\u2019s sister Diamond Huynh on Wednesday to help Dang reopen the business. It\u2019s raised $2,330\u00a0of\u00a0its $50,000 goal as of Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs many of you know, LD Pho has had to temporarily close its doors. While Liu has worked tirelessly to keep things running, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic \u2014 coupled with rising costs and back-dated SBA loans \u2014 have created a mountain that is simply too high to climb alone,\u201d Huynh said in the GoFundMe page.<\/p>\n

Messages left with Huynh were not immediately returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently, Liu is working hand-in-hand with an accountant to resolve tax and loan obligations and is aiming to have the doors back open in just two to three weeks. However, the financial gap to get that \u2018expired\u2019 sign off the door and the kitchen fired back up is significant,\u201d Huynh said in the GoFundMe page.<\/p>\n

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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