—Victory: A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that Hamburger Mary’s is returning to Chicago—this time, in the Edgewater neighborhood.
But the chain has also made news in Florida, where a federal appeals panel sided with the drag-themed eatery and rejected a state law aimed at keeping children out of drag shows, saying it was overly broad and likely unconstitutional. After the law was initially issued, Hamburger Mary’s was forced to ban children from what the restaurant called its family-friendly shows, resulting in a 20% drop in Sunday bookings.
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SPOTLIGHT:
On May 14, I was fortunate enough to attend the grand launch of The Talbott’s comprehensive reimagining and its official debut into Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
The newly renovated Gold Coast boutique hotel features new and revamped areas, including a spacious first-floor lounge and its cool restaurant, Laurel, that I previously reviewed (but may have to review again soon). According to Hotel Management, The Talbott was originally built in 1927 by Chicago architect Alfred S. Alschuler; the renovation project began in April 2024 with updates to the hotel’s 178 guest rooms, public areas and event spaces. By the way, you can find out more about Talbott and Laurel (including its Jazz Brunch) at SAVOR with Andrew.
—Street beat: The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is kicking off the season with the opening of Chicago’s iconic Maxwell Street on May 18 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.), as it returns with six themed market days from May through October that aim to celebrate the city’s cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit.
The market is located on Maxwell Street between South Halsted Street and South Union Avenue, as well as on South Union Avenue between West Rochford Street and West Liberty Street. There will be vintage and rare finds, handmade crafts, resale housewares, clothing, entertainment and food, of course, from vendors such as Lalo’s Mexican Restaurant, Express Grill and Jim’s Original Hot Dog, among others. BTW, this week’s theme is “Maxwell Street Spring Garage Sale.”
—Raise the roof: This summer, the Wicker Park spot the Robey Hotel has opened Solana—a sunny, skyline-level rooftop destination.
There will be high-energy events ranging from DJ-fueled dance parties to laid-back wellness activations. One returning favorite is the “Summer Series,” a monthly rooftop gathering spotlighting Chicago-based collectives through rotating musical takeovers. Guests can also look forward to “Sync + Reset”—a Sunday experience blending music and movement with low-impact workouts and DJ sets.
Solana will serve a food and beverage menu designed for lounging. Guests will order directly from the bar this year. The menu, overseen by Executive Chef Michael Elliott, will focus on street-style tacos made with fresh ingredients on El Milagro tortillas. Standouts include the al pastor taco with grilled pineapple salsa and jalapeño sauce; and the Pescado Frito taco, with crispy fried fish with sweet chili sauce and cabbage slaw.
—Local color: Farm Bar—in Chicago’s Lake View and Ravenswood neighborhoods—has launched its updated spring menu, complete with seasonal ingredients sourced from owner TJ Callahan’s family-run Brown Dog Farm and other Midwest growers.
Just some of the highlights include ramp pesto fusilli, roasted beets & pickled strawberries; burrata and pea toast, dry-aged Slagel Farms meatloaf and lavender honey half-chicken (the latter served with lavender BDF honey glaze, house herb de Provence, onion purée, roasted fingerling potatoes, pickled beech mushrooms and asparagus).
—Ripple effect?: Sweetgreen recently announced the launch of “Ripple Fries,” an air-fried potato product made with “only” five ingredients, described by the salad chain as “a fresh take on a fast food staple,” per Sherwood News.
Sweetgreen’s fries are only 240 calories per portion—about 161 fewer calories than the same weighted amount of McDonald’s fries. But will the fries be enough to edge Sweetgreen into profitability—which even its $16 salads haven’t done yet? Stay tuned.
—The great outdoors: The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce announces its “Patio Palooza” event, inviting Chicagoans to explore one of the city’s most eclectic neighborhoods through its restaurant patio scenes. The event will be held May 20, at 6-9 p.m.
Patio Palooza attendees can indulge in small bites and signature appetizers from Wicker Park’s hot spots while enjoying the warmer weather. Participating restaurants will include Smoke Daddy BBQ, The Perch Kitchen and Tap, Mirella’s Tavern and Elia Chicago, among others; people can check in at Smoke Daddy or Mirella’s at 5:30-7 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person; RSVP here.
—Teamwork makes the dream work: On May 21, newly opened South Barrington spot The Greggory will host its first-ever chef collaboration: a one-night-only Spanish wine dinner, pairing live-fire cooking with a curated selection of Spanish wines.
Founded by industry veterans Gregg Horan (Gibsons Restaurant Group, Polo Bar New York), Bill Veremis (Rosewood Steakhouse Group, RL) and Chef José Sosa (Gibsons Italia), the Greggory reimagines American dining with warmth, elegance and genuine hospitality. Now, they welcome Chef Marcos Campos—born in Valencia, Spain, and executive chef of Bonhomme Hospitality (Mama Delia; Beatnik; Bambola).
RSVP here.
—The root of it all: And there’s another big event on May 22 at 6 p.m., as Bonyeon, Chicago’s first steak omakase concept, will team with Chef Jennifer Kim of Proxi Coastal Asian for a unique collaboration dinner celebrating their shared Korean roots. (BTW, Kim happens to be a member of the queer community.)
Guests can expect nine courses of dishes like a beef tartare Korean pancake with kimchi and quail yolk, grilled rice cakes with fish sauce caramel, sablefish collar with chijang hollandais, A5 sirloin with apricot ssamjang and pickled fiddleheads, and dry-aged halibut jjigae with smoked kanpachi stock and spring peas. Tickets are $180 each plus tax; RSVP here.
—The meat goes on: Chicago deep-dish pizza brand Giordano’s announced a new collaboration: a first-ever Italian Beef Pizza made in partnership with fellow Chicago legend Buona Beef.
Fittingly, the collab will start on National Italian Beef Day, May 24. The crossover is the first in the launch of Giordano’s “Chi-Town Flavors” series, spotlighting a string of local collaborations on its nationwide shipping platform.
The 10” Italian beef pizza is available exclusively online at ship.giordanos.com in packs of two, four and six. Each pizza is made with the same Italian beef that Buona has served across Chicago for more than 40 years, topped with hot giardiniera and packed with nearly a full pound of cheese for Giordano’s iconic cheese pull.
—Celebrate good times, come on!: Join Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery as they host their 9th annual Mayfestiversary—a spring celebration in Ravenswood that will commemorate Dovetail’s 10th anniversary.
Taking place on Memorial Day Weekend—Saturday, May 24 (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday, May 25 (11 a.m.-9 p.m.)—people of all ages are invited to come together in support of The Friendship Center, the neighborhood food pantry serving the Northwest side since 1969. The event is slated to feature more than 60 beers, a dozen local bands, nine food vendors, activities for all ages and much more.
That’s the news for this week. Be sure to come back next week for more tasty treats—but find lots more news, interviews, reviews and more at SAVOR with Andrew!