While the pandemic has caused a lot of restaurants to close, it has also created an abundance of pop-up and delivery-only spots. This means that some of the restaurants we thought we’d lost forever are coming back, albeit temporarily. In other words, think of these closed restaurants as Swayze, you’re Demi, and the delivery app is the pottery wheel. Order away.
The Spots
When we think of reasons we’d find ourselves at Eden, it was mainly for group brunches, celebrations, or dinner and drinks before heading to the United Center. Not a lot of that was going on in 2020, so it’s not surprising that Eden closed last summer. But from February 12-14, this Mediterranean restaurant is popping up with an $80 five-course meal for Valentine’s Day. Order here and then maybe put on a Bulls game afterward for old-times sake.
Pull up a chair, we’re going to tell you a little story. Lettuce Entertain You - the restaurant group behind the RPMs, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, Sushi-san, and about six million other restaurants - used to have a Greek restaurant. It was called Papagus, and it closed about 14 years ago. Legend has it that the townsfolk loved this restaurant very, very much, and were sad to see it leave. You’ve probably figured out where we’re going with this story. Yes, it’s back, and offering dishes like melitzanosalata, saganaki, spanakopita, and gyros for carryout and delivery out of Beatrix in River North.
