Chef Luciano's Open and Renovations Almost Done

We recently received an email from Chef Luciano's (49 E. Cermak) that most of their renovations are done:

After a two week break during which we remodeled both the facade and the customer areas at Chef Luciano and Gourmet Chicken, we are back up and running. We want to thank you for your support through this process and hope you are just as excited as we are about the new space. Stop in, say Hi, and see what has happened!

If you didn't know, here is some additional information about their renovations:

While work will be done to modernize the restaurant, Gupta is also restoring the building at Cermak Road and Wabash Avenue to its former 1920s glory. The Cermak building housed Chicago ’s first White Castle restaurant in 1929. The Chicago Landmark Commission is overseeing the renovation, as Chef Luciano & Gourmet Chicken falls into the Motor Row historic preservation area.

“We realize the importance of preserving the past of this great neighborhood, so we wanted to keep that in mind as we look to the future,” Gupta said. “We’re excited to be able to invest in the community and look forward to serving our customers in an exciting new space.”

We've been impressed with most everything we've had at the restaurant and this renovation should help attract some new customers. Good luck to them!

Chef Luciano + Baderbrau Brewery = Baderbrau Kitchen

Two neighborhood joints team up (via Eater):

Baderbräu brewery has no problems with quenching their patrons’ thirsts, but now they’re doing something to satisfy their customers’ hungers. Starting in April, the brewpub will collaborate with another South Loop business, Chef Luciano, the Italian restaurant that’s been around since 1982. Together, they’ll launch the Baderbräu Kitchen, offering patrons a menu that complements the brewery’s beer. 

The menu will feature small plates and entrees including beer-battered shrimp made with Baderbräu’s flagship Czech-style pilsner, according to a brewery spokeswoman. The Tribune just last week named the beer among the 15 most-important beers in Chicago. In an act of synergy, Chef Luciano is serving up the shrimp in honor of Catholic Lent. This way eager eaters can get a preview of the forthcoming menu.

Chef Luciano Announces Reconcept as Mustard Seed

Mr. South Loop with the update:

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Chef Luciano has been a staple on Cermak for a long time and we're sad to see it change.  We had our first experience there in 2010 and was amazed at the range of options they had.  We also got to know Mr. Gupta the owner and founder - he was a character in the best sense of the word and someone who we always enjoyed seeing wandering the streets of the Sloop.  He had some great stories about Eric Clapton and other celebrities eating at the restaurant.    

Since then he stepped away from the restaurant, but his soul certainly loomed large over Chef Luciano's.

We will be curious to see what comes of Mustard Seed.  The area has changed a lot and likely will continue to.  It sounds like the Gupta family is still involved but are bringing in some friends to help.  Best of luck!  

A Look Inside at the New Chef Luciano's

If you're a reader of Sloopin, you know we're fans of Chef Luciano's and Chicken Gourmet (49 E. Cermak) mainly for the food but also because we love talking about the Sloop with the Chef! It's been awhile since I've visited the place and wanted to check on the recently renovated space and simply to say hi. Here are some quick and impromptu shots inside:

The modernization looks great and is definitely an improvement in our opinion. One of the biggest changes is that there are now tables within both restaurants so you can stay around and enjoy your food (which hasn't changed and still is seasoned amazingly)! The Chef also wanted me to let people know that it is a BYOB establishment and that you should bring your favorite bottle of wine next time you come down.

5 Cent Chicken Promotion at Gourmet Chicken

We recently posted about Gourmet Chicken and Chef Luciano's recent rennovations and in honor of this, they're running an interesting promotion in November. As you may recall or have read about on Sloopin (or the Chef's site), in the 1920s the building on the Southeast corner of Wabash and Cermak was the first White Castle in Chicago.

Ever since then the building evolved and didn't really resemble the photo above (however there is a 'modern day' White Castle kiddy-corner). As part of their rennovations, the crew at Gourmet Chicken and Chef Luciano, restored the building to its original glory:

In honor of the restoration and as a nod back to the good ol' days when things cost 5 cents, Gourmet Chicken will be selling some of its famous roasted chicken for 5 cents on Sundays during November. Restaurant owner Rocky Gupta explains:

"White Castle used to sell their famous burgers for 5 cents in this building back in 1929, so as we celebrate our Grand Reopening, we wanted to commemorate the building's history and give something back to our loyal customers."

Five-cent roast chicken will be available, subject to availability, during each Sunday in November. Customers are limited to one order each, which includes 2 pieces of chicken (a leg and a thigh) with a side of rice for only 5 cents. Gourmet Chicken is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A great excuse to head to Gourmet Chicken and check out some chicken. See you there tomorrow!

