Chicago’s Knife Steakhouse Opening Sept. 28 Despite Name Objection

After that sharp exchange last week over the restaurant’s name, a rep for Lincoln Square’s new steakhouse, Knife, says they’re preparing to open on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Ownership isn’t changing the name even though Dallas-based chef and former “Top Chef” contestant John Tesar accused Knife chef Timothy Cottini of stealing his restaurant’s branding. Tesar has own steak-focused restaurant called Knife in Dallas.

The reps said they’ll only offer limited reservations for opening day and that those can be made via Knife’s website. The site wasn’t yet up as of Monday afternoon.

This war of cutlery also stems from Tesar having a restaurant called Spoon, while Cottini and owner David Byers run a Lincoln Square restaurant, Fork. While Byers, now infamously, said he had never heard of Tesar, the Dallas chef wouldn’t let the beef sit. He told Eater Dallas that “it's obvious that the quality and execution of what Knife Chicago is trying to accomplish is an insult to our hard work and steak in general.”

Tesar has a history of being outspoken. However, it doesn’t appear he’s singled out Chicago. Just check out this tweeted photo of him happily posing with Rick Bayless. The photo was posted last month, before the argument began.