Kai Modern Japanese Kitchen is set to open at 2 N. River St. in Aurora's Hobbs Building in late April, replacing Leilani and adding sushi, ramen and a new basement lounge.

A compact West Loop neo‑bistro from the Elske team blends French technique with Midwestern comfort; critics praise its roast chicken and inventive desserts.

After more than a decade on W. National Ave, Pakeng Palace has closed. Elephant TKB — an alcohol-free Asian‑fusion spot — is lining up city approvals for a spring opening.

Memphis Made will close its Edge District taproom this month while saying brewing and distribution will continue amid bankruptcy-related restructuring. Local and national trends have pressured independent breweries.

MasterChef judge Tiffany Derry will open The Landing at EpicCentral on April 9, blending Southern comfort with a sports-bar–meets‑lounge vibe. Expect brisket egg rolls, fried bologna and craft cocktails.

Robert Montwaid’s Vela Park Food Works will open in mid‑April with six chef‑driven concepts, cocktails and a large public greenspace.

Cream II, the goth 'vampire bar' on St. Mary's Strip, has closed after a run of rebrands and signs of financial trouble.

Carrie’s Crispies plans to move to a larger West National Avenue storefront with a small commercial kitchen and expanded retail, pending Plan Commission review. The application outlines hours and a summer 2026 renovation timeline.

Delmonico's has signed a long-term lease at 1330 Avenue of the Americas, taking roughly 11,735 square feet for a new Midtown outpost overseen by a new executive chef.

Lynora’s is opening its first Space Coast location at 529 E New Haven Ave in downtown Melbourne, targeting early summer 2026. The family-run chain will bring housemade pastas, pizzas, a vegan menu and catering services.

San Francisco's most-ubiquitous boba chain has quietly colonized a storefront at the newly reviving Anchorage Square in Fisherman's Wharf — windows fully wrapped, QR codes deployed, doors still locked. Little Sweet's tenth SF location looks ready. The opening date is anyone's guess.

A St. Charles chef is launching Roaming Hoolies, a trailer-based Irish pub for parties and parades. The 20-foot build will seat about 15–20 and includes draft lines.

The Smith is one of those East Village institutions that's always packed regardless of what anyone writes about it. But the Health Department's been paying closer attention lately, and what inspectors found over two consecutive visits in early 2026 — including live mice evidence, temperature control failures, and drainage issues — is the kind of detail that tends to cut through even the most loyal regulars' indifference.