State Street's Papa Milano Closes

IN THE NEWS: The Sun-Times' suntimes.com Sandra Guy reports that Papa Milano Restaurant (951 N. State) closed May 31 and that Sarah Levy's high-end sweets shop Sarah's Pastries and Candies (11 E. Oak) will close June 30 and reopen July 3 in much-expanded quarters at 70 E. Oak. ... Sun-Times Critic Pat Bruno reviews breakfast and Southern fried chicken spot Ina's (1235 W. Randolph) and notes Columbian spot Gloria's Cafe (3300 W. Fullerton) mole master Geno Bahena's new Delicioso y Sabroso Restaurant (10468 S. Indianapolis). ... Thomas Witom visits Chef's Station (915 Davis, Evanston) and Salt Creek Barbecue (220 N. Randall, Batavia). ... TimeOut Chicago's timeout.com/chicago David Tamarkin reviews Delicioso y Sabroso (10468 S Indianapolis Blvd) and notes the openings of African Harambee (7537 N Clark St) and Trattoria 225 (225 Harrison St, Oak Park). ... The Trib's chicagotribune.com Monica Eng blogs about stops at the new La Pomme Rouge and Sura, while Phil Vettel blogs that he'll stick with at least his original 1999 review of three stars for mk (868 N. Franklin St) and reports that Allen Sternweiler will shut his restaurant, Allen's New American Cafe (217 W. Huron St.), on August 18. ... The Trib's Glenn Jeffers reports that Cucina Paradiso (814 North Blvd., Oak Park) is going to be out of the commission following a kitchen fire early June 19 ... Kevin Pang reports that Sunshine Cafe, the venerable Japanese restaurant in Andersonville, is set to reopen June 27. Owner Joni Ishida closed the restaurant for eight months due to health problems. ... Trine Tsouderos reports that chef Chris Jones at Otom, molecular gastronomy whiz kid Homaro Cantu's soon-to-open casual version of Moto, is out and Cantu's other sous chef at Moto, Daryl Nash, is in. ... Meanwhile, Cheap Eats dines on the Yucatecan fare of Xni-Pec (5135 W. 25th St., Cicero) ... The Chicago Reader's chicagoreader.com Alan Mammoser reviews Polish bakery Delightful Pastries (5927 W. Lawrence), and the paper rounds up other East European bakeries and eateries. ... Centerstage centerstagechicago.com chats with Aria chef Noah Bekofsky. ...

Chicago magazine's chicagomag.com Dish column reports, "Blue Water Grill (520 N. Dearborn St.) expects to updrade when new exec chef Joel Dennis (Tru) begins on June 25; Chad Starling (ex-Tru and ex-Blackbird) takes over as executive chef at Mediterranean/Asian Saltaus (1350 W. Randolph St.); Jenny’s Hoffbrau (20 Kansas St., Frankfort), a friendly 150-seat all-American spot owned by Carl Courtright and a group of investors, has opened; Bluprint (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 135), a 192-seat spot, opens in mid-July with chef Sam Burman, (Tru, Avenues, and most recently exec chef at Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood); Al Primo Canto (5414 W. Devon Ave.), Edgebrook’s Brazilian chicken spot, opened on June 22; Off the Vine (5823 S. Madison St., Hinsdale, a wine boutique and lounge, opens June 23. ... Sunshine Cafe (5449 N. Clark St.), after a long hiatus during which owner Joni Ishida recovered from health issues, plans to reopen by June 27; Salad Spinners, a Chicago-based restaurant company that just opened its fourth Loop-area location (300 S. Wacker Dr.), is on the verge of franchising nationally. ... ChicagoBites.com visits Colonial Cafe (1625 E. Main St., St. Charles) and 18 North (18 N. 4th Street, St. Charles). ... The Menu Pages blogs.menupage.com/chicago mentions the Loop opening of Palatine-based Middle Eastern spot Roti, notes that the new Coalfire has changed its pizza menu after just six weeks, and praises the top-notch Chinese dining offerings in Chicago, specifically Opera in the South Loop, Mulan in Chinatown, Shanghai Terrace at the Penninsula Hotel, and Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown. ... ChicagoFoodies.com stops by Hot Doug's ... Chicagoist.com discovers great food on a visit to Ole Lounge on the North side and sizes up the few bargains at the upcoming Taste of Chicago festival, June 29-July 8, specifically Robinson's No. 1 Ribs, Abbey Pub, and Connie's Pizza. ... GapersBlock.com visits John's Place (corner of Racine and Webster) and reports on the expected early July opening of Iggy's3 (800 N. Dearborn St.).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com