Roister & Kitsune Are Among Esquire’s Best New Restaurants and More Intel

— Two of the 18 slots on Esquire’s list of the best new restaurants in America for 2017 are filled with Chicago spots. The Alinea Group’s Roister and Iliana Regan’s Kitsune are honored by the magazine, which released its annual accolades this morning. The honorees are noticeably different than those from Bon Appetit (Giant and Elske) and Eater National (Elske). Also, many readers may notice that Roister opened in April 2016, but the list “encompasses the past couple years,” which is noted in the intro, because the magazine didn’t run a list in 2016 following Josh Ozersky’s death.

— Good Fortune, the popup seafood restaurant from ex-Honey’s chef Charles Welch in the former Sink|Swim space in Logan Square, will become a full-fledged restaurant. Welch and creative director Andrew Miller — who have formed a group named Out To Lunch Hospitality — are “currently finalizing negotiations on the new space for their full-service operation” which will “undergo a full build-out and renovation,” a rep says, and plan to open it in early 2018. They’re not releasing the exact location yet, however, only revealing that it’s not in the Sink|Swim space. The popup held its last service on Saturday, October 14.

— River North’s “tavern license moratorium” was approved by the City Council, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) wrote in his newsletter. The moratorium prohibits new bars and nightclubs that make most of their money from alcohol from opening in the vast majority of River North without the Alderman’s approval. It doesn’t apply to restaurants, hotels or music venues that don’t make most of their money from booze.

— Tavern in Wicker Park wasn’t the only shutter in that prominent building at the North/Milwaukee/Damen intersection. It turns out that Cafe Absinthe, the longtime restaurant that was once run by Michael Nahabedian (Naha, Brindille) also closed, DNAinfo reports. It also reports that the Tavern space will become retail.

— BeefBelly, the Northwest Side restaurant from the owner of BrgrBelly that serves an array of riffs on Italian beef sandwiches, will reconcept into an interestingly-named Mexican spot named Tipsy Cow Cantina, ownership announced on Facebook. Expect tacos, salads, burritos, nachos, live music, karaoke, and a margarita bar when it hopefully opens in December.

— And finally, Parsons Chicken & Fish now delivers via Doordash — and delivery options include beer. Lost Lake also turned its adjoined space into Tender Tavern, which screens Cubs playoff games and serves frozen mai tais, hot dogs, nachos and Cracker Jack during Cubs playoff games. Tonight’s game could be the Cubs’ last this season if they lose to the Dodgers, however.