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Lettuce Entertain You is Opening Another Japanese Restaurant in River North

Sushi-san has taken over the Osteria La Madia space

La Madia
There’s a new tenant at this River North space.
Marc Much
Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

It’s been three long months since Rich Melman and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises have opened a restaurant in Chicago, but that streak should soon come to an end in River North. LEYE’s taking over the Osteria La Madia space vacated in March and opening a casual Japanese restaurant. Sushi-san should open this fall at 59 W. Grand Ave., according to a news release.

LEYE’s keeping with the naming convention established when it opened Ramen-san in 2014 in River North. The same team behind the ramen-focused spot is opening Sushi-san, R.J., Jerrod, and Molly Melman — along with chef Doug Psaltis and executive sushi chef Kaze Chan. Chan was behind Kaze Sushi in Roscoe Village.

Straight out of River North. Coming Fall 2017.

A post shared by Sushi-san (@therealsushisan) on

Planned menu items included hand rolls, maki rolls, Bintochan-grilled meats and vegetables, roll-your-own, nigiri bombs, and signature Oma-Kaze menus. The drink list will feature shaved-ice cocktails and Japanese whisky. The space includes an open kitchen, hand-roll bar, and sashimi bar.

DNAinfo first reported the pending opening and mentioned to the hip-hop references used in Sushi-san’s social media accounts, as shown in a post reading “Straight Out of River North.” Apparently, LEYE will use some hip-hop elements in the restaurant. There’s an established connection between Asian Americans and hip-hop which is alluded to on Eddie Huang’s Fresh Off the Boat on ABC-TV. It’s not just used at places like Furious Spoon.

Osteria La Madia had been open for a decade. Meanwhile, Sushi-san is hiring. A spokeswoman didn’t share an opening date. Come back later for more details as the opening approaches.

Osteria La Madia

59 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 329-0400 Visit Website