State St.'s Melvin B's Making Way for Hotel

IN THE NEWS: The Sun-Times' Janet Rausa Fuller reports that Melvin B's, the beer-and-burger bar at 1114 N. State, will close in September to make way for a 200-room boutique hotel. ... Denise O'Neal reviews Sura Thai Bistro (3124 N. Broadway), while Sandy Thorn Clark profiles Hot Diggity Dogs' Joe Marsico and also writes about award-winning Frontera Grill chef-owner Rick Bayless. ... Pat Bruno awards two stars in his review of Crust (2056 W. Division) and reports that Andy's Jazz Club (11 E. Hubbard) now offers a Sunday Jazz Brunch. suntimes.com ... The Trib's Glenn Jeffers interviews Gabino Sotelinom, who spent 27 years as executive chef at Ambria, which closed June 30. ... The Trib's Monica Eng blogs about the secret Japanese menu at Itto Sushi (2616 N. Halsted St) and stops by the new V.I.C.E. (840 W. Randolph St), while Phil Vettel gives his best bets at Taste of Chicago, and Trine Tsouderos reviews Helen's Restaurant (1732 E. 79th St.) chicagotribune.com ... The Reader looks at new restaurants Delicioso y Sabroso (10468 S. Indianapolis), Machu Picchu (3856 N. Ashland), and Chicago Ale House (2200 W. Lawrence). ... The Reader's Mike Sula blogs about New Albany neighborhood spot Al-Khaymeih. chicagoreader.com ...

Chicago magazine's July 2007 issue chicagomag.com features "A Food Lover's Guide -- Where to Find the Freshest and Finest". The mag also writes on the exclusive underground restaurant scene, including Wellfleet and the Sunday Dinner Club, while Dennis Ray Wheaton reviews Le Lan (749 N. Clark St) and Boka (1729 N. Halsted St.). ... Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby of the mag's Dish column report: "After a seven-year run in Evanston, Giovanni DeNigiris moved his Trattoria Trullo to Lincoln Square (4767 N. Lincoln Ave.), where he opened the doors June 22; Carol Johnson recently bought Il Covo (2152 N. Damen Ave.) from Jeff Greaves, Covo’s former owner and her former boss there; Terry Alexander morphed the former Del Toro space in Wicker Park into The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave., with a June 28 opening), but this time around the focus will be more on cocktails than on cuisine; Egglectic Café (145 N. Hale, Wheaton), a gourmet brunch spot, has opened its second location in Wheaton in the Danada Town Square shopping center (221 Town Square); The next of Alex Dana’s Rosebud restaurants, Rosebud Prime (1 S. Dearborn St.), is scheduled to début in late July; Paddy Long’s (1028 W. Diversey Ave.), a Lincoln Park pub and grill, opens this week; Ice-cream and sweet shop Sweet Occasions and More!, already a hit in Andersonville and Ravenswood, makes its move on Uptown in late August (northwest corner of Bryn Mawr and Kenmore)". ... TimeOut Chicago reviews Crust, Vella Cafe (1912 N Western Ave), and notes the openings of Wicker Park bakeries Sweet Cakes Bakery (935 N Damen Ave), Milk & Honey Bakeshop (1543 N Damen Ave), and Lovely: A Bake Shop (1130 N Milwaukee). timeout.com/chicago ... ChicagoBites.com visits Republic Pan-Asian Restaurant & Lounge (58 E Ontario St.). ... Centerstage visits The Fish Keg. centerstagechicago.com ... Menu Pages blogs.menupages.com stops by the new Chaise Lounge in Wicker Park and notes the opening of Al Primo Canto on Devon and Central. ... Chicagoist.com considers Bobtail Ice Cream (3425 North Southport) and Delicioso y Sabroso (10468 S. Indianapolis Blvd). ... GapersBlock.com stops by Sweet Maple Cafe (1339 W. Taylor). ... ChicagoBusiness.com reviews Chez Joel (1119 W. Taylor St.).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com