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Chicagoans who don’t want to cook still have food options despite the more than 200 restaurants closed on Wednesday because of sub-zero temperatures. For example, hotel restaurants, like Nico Osteria inside the Thompson Hotel in Gold Coast, stay open to serve travelers. But while industry workers rejoiced that they could stay home and avoid the cold, some restaurant owners want to give customers the option to leave home and enjoy a meal if the winter doldrums get too much.
Carson’s the Place for Ribs has been open for 42 years. Last year, Dean Carson and family left River North to move to a new flagship in Streeterville. After a staff vote, Carson’s is open on Wednesday, and ownership is touting that as a sign of Chicago toughness.
“We may be serving almost no one,” Carson wrote. “If that turns out to be the case, my staff will enjoy a meal and a drink together and laugh about how crazy we all are.”
All Alinea Group restaurants are open, according to co-founder Nick Kokonas, although Alinea in Lincoln Park has seen some cancellations because of air travel affected by the weather. Alinea is powered by Tock, where diners prepay for their meals. Given the historic circumstances, Kokonas said they’ve refunded reservations to diners with flight cancellations.
Over in Logan Square, Eater Chicago 2017 chef of the year Diana Dávila is keeping Mi Tocaya Antojeria open for the day. She doesn’t want to leave those who made reservations out in the cold. While larger restaurant groups have the resources to absorb losses, independent restaurants don’t.
“I want to make money,” Davila texted. “I haven’t read any of the weather news because I’m from the moon and I don’t think it will be that cold where people don’t want to come to eat some delicious Mexican food and drink some agave. That always heats you up.”
Chicago isn’t quite as cold as the moon, as temperatures there can dip to minus 280 degrees after sunset. But elsewhere in the neighborhood, Hopewell Brewing Co. is closed today after initially planning to stay open. A brewery spokesperson blamed transportation issues: Ownership worried about the taproom manager needing to find a ride. They closed rather than forcing that employee into a risky situation. Experts say it can take minutes exposed outdoors to these temperatures to develop frostbite.
Posh cocktail lounge the Aviary is offering a free hot toddy. Roister is offering a free appetizer, and Next Restaurant has 15 percent off wine pairings purchased on the website. If Alinea Group is offering discounts, it’s a cold day in Chicago.
In the West Loop, chef/owner John Manion has closed La Sirena Clandestina, but he’s keeping his other restaurant, the recently rechristened El Che Steakhouse & Bar, open. And it’s not because the bar has a flamethrower to battle the cold: Manion occasionally uses the flamethrower to ignite his kitchen’s grill. El Che does have a huge fireplace, and Manion feels that will make the restaurant welcoming tonight: “I can’t think of a room I’d rather be in than El Che during an epic cold snap,” he emailed.
Manion is an industry veteran and feels a responsibility to serve friends and family on the coldest night in years: “That is part of our mission,” he wrote.
Much of El Che’s staff relies on ride-shares, taxis, or CTA. The management pledged to reimburse workers for those transportation options to ensure a safe commute. The restaurant also has a lot of reservations for Wednesday night, and staff has fielded calls from customers wondering if they’re going to be open.
“I know this polar vortex is going to potentially break records,” Manion wrote. “I’ve lived through enough winters to remember how bad it can get. One of the things I’ve always loved about Chicago is how tough its inhabitants are and how unaffected they pretend to be about the cold.”
Dealing with the cold is a sensitive situation. For example, an Eater tipster claimed a longtime Chicago restaurant chain was threatening to fire workers if they didn’t show up to work on Wednesday. The chain denied the accusation. If the policy were in place, it was only at specific locations. Workers at other locations said their managers made no such threat.
Check out the following list of Chicago restaurants and bars that will be open. Some may have reduced hours, so check ahead before visiting. To add any restaurants or share any negative workplace experiences stemming from the weather, email chicago@eater.com. The list will be updated throughout the day.
