Yelp Now Warns Chicago Diners About Bars and Restaurants With Low Health Scores

Yelp rolls out low health score alerts for Chicago bars and restaurants

Review site Yelp now flags Chicago food and drink establishments with the lowest one percent of health scores from the past six months, according to a rep. The initiative rolled out in New York City in 2013 and San Francisco two years later. The site lists 10,000 Chicago restaurants and bars, the Trib reported, and will spotlight low health scores with a pop-up message like the one below, but without much context to help would-be diners understand which violations may actually be a risk to their health.

Yelp [Official Photo]

“Mama” Malnati, widow of deep dish legend Rudy Malnati Sr., dies at 93

Donna Marie “Mama” Malnati, widow of early Pizzeria Uno player Rudy Malnati Sr., who also founded downtown institutions Pizzeria Due and Su Casa, died early this month at age 93, according to a news release and the Sun-Times. Known for her passion for making pizza dough, she also helped her son open Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta and reportedly supervised dough production until right before her death. Pizano’s will host a celebration of her life on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the 2106 S. Indiana Avenue restaurant.

Italian chain Rosebud to open in prominent space across from Millennium Park

Popular local Italian restaurant chain Rosebud will take over the former Tavern at the Park space in the Loop’s Prudential Plaza, according to the Tribune. Expected to open in the third quarter of 2020, the restaurant (Rosebud’s sixth) will include a rooftop terrace with views of Millennium Park. The change is a portion of a significant retail transition in one of the city’s largest office properties, and will include new tenants Beatrix Market and Just Salad.

New app and cans from Marz Community Brewing turns drinkers into DJs

Bridgeport’s Marz Community Brewing Company adds a new twist to “experiential” imbibing with the simultaneous release of its “Tech Noir” IPA and augmented reality beer can mobile app SamplAR, according to founder Ed Marszewski. Created with Chicago firm M1 Interactive, Inc., the app gives drinkers a chance to mix techno, breakbeat, chillwave genres, and more by scanning “Tech Noir” cans with a smartphone to tool around with 96 samples. Check out the app in action below.

Suburban beer-themed restaurant chain makes deal to feature city breweries

And finally, craft beer bar and restaurant chain Beerhead Bar & Eatery will debut month-long collaborative event Collab AF (“all February”) next month, according to reps. Locations in suburban Schaumburg, Vernon Hills, and Elmhurst will feature exclusive draft beers brewed in partnership with 36 brewers over the past six months, including Old Irving Brewing Co., Pollyanna Brewing Co. and Temperance Brew Co. The project may draw suburban beer fans who can’t (or won’t) go into the city, and provides an opportunity for breweries to snag the spotlight and assess distribution demand.