Gourmet Chicken and Chef Luciano: Solid, Well Seasoned Food!

The greater South Loop has gone through many dramatic changes over the past 30 years, but one thing has remained relatively consistent, Dave Gupta's restaurants at the corner of Cermak and Wabash. You've probably walked or driven by the place many times and probably questioned the unique signs. Don't be confused or turned off, there is solid food inside.

Back in 1982, Dave Goupta opened up Gourmet Chicken which is the restaurant at the corner of Wabash and Cermak (43 East Cermak or the sign all the way on the right in the picture above). As the name alludes, the focus of the restaurant is on chicken. The restaurant is primarily a takeout spot, but there are a couple tables inside if you want to eat at the restaurant.

Over the years he has also acquired more and more space next door and eventually opened up another restaurant called Chef Luciano (49 east Cermak or the sign all the way to the left on the picture above).

We've been wanting to check it out and lucky fo

r us, the Chef's son, Rocky, recently reached out to us and invited us to try their wide array of food. As you can imagine, we said yes!

Since we've read a lot about this restaurant and have always been intrigued, we felt our review might be a little biased, so we invited a couple friends over for a blind taste test just to ensure we would get some objective opinions.

Here is what they gave us for the taste test:

• Fried Jumbo Chicken Wings (this has been a staple at the restaurant since the beginning)
• Roasted Chicken (this is a newer specialty)
• Fresh Salmon
• Caesar Salad (also something that they're known for according to Rocky)
• Chicken Alfredo
• Black Eyed Peas
• Black Beans

As you can see a pretty wide range of food. After everyone ate, the general consensus was that everything was 'solid', which was pretty impressive giving the diversity of the food. The one consistency in every dish was the seasoning. As a result everything was very flavorful (for one person this was too much, but for everyone else it seemed to be a good thing).

Personally I found the Chicken to be great, moist and flavorful. Personally I liked the roasted chicken better, but the fried chicken was still good. The salmon had some form of rub on it that was bold and very tasty.

Generally speaking I don't like creamy dishes so typically Chicken Alfredo is not one of my favorites. However their version of this dish seemed to be less creamy then your standard Chicken Alfredo. Like I said, I don't really like this dish, but I enjoyed theirs. Again, the Chicken in the dish was very flavorful and had a good amount of seasoning (seemed like it had more seasoning then the roasted or fried chicken).

I'm a huge salad fan and their Caesar didn't disappoint. I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but this also had a ton of seasoning (which mostly looked like black pepper). Although I didn't try the black bean or the black eyed peas, the people who did seemed to really enjoy them. Of course, these also had good flavor and seasoning according to our friends.

So the moral of the story...very flavorful food with a lot of seasoning. If you're the type of person who doesn't like spices and seasoning then you should probably steer clear of this place. If you're looking for trendy, fancy food, again not the best place for you. However, if you're looking for a wide range of quality food that is reasonably priced then we highly recommend both restaurants.

Also of note is that there are going to be some major renovations going on that restaurant. From what it sounds like there will be more seating and some upgrades to the facade.

For more information about the restaurants check out this review by ABC7's Hungry Hound.

Not Your Typical Landmark

We've posted about the renovations at Chef Luciano's and Gourmet Chicken before, but yesterday we read an article on WBEZ's website about the process underway to make part of the building a landmark:

If the Chef Luciano & Gourmet Chicken place in the South Loop looks like a white castle, it's with good reason: The 80-year-old building was originally a White Castle, one of the earliest built by the world-famous restaurant chain.

And tomorrow, city staffers will seek preliminary landmark status for the building at 43 E. Cermak, saying the 80-year-old building is the city's best surviving example of an original White Castle restaurant. Built in 1930, the building, originally White Castle #16, was among scores of first-gen White Castle restaurants that made eating hamburgers acceptable--it was low-brow carny food before then--and created a construction and business model that paved the way for modern post-war franchise systems like McDonalds and others, according to a city report.

The city's landmarks division will make its case before the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

ABC7 also did a little piece about the process and sums up the story well:


(Hat tip: LR3 & RG!)

