Amy Morton's The Barn has opened its second North Shore location in Highland Park, bringing an 80‑seat dining room and a tucked‑away speakeasy to downtown. The project was supported by a city incentive and local leaders say it will activate a cobblestone alley.

Bronzeville Winery and Park Manor 75 are centering Black winemakers and neighborhood education to shift how Chicago drinks and talks about wine.

A new coffee-and-cocktail spot, Rest And Recreation, will take over 1359 N Wells in Old Town with an expected late‑spring to early‑summer 2026 opening.

An ex‑Marine opened Big Sauce in Old Town, turning a pick‑up window into a wing lab for tallow‑fried jumbo wings and potato shards.

Portillo's tapped Brett Patterson, the former Miller’s Ale House CEO, to run operations and reboot the chain’s growth plans.

Lizzano Focacceria is opening at 1607 Chicago Ave in downtown Evanston in early April, bringing focaccia sandwiches and spritzes to the block.

West Loop favorite Tempesta Market is opening a Rosemont deli this summer, joining an Eggsperience Café in a village-owned Higgins Road development near O’Hare. Renovations and tenant work are due to start soon.

Johnny's Dirty Soda and Snacks opened on Belmont, bringing Utah‑style syrup-and-cream sodas to Lakeview with a wall of imported snacks and $4.50–$5.50 mixes. Early tasters note some combinations are very sweet.

Kilwins will open a new shop at Burr Ridge Village Center this spring, bringing ice cream, fudge and other sweets to 745 Village Center Drive.

Burl, the new wood‑fired spot from Tom and Rachel Carlin, has opened on Prairie Avenue with farmer‑driven, Midwestern‑leaning plates and Great Lakes fish. Hours, menu highlights and booking info inside.

A new slice stall from the Table, Donkey & Stick team opened in Sterling Food Hall, serving New York‑style slices, grandma squares and whole pies for delivery.

Chef Zubair Mohajir will leave Coach House on Feb. 19 to open a chef‑run Lincoln Park restaurant this spring with East Asian and southern Spanish influences.

7 Brew plans a drive‑thru at Belvidere West Commons on Route 120; construction could begin this spring with a summer/fall 2026 opening.