A Former Schwa Chef de Cuisine Launches an Underground Dinner Club

— Another noteworthy Chicago chef with extensive fine-dining experience has gone the underground route. Wilson Bauer, a 2017 Jean Banchet Award nominee who was previously the chef de cuisine at Schwa, was slated to be the opening chef at Bar Biscay, and also has experience at Grace, Elizabeth, and more, has launched a weekly underground dining club in Ukrainian Village named Chicago, Washington. Bauer and host Alice Richter held their first dinner on March 16 and they’re slated for every week for now. Each dinner holds 8-10 people, seats cost $125 each, and they’re BYOB. Described as “a dégustation of modern inspired cuisine,” previous dishes included sourdough pancake with soft scrambled eggs, winter black truffle, and Rare Tea Cellar perigord truffle aged syrup. Check out Facebook and Instagram for more info and to reserve seats.

— Very popular North Center bar The Globe will close for more than two months for renovations from April 2 until June 5, ownership announced via social media. Expect lots of changes, including a new layout with a 54-foot bar they’re calling “the longest on the North Side,” a new food menu “with an emphasis on quality and fresh made items,” new kitchen, bathrooms, furniture, TV system, and more. The bar is best known for its focus on international soccer and it’s slated to reopen in time for the World Cup.

— Chicago hot dog icon Superdawg hopes to start selling its own beer for dine-in and to-go at its suburban Wheeling location as soon as in April, the Daily Herald reports. Sadly, it won’t be available at the Chicago location due to lack of dining and storage space there. Ownership also plans to sell their hot dogs at grocery stores throughout the state.

— Chicago magazine revealed its annual best new restaurants feature for 2018. S.K.Y. takes the top spot followed by Bellemore, HaiSous, City Mouse, Somerset, and Marisol.

— And finally, this is the last week diners can visit one of Chicago’s most-influential restaurants ever — Naha in River North — before Carrie and Michael Nahabedian close after 18 years at 500 N. Clark Street before relocating to an unannounced new location. March 31 is the last day of service at its longtime home.