2021 Business Counter: We have that a net 7 new businesses opened - did we miss any?

We haven't maintained our business tracker very well this year, but that doesn't mean we can't endeavor to get a count on the year.  We've scoured some of our posts as well as other neighborhood resources (Mr. South Loop, Hello South Loop,  Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance) and here is what we got:

Opened in 2021

1. Luxury Medspa (2335 S. Michigan)
2. Naf Naf Grill (1248 S. Canal)
3. GeeFit (2127 S. Wabash)
4. Shangs (1101 S. Wabash)
5. Joffrey Ballet (1920 S. Wabash)
6. The Now Massage (1109 S. Wabash)
7. Williams Inn Pizza (2210 S. Michigan)
8. Mustard Seed (49 E. Cermak)
9. L'afrique Market (2001 S. State)
10. GeeFit (2127 S. Wabash)
11. Dollop Diner, Cafe & Bar (1210 S. Indiana)
12. Smoke Valley (1319 S. Michigan)
13. My Gym (1333 S. Wabash)
14. Duneyrr Fermenta & Moderne Dune (2337 S. Michigan)
15. Tea % (57 E. 11th)
16. Bureau Pizza (719 S. State)
17. Siam Rice (1906 S. State)
18. CBD Kratom (643 W. Roosevelt)
19. UChicago Med (47 W. Polk)
20. Veterinary Emergency Group (1114 S. Clinton)
21. Sweet Bean (1152 S. Wabash)
22. Crab Bucket (2036 S. Michigan)
23. GoGrocer (820 S. Michigan)
24. Chicago Duplicate Bridget (47 W. Polk)
25. Fit Results Chicago (731 S. Plymouth Ct)
26. Mimi's Tacos & French Fries (1155 S. Jefferson)
27. Lao Sze Chuan (616 S. Wabash)
28. Apolonia Restaurant (2201 S. Michigan)
29. Insomnia Cookies (30 E. Balbo)
30. Banfield Pet Hospital (645 W. Roosevelt)
31. JS Blossom Nail and Spa (719 S. State)

Closed in 2021

1. Dearborn Denim (728 S. Dearborn)
2. Cafe Bionda (1924 S. State)
3. Spanglish Kitchen (555 S. State)
4. Burger King (2328 S. Michigan)
5. Acadia (1639 S. Wabash)
6. Harbor (1312 S. Wabash)
7. Kurah (1355 S. Michigan)
8. Chef Luciano's (49 E. Cermak)
9. Shred 451 (1136 S Delano Ct)
10. Quench Wellness (1319 S. Michigan)
11. Mercy Medical Center (47 W. Polk)
12. Mei's Asian Small Plates (1101 S. Wabash)
13. Caribbean Jerk Palace (733 S. Dearborn)
14. Nice and Distressed (723 S. Dearborn)
15. Opart Thai (1906 S. State)
16. Pauly's Pizza (719 S. State)
17. Teriyaki Madness (829 S. Wabash)
18. Illinois Media School (530 S. State)
19. Float Sixty (1143 S. State)
20. Motor Row Brewing (2337 S. Michigan)
21. South Loop Cleaners (1248 S. Canal)
22. Tutto Italiano (501 S. Wells)
23. Urban Grocers (747 S. State)

Where To Get Delivery From in the Sloop?

A reader in search for the Sloop's best delivery:

I'm very fond of your restaurant info; I think good conversation could spark
discussion on which are or aren't good deliver-ers in this area.

This was inspired by a non-pizza/non-chinese focused night of getting delivery.
- We considered Eleven City Diner (1112 S. Wabash)- Absolutely tasty food, delivery, a bit pricey;
- Though about South Coast Sushi (1700 S. Michigan)- Crazy yummy, really costly, but untested delivery
- Almost went with Jamaica Jerk Villa (8 E. 22nd)- Good reviews, not expensive, but questionable on how often they deliver
- Flavor 180 (1511 S. State) - is close, has a weird vibe, is slow, and, well, no.

- Ended up with Flacos Tacos (725 S. Dearborn) - Recommended by a friend, inexpensive,
delicious!

I know there are other reasonable places out there that we need to know about.

Who should we be ordering from in the Sloop?

We've had delivery from Chef Luciano's and was pretty happy with that. Besides pizza and chinesse, we usually do pick-up as oppposed to delivery. Anyway, Sloopers, please chime in with your thoughts.

(Hat tip: JN!)

Business Opportunities at Sloopin: Advertising and Marketing

One of our goals at Sloopin is to be a resource for the South Loop and that definitely includes the businesses around the neighborhood as well. If you're a restaurant, bar, boutique, gym, real estate developer...well anyone...we can help.

Our site continues to grow and we offer a highly targeted, engaged, relevant audience that is sure to help your business. We currently get over 22,000 page views per month and like we said... we're growing.