- Carson’s the Place for Ribs
- Exchequer
- Murphy’s Bleachers
- The Smoke Daddy Wicker Park
- John’s Place (For lunch only)
- Gman Tavern
- Cheesie’s Wicker Park
- Second Story
- Corcoran’s Grill & Pub
- Vaughan’s Pub (both locations)
- Bar Pastoral/Pastoral (starting at 3 p.m., Chicago Restaurant Week menu starting at 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
- WhirlyBall (Bucktown, Lombard, Vernon Hills)
- Delilah’s
- Cafe Mustache
- Cole’s
- Lockdown
- Bellemore
- 312 Chicago
- Prime & Provision (dinner only)
- L&L Tavern
- Dark Matter Coffee (all locations)
- Sheffield’s
- Tricycle
- Kincade’s
- Kelsey’s
- Rex Tavern
- Blind Robin
- Donovan’s
- Wolcott Tap
- Lincoln Station
- Will’s Northwoods Inn
- Rossi’s
- A.J. Hudson’s
- Reed’s Local
- B’el Bar + Kitchen
- Elephant & Castle (all three locations)
- Pasta Bowl/The Other Side Bar
- Wingstop (various locations)
- Chicago Chop House
- Leona’s (all locations)
- Edge of Sweetness
- Cozy Corner (Logan Square and Norwood Park)
- Prairie Moon
- Medici
- Heritage Restaurant and Caviar Bar
- Matilda
- Avondale Tap
- Grill Stop
- Breakfast House
- Avondale Coffee Club
- Half Sour
- Smack Dab
- Red Lion Lincoln Square
- Beacon Tavern (dinner)
- Sapori Napoletani (free cappuccino, coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate)
- Louie’s Boston Fish Market
- Giordano’s (Downtown/Central Loop, Gold Coast/Magnificent Mile and Prudential Plaza/Millennium Park until 9 p.m.)
- Club Lago
- Rosebud on Rush (dinner)
- All Gibsons Group restaurants (Hugo’s Frog Bar, Gibsons, Lux Bar, Quartinno)
- Barney Callaghan’s
- Mango Pickle
- Lou Malnati’s (all location until 8 p.m.)
- Blackbird
- Dove’s Luncheonette
- Nico Osteria
- BOKA
- Girl & the Goat
- Arbella
- Pelago
- BLVD
- Graystone Tavern
- RPM Italian
- RPM Steak
- Smith & Wollensky/Wollensky Grill
- Uptown Lounge
- The Whistler
- Eataly (Caffè Lavazza will open 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; La Pizza & La Pasta from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Ravioli&Co from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- The Loyalist/Smyth
- Z Bar
- Urbanbelly
- Miss Ricky’s/Commons Club inside the Virgin Hotels Chicago
- Upstairs at the Gwen
- NoMI at Park Hyatt Chicago
- Local Option
- Formento’s/Nonna’s
- Bristol
- Neon WIlderness
- Maple & Ash
- Etta
- Miller’s Pub
- Aba
- Antico Posto
- Bar Ramone
- Beatix (all locations)
- Big Bowl (all locations)
- Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
- Crab Cellar/Oyster Bah/Seaside’s
- Do-Rite Donuts
- Ema
- Foodlife & Foodease
- Il Porcellino
- Joe’s Seafood
- L Woods
- Mity Nice
- Mon Ami Gabi (both locations)
- Nacional 27/Tallboy Tacos
- Ramen-San (all locations)
- RJ Grunts
- Shaw’s main dining rom
- Stella Barra
- Summer House Santa Monica
- Sushi-San
- Wildfire (all locations)
- Avli Taverna
- Bistronomic
- Aurelio’s Wrigleyville
- North Pond
- Le Sud
- Timothy O’Toole’s Pub
- Il Forks
- Cantina Laredo
- Michael Jordan’s Steak House
- Bar on Buena
- The Allis
- Begyle Brewing
- Joy District
- Twin Anchors
- Twisted Spoke
- Three Dots and a Dash
- Bub City (Chicago and Rosemont locations)
- Band of Bohemia
- Hopleaf
- Fisk and Co.
- Centennial Crafted Beer + Eatery
- Tai’s Till 4
- Hidden Shamrock
- Rogers Park Social
- Waterhouse Tavern and Grill
- Third Coast Cafe
- The Kerryman
- Burton Place
- Andy’s Jazz Club
- City Winery
- AceBounce
- Flight Club
- InnerTown Pub
- Club Lucky
- Pat’s Pizza (Lincoln Park)
- Scofflaw
- Burrito House (Elston/Kimball)
- Clark Street Ale House
- Cafe Spiaggia
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