DOWNTOWN — A steakhouse, casual lunch spot and an outpost of an iconic breakfast diner nook are all set to open soon — or already have — in busy Downtown and the West Loop.
Each of these restaurants will add to the constantly growing portfolio of eateries in the Loop, Fulton Market and West Loop areas.
Trino officially opens in the West Loop August 6, 2025. Credit: Jon Orgaz
Trino
Trino, from chef Stephen Sandoval and partner Oscar Sotelo, opens Wednesday at 738 W. Randolph St. The restaurant reimagines the traditional steakhouse through Sandoval’s northern Mexican and Galician roots, drawing inspiration from his travels to Argentina and beyond.
The menu offers a creative spin on familiar dishes: think chicharrón topped with caviar and crab salad served on a tostada. A rotating selection of steaks will be paired with housemade sauces, like huitlacoche bordelaise and cherry-churri. The beverage program leans Latin American, and the wine list features producers from Mexico, Spain, Greece and more, according to a press release.
Trino also features a hidden speakeasy bar named Laberinto, meaning labyrinth. Laberinto will have rotating guest bartenders, seasonal pop-ups and unique events throughout the year, according to its website.
Reservations are now open on Resy.
Trino is open 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday.
Solette brings New American cuisine to the heart of the Loop. Credit: Instagram
Solette
Solette, now open inside The Bell at 225 W. Randolph St., aims to be a go-to destination for after-work hangs, casual celebrations and lingering happy hours in the Financial District. The menu blends comfort and creativity with dishes like crispy calamari, a signature Solette burger, steak frites and seared salmon.
The cocktail menu balances classic and modern sips, including a spiced Old Fashioned and the Orange Line, a whiskey mule riff with tepache and rosemary.
Designed by Ste. Marie Studio, the interior features walnut, fluted glass and brushed brass for a retro-modern vibe inspired by the ’70s, according to a press release.
Solette is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday.
A rendering of the Adalina Prime coming to Fulton Market this summer. Credit: Dunne Kozlowski
Adalina Prime
Adalina Prime will debut at 360 N. Green St. with a menu focused on steak, seafood and vegetable-driven dishes, according to a press release.
The restaurant is operated by the team behind Gold Coast’s Adalina: Phil Siudak, Matt Deichl, Miles Muslin and Jonathan Gillespie. The concept is led by chef Soo Ahn, a “Top Chef” alum and Michelin-starred chef. The group describes Adalina Prime as a flame-driven restaurant that builds on the Chicago steakhouse tradition with global influences.
The 10,500-square-foot space will have an open-air atrium, two-story wine cellar, private dining areas and an exhibition kitchen, according to a press release.
The menu will include prime cuts of beef from Japan, Australia and Illinois’ Miller Wagyu Ranch, as well as seafood and traditional sides, according to a press release. Customers can also expect dishes like Korean cheesy corn with lobster, cacio e pepe spinach and seafood towers topped with spicy tteokbokki rice cakes.
A tableside “salt library” will allow customers to pair entrées with options like truffle, horseradish, smoked bourbon and red wine salts.
Plant-based options will include charred lion’s mane mushroom steak and avocado ceviche. Smaller bites include the Wagyu, truffle and foie gras — known as WTF — and the OMG, made with mushroom mousse, garlic and olive oil caviar. A Fulton Favorites section will offer comfort dishes like a tonkatsu fried steak and Adalina Prime’s signature burger.
Adalina Prime is expected to open late summer.
The Original Pancake House is now open in the West Loop serving up pancakes, omelettes and more. Credit: Instagram
Founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon, by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke, The Original Pancake House built its reputation on time-tested recipes and high-quality ingredients, according to its website. The brand has become a staple for breakfast lovers across the country.
The West Loop location is now open at 1124 W. Washington Blvd., inside the Hyatt House Chicago Fulton Market, serving a wide range of traditional breakfast fare.
Signature items include the oven-baked apple pancake, the airy Dutch baby and hand-whipped omelets. Guests can also expect buttermilk pancakes made from a sourdough starter, thick-cut bacon and house-made syrups and sauces. Lighter options include seasonal fruit bowls, fresh juices and gluten-free offerings.
The dining space is accented with navy tile, warm wood tones and natural greenery. The West Loop location also features a dog-friendly patio.
The Original Pancake House is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.
The Avocado & Quinoa Superfood Ensalada from Mendocino Farms. Credit: Instagram
3 New Restaurants Coming To Willis Tower
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, sandwich chain Mendocino Farms and Mediterranean restaurant CAVA are all set to open this year in Willis Tower, according to a press release. The restaurants are part of Catalog, a 300,000-square-foot, five-story dining, shopping and entertainment hub that debuted in 2022.
CAVA, a popular Mediterranean fast-casual chain, will open its first Loop location in late 2025 at the main entrance of Catalog on Jackson Boulevard. The restaurant will occupy 3,156 square feet, according to the company.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will open in late summer inside a 1,721-square-foot store on the ground floor along Franklin Street. Known for its rich French-style ice cream and creative flavors, the New York-based brand plans to announce additional Chicago locations, including one in the heart of Wicker Park, according to a press release.
California-based Mendocino Farms is expected to open in October with a patio along Wacker Drive. It will be the sandwich and salad chain’s second Chicago location, following its planned River North debut this summer.
Carmine’s is set to reopen this year after going through an extensive renovation. Credit: Instagram
Carmine’s Reopening
Carmine’s in the Gold Coast is set to reopen this summer at 1043 N. Rush St. following a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes major interior and exterior upgrades.
The longtime Italian restaurant will feature a new one-floor layout with indoor and outdoor bars, a private dining room and an expanded terrace. The redesigned space will seat 366 people, according to its website.
The updated menu will include Carmine’s traditional Italian dishes along with new steakhouse selections. A key addition is a second-floor terrace bar overlooking Rush Street, featuring a marble bar, high-top seating and a modern pergola — making it one of the few rooftop-style dining spaces in the area.
Eaves
Eaves, a southern European-inspired cocktail bar and bistro serving handmade pastas, sandwiches and salads, is opening on the first floor of the historic Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, according to a press release. It’s slated to open this month.
The restaurant was built inside the former Pederson Room, a long-shuttered space inside the opera house with past lives as a private dining room, Steinway gallery and bank, according to the release. The hidden vault was discovered during the three-year renovation, which was led by Chicago’s Siren Betty Design.
The menu, led by Chef Amanda McLemore, draws from French, Italian and Spanish café culture and is designed for lunch, happy hour and pre-show dining. Dishes include handmade pastas, arrosticini skewers, sandwiches and salads.
Bartender Angelo Dousias has created savory takes on classic cocktails for the beverage menu, according to the release. The Sesame Sales is a sesame fat-washed rum drink with mango purée and coconut and the Dr. Peelgood is made with Jack Daniel’s, banana nut tea syrup and coffee liqueur. The wine list features about 20 Old World small-producer wines, all available by the glass.
Eaves is operated by Toasted Hospitality in partnership with the Lyric. The bistro is will be open to the public on weekdays and during Lyric Opera and Joffrey Ballet performances.
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