Graham Elliot, After Two Years, Says He's Still Planning a New Restaurant

Will Graham Elliot ever open a new restaurant in Chicago? Elliot is once more fueling speculation that diners finally get that long-awaited follow-up to Graham Elliot, his original, two-Michelin-starred restaurant that closed in 2013. He's saying the same things he said two years ago, that the fine-dining concept would be smaller and different. But, once more, there's no word on specifics or a location.

Elliot told DNAinfo that he's still planning that new restaurant —gunning for three Michelin stars in fine-dining— saying 2016 will be "full of decisions and transitions." He's currently on the prowl in support of his new cookbook, which is tied into the "Master Chef" TV show. Publishers released "Cooking Like a Master Chef: 100 Recipes to Make the Everyday Extraordinary" last week.

Meanwhile, since GE closed, Elliot's judged three seasons of "MasterChef Junior" and has opened and closed Primary Food & Drink in Greenwich, Conn. He's also continued his work with Lollapalooza's Chow Town and curated food for the NFL draft in Chicago. That's keeping busy, and diners will once again need patience to determine if they will ever experience a new restaurant from Elliot in Chicago.