We've already worked with Lakeshore Analytics, Groupon.com, Buddy Guy's Legends, Chef Luciano and Ford Fiesta to help promote their businesses.

We can review your restaurant, profile your business or post a banner somewhere on our site.

Contact us at sloopin@gmail.com for more details.

Two South Loop Buildings get Preservation Excellence Award

Shout-out to two South Loop buildings that were given "preservation excellence awards" by the city of Chicago recently. Here is a quick blurb from curbed chicago:

Winning projects include office restoration, exterior renovations, and last but not least, a rare surviving example of a first generation White Castle (occupied by the Chef Luciano & Gourmet Chicken restaurant). The 80-year old White Castle structure was restored to its glory days by replacing brick, returning signage and lighting to historic placements, and recreating the crenellated tower. You can see, while charming, it would have trouble accommodating drive-thru (image above). Particularly impressive to us, Columbia College's exterior restoration of its large neoclassical main campus building involved rebuilding the entire bracketed stone cornice and repairing large sections of brick and limestone. Located at 600 Michigan Ave, this is an important piece of the historic streetwall.

Congrats to everyone involved and way to represent the Sloop!

(Image from Curbed Chicago!)

Get Your 2010 Sloopin T-Shirt!

It has been a long time in the making, but the 2010 Sloopin t-shirt is finally here! As you might remember "The Year of the Sloopster" shirt won and we have spent some time improving the design of the t-shirt. Hope you like it:
By buying the shirt you won't only be the coolest kid on the block, you will also be helping our lovely blog. As a reminder, the proceeds will go to a project we're trying to fund which will include some new features that we know you will love.

So you're probably wondering how do I buy the shirt? You can get the shirt five different ways:

1) Chef Luciano's (49 E. Cermak) - $15
A South Loop icon that has been holding down the fort in the neighborhood for a long time will be selling our t-shirt. They will also be giving people who buy the shirt or wear the shirt to their restaurant a free dessert. So go get the shirt and enjoy some great food!

2) Smiling Bright/Posture Perfect Pilates (1247 S. Wabash) - $15
The great people at Smiling Bright & Posture Perfect Pilates will also be selling our shirt and yes they will also be giving discounts to their services. Buy a shirt or wear a shirt to their store and you will receive 10% off of your teeth whitening service or your purchase of a pilates package.

3) Jimmy Green's Tavern (825 S. State) - $15
This new hot spot in the Sloop graciously offered to help us out as well. They will be offering 20% off of your food if you buy a shirt or wear a shirt into their restaurant. So get a shirt and check out this new spot!

4) Email us & we will send you a Pay Pal request - $21 (includes shipping and Pay Pal fees)
Being a website and all we figure we need to at least provide you with an opportunity to buy the shirt via the web, so this is one way you can do it. Simply email us at sloopin@gmail.com and we can coordinate your size and shipping address. We will send you a Pay Pal request, you pay, and then we will ship your shirt! It's that simple.

5) eBay - $22 (includes shipping and eBay fees)
Yes eBay is simple, but they charge us money to sell stuff on their site. Regardless some people love eBay, so you can buy the shirt their too (click here to go to eBay link).

So there you have it, the Sloopin Shirt is here! Buy it, support Sloopin, represent your hood, and also save money at some spots around the Sloop!

Thanks for buying a shirt and thanks to our partners for selling the shirt!

Steve's Bite Opens at 80 E. Cermak

Looks like a new diner type of restaurant has opened at 67 E. Cermak (between Michigan and Wabash).  We can't find much online in the form of a website or yelp reviews.  A reader sent us the following pic of their menu:

Additionally, we noticed that Chef Luciano has done some additional renovations and has opted for a very clean, modern look for their restaurant.

This stretch of Cermak continue to evolve.  Should be curious if the momentum continues.

(Hat tip:  NL!)

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

We recently read an article on the Chicago Journal website profiling Dave Gupta's restaurant called Chef Luciano (at Wabash and Cermack). We've driven and walked by the restaurant many times and never once thought to try it, but based on this article we most certainly will be heading there soon. We're literally drooling as we write this post:

He and his staff marinate the chicken for 24 hours in olive oil and garlic, ginger, peppers, paprika and other spices, giving them a bright red appearance in their raw form. The chickens are roasted in deep cast-iron pans in a stand-up oven at 600 degrees. Gupta said he's willing to put his chicken up against anyone's - he proposed a chicken cook-off where each contestant would bet $5,000, with the winner donating the money to charity. "I'm not afraid," he said.

He certainly is confident about his chicken and as a result we figure it must be good.