This Week In Restaurant Openings: Fine Dining In Chicago, Hummus In NYC, Greek Food In Boston

We're always on the lookout for restaurant news here at Food Republic. And news we often receive — we're constantly pitched on restaurants that have pledged to open their doors in the near future, only to eventually learn about inevitable roadblocks and delays that have us questioning whether we should cover a restaurant during our fall preview — one that we may have already mentioned in our spring preview, months before. Such is the unpredictable nature of the restaurant world.We've worked diligently to assemble this short roundup of promising restaurants that we are certain have recently opened for business and of the newest announcements we've come across regarding restaurants certain to open in the near future. Well, fairly certain. Take a look and be sure to reserve your table today!

Restaurants

Chicago, Illinois

Oriole

West Loop's Oriole transcends the typical fine-dining experience through an immersive, extended-format tasting menu that positions each guest at the center of an interactive and unforgettable meal. Award-winning chef Noah Sandoval draws inspiration from staff and diners alike, taking the origin of each dish's ingredients into consideration when developing flavor profiles. He does not provide menus to guests prior to the meal; the experience is a surprise. Recent dinner tasting menus (the restaurant opened last week) have included Ossetra caviar with egg yolk gelato, steelhead trout with smoked roe and artichokes, and lamb belly with pine nuts and pear. Oriole offers two pairings to complement the extended tasting menu, with one composed solely of wines and the other featuring wine, cocktails and juices. The interior incorporates vintage elements into the elegant yet industrial space, anchored by custom midcentury banquettes and black leather armchairs in a dining space with clear views of the open kitchen. 661 W. Walnut St., Chicago, IL 60661; oriolechicago.com 

New York City

Dizengoff

Michael Solomonov can do no wrong in Philadelphia — his Zahav, Abe Fisher, Federal Donuts and Dizengoff restaurants are deservedly among the most popular in town. Next week, the chef is bringing his Dizengoff concept to New York City's Chelsea Market. The restaurant, modeled on the traditional hummusiyas of Israel, will serve freshly made hummus topped with seasonal and rotating garnishes (think spiced ground lamb, crispy sumac chicken skin, and beet with walnut), wood-oven baked pita, pickles and Israeli salad. A rotating selection of Zahav-style salatim will complement the hummus offerings, and shakshuka will be offered for breakfast every morning. Israeli red and white wines will be available, as well as local craft beer on tap and Israeli mint lemonade with bourbon. 75 Ninth Ave., New York, NY 10011

Boston, Massachusetts

Saloniki

From James Beard Award–winning chef Jody Adams (from the city's Rialto and Trade restaurants) comes Saloniki, a restaurant serving Greek street food for lunch and dinner using fresh ingredients with affordable, crave-worthy and customizable options. The 60-seat restaurant — which is now open — offers four composed classic dishes, as well as a DIY "build it" option. The former include honey-garlic braised pork shoulder with feta cheese, lemon-oregano chicken with tzatziki, zucchini-feta fritters with garlic yogurt, and spicy lamb meatballs with two sauces of choice. DIYers select one base, along with one filling and a variety of sauces and toppings. To round out the menu, Saloniki has two salads, a soup and sides, like Greek fries with oregano and cheese, crispy pita chips and barrel-aged feta. The restaurant serves house Greek red and white wines on tap, along with two beers from Harpoon Brewery. Look for the traditional Greek palette of white and blue, with rustic, unfinished white oak walls, concrete floors and a deep blue ceiling to complement photographs of Greece. 4 Kilmarnock St., Boston, MA 02215; salonikigreek.com

Austin, Texas

Mañana Coffee & Juice

Austin's South Congress Hotel has become a city hot spot for food and drink, with Paul Qui recently unveiling a multicourse omakase experience titled Otoko shortly after the opening of the hotel's classic American bar and grill, Central Standard. Mañana Coffee & Juice opened its doors yesterday, marking the boutique hotel's final food and beverage outlet. Located in the South Congress Hotel courtyard, Mañana offers a curated menu of single-origin direct-trade and local coffee blends from Austin-based roasted Cuvée Coffee, as well as teas from Kusmi Tea. The vibrant space features ample bar seating, a large communal table for group meetings and outdoor seating. Executive chef Michael Paley oversees a menu of house-made cold-pressed juices and milks that feature seasonal, organic fruits and vegetables. Fresh baked goods and snacks will be made from scratch daily by the hotel's executive pastry chef (and James Beard Award semifinalist) Amanda Rockman. 1603 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX, 78704; mananaaustin.com

Fast-casual and chain locations

New York City

Mulberry & Vine

Like its sister location in TriBeCa, healthy eatery Mulberry & Vine offers high-quality, organic and locally sourced food for both lunch and dinner. With an emphasis on clean eating, the fast-casual restaurant utilizes herbs and spices to ramp up flavor for the globally inspired menu, which includes rotating specials along with mainstays like charred avocado with pumpkin-seed yogurt puree, Mediterranean braised chicken with capers and lemon, and Asian Wagyu beef with collard greens, carrots, ginger, tamari and sesame oil. The centerpiece of the beverage program is Drink More Water, which consists of house-made super-infused waters with flavor combinations like lemon, charcoal and cayenne; beet, aloe vera and ginger; and cucumber, cilantro and lemon. 55 W. 27th St., New York, NY, 10001; mulberryandvine.com

Venice, California

Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop

The "farm to face" fast-casual restaurant is celebrating the opening of its sixth California store today. The Venice location will serve seasonal entrées, inventive salads and acclaimed healthy and delicious menu staples. As with the other five locations, Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop will feature a chef-driven menu making use of fresh, all-natural organic and locally farmed ingredients. A full bar includes fresh craft cocktails and juices, and there will be both indoor and outdoor seating, in addition to an on-site chef's garden. 1239 Abbot Kinney, Venice, CA 90291; greenleafchopshop.com