This week's SAVOR spotlight shines on The Lunchroom at SPACE 519.
The Lunchroom is a bustling 40-seat restaurant/cafe within SPACE 519, a concept store in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood at 200 E. Chestnut St., adjacent to Water Tower Place and the former Hancock Building. The crowd was a mix of workers/students from nearby Northwestern University, tourists and local ladies who lunch.
Just a few of the items worth exploring include the seasonal asparagus soup with coconut milk; the Zen Queso (gluten-free), which consists of Chihuahua cheese, hatch-green chiles, vegan chorizo and pico de gallo; flatbreads; the Gold Coast tuna melt (with potato salad and Kalamata-olive garnish); and desserts such as black-and-white cupcakes and Portuguese egg tarts.
BTW, there's also The Lunchbox, which is the food "to-go" concept (with sandwiches, quiches, baked goods and more) and a mini-wine shop.
Check out www.space519.com/pages/the-lunchroom .
Russian Tea Time, 77 E. Adams St., is marking its 30th anniversary.
Russian Tea Time's beginnings were rooted in a lifelong dream borne by Klara Muchnik and her family as they immigrated to Chicago following the fall of the Soviet Union from Uzbekistan.
The place has a menu that transports diners to another era, featuring tea service (of course), caviar and tasting platters as well as authentic post-Soviet delicacies including blinchiki (pancakes), pirogies and golubtsy (stuffed cabbage).
And in case you were wondering, last year, Russian Tea Time posted on Instagram that it was against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Visit www.russianteatime.com or call 312-360-0000.
August in Chicago means several things, including Lollapalooza (which just took place)—but it also means the Air & Water Show will take place, specifically Aug. 19-20 of this year.
The Signature Room Lounge, 875 N. Michigan Ave., is a great place for avoiding the crowds and viewing the planes from 96 stories above the ground. The Lounge has also launched The Aviation, made with McQueen and the Violet Fog Ultraviolet gin, maraschino liqueur and lemon juice ($18).
BTW, every Wednesday (3-10 p.m.), the Lounge has "Sip, Savor, Sights," which includes $2 oysters on the half shell, $2 jumbo shrimp, discounted Signature Room sparkling wine, Signature Top View Brew and rose. See www.signatureroom.com/lounge/ .
Martha Stewart, chefs from America's Test Kitchen, Fabio Viviani, NFL player-turned-chef Eddie Jackson and more will be among those slated to attend the Kohler Food & Wine Festival in Wisconsin on Oct. 19-22.
The epicurean event will kick off with the highly anticipated philanthropic Chef's Challenge, and will extend throughout the weekend with immersive culinary experiences, collaborations and live music to explore.
See destinationkohler.com/explore-more/activities-and-events/kohler-food&. If your experience is sold out or you have other questions, email reservations@kohler.com .
Parker Hospitality is opening the modern Mediterranean steakhouse Nisos Prime, bar/eatery Prime Bar and nightlife experience The Lounge—all in one location, at 802 W. Randolph St., in Chicago's West Loop.
Prime Bar will open on Aug. 16 while The Lounge will launch on Aug. 18; Nisos Prime will open in November.
Highlights at Prime Bar include an eight-ounce filet and a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye (both served with roasted garlic, rosemary and tallow butter) along with a wood-grilled branzino (butterflied, and served with escabeche and roasted red pepper sauce), the pappardelle alla portofino (with brandy tomato cream and basil pesto) and paccheri lamb ragu (with truffled ricotta). Apps include the steak tartare (with Dijon mustard and pickled vegetables) and truffle arancini (with harissa aioli and chive oil). A five-day-a-week brunch will be available later this month.
The Lounge is a 2,000-square-foot room that aims to offer a late-night experience full of energy and music.
Reservations are now being accepted at NisosPrime.com .
Jonathan Swain—the longtime owner of Kimbark Beverage Shoppe, 1214 E. 53rd St.—has temporarily closed the Kimbark Plaza liquor store as he sells it to new owners, per The Hyde Park Herald. A Hyde Park native with law and business degrees from Duke University, Swain is also the founder and organizer of Hyde Park Summer Fest.
See more news at future3733.substack.com .
