Virgin Hotels Unveils Renovated Restaurant With Revamped Menu and More Intel

— The Virgin Hotels Chicago’s second floor restaurant and lounge, Commons Club, reopens tonight with a renovated interior and revamped menu by new chef Moosah Reaume. Reamue, who ran the kitchens at The Lobby and the Public Hotel in addition to a stint as NBA star Carmelo Anthony’s personal chef, highlights his menu with Asian flavors in 12-hour-smoked short ribs, scallop crudo inspired by Thai som tum salad, and double-crusted shrimp mousse with sweet-chili coconut sauce. Check out the full menu below. The space now leans toward a full restaurant rather than a lounge, features an open kitchen with bar seating that looks in, and adds a chef’s table, other new seating, and whimsical elements including children’s toys and trinkets on the tables. Reservations are live.

— A few personnel moves are coming to hot Randolph Row wine bar and restaurant The Lunatic, The Lover & The Poet. Executive chef Jessica Nowicki is leaving and moving to Spain and eventually she’ll move to Colorado, said owner Tom Powers. He’s promoting sous chef Michael Woodhall, and has also hired Nisha Aher, formerly of The Bristol, as a new general manager and sommelier.

— Popular coffee company Cafe Bustelo is popping up this weekend (Sept. 22-24) at 2145 W. North Ave. (Cup & Spoon) and offering free coffee drinks and live entertainment. Hours are 8:00 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day.

— Cultish Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon is now open late at its sole Chicago location in Chinatown. New hours are until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and until midnight the rest of the week. It also delivers now.

— Umami Sushi, a Japanese spot near O’Hare at 4626 N. Cumberland Ave., sadly suffered an electrical fire early Sunday morning, DNAinfo reports. Ownership wrote on Facebook that they have no set reopen date, although they “hope to reopen the restaurant in 1-2 months.”

— The annual Goose Island block party happens tonight and tomorrow night outside its brewery and taproom at 1800 W. Fulton Market with live music at multiple stages, food from Girl & the Goat and other spots, and all beers are $3. It’s technically free but has a $10 suggested donation that goes to charity.

— And finally, an Arizona critic slammed Chicago favorite Portillo’s in a review that was noticed by DNAinfo. His main target was the meatball salad, a new item for the chain, but he also lambasted the signature chocolate cake shake.