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— The owners of Chicago’s most popular pour-your-own-beer bar, Tapster in Wicker Park, are almost ready to unveil their new Lincoln Park location. It’ll open in the former Wrightwood Tap space at 1059 W. Wrightwood Avenue to the general public on September 18. The new spot will have 40 taps using the PourMyBeer system, 70 seats and 175-person total capacity, be open seven days a week and won’t serve food. Tapster Wicker Park was the first of its kind in the city, although the first Chicagoland self-serve bar opened in the suburbs and another is now open in Logan Square.
— Michigan Avenue hotspot Free Rein, the new restaurant in the St. Jane Chicago hotel (formerly the Hard Rock Hotel) with the star-studded staff, unleashes weekend brunch service on Saturday. Executive chef Aaron Lirette’s menu includes small and large elevations, latke Benedicts, and cocktails such as a ginger cooler and espresso martini. Read the whole thing below.
— Acclaimed West Loop Spanish restaurant Salero has been closed since last week after an electrical box blew up, the Tribune reports. Chef Ashlee Aubin hopes to reopen it as early as tomorrow.
— A number of downtown hotel restaurants are currently closed because of the widespread strike of local hotel workers. Temporarily closed spots include Torali Italian-Steak (closed for dinner but has limited breakfast and lunch service), Shula’s Steak House, and Sixes & Eights, according to the Tribune.
— Rhiannon, the Fleetwood Mac popup at The Rookery in West Town, returns tomorrow. Look for an updated menu of Fleetwood Mac-inspired cocktails, a tarot card reader, and more every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through Halloween.
— Eaters hoping to eat at Sabatino’s before the Northwest Side Italian icon closes for good on December 23 need to plan far ahead. The restaurant has consistently been booked weeks in advance since ownership announced its shutter, as this month is already sold out. Look for October reservations to be made available by phone on September 19.
— And finally, newish Logan Square coffeeshop Sip of Hope has created so much buzz for its great work educating and helping people with mental health issues that it’s been featured by the Obama Foundation. Check out the video here or watch it below.
StJane_FreeRein_Menus_Brunch 8.23.18 (2) by Daniel Gerzina on Scribd