BOMBIN’ CIRCUMSTANCE

Michael Nagrant goes to the new retro 50s style would-be swank joint in Old Town and gives its Mad Men act zero stars: “If Pomp & Circumstance is evocative of the ’50s and ’60s, it’s the drunken, chauvinistic shenanigans of “Mad Men’s” Roger Sterling.” (Redeye)

MO’ INTRO

Anthony Todd at Chicagoist adds to the praise for Aaron Martinez’s menu at rotating restaurant Intro, saying it’s “consistently amazing, the service is perfect (with echoes of the precision of L20) and, most importantly, it avoids two seemingly unavoidable fine dining cliches. First, it’s reasonably priced and second, it’s efficiently paced.”

EMBETTA AND BETTA

Maybe it’s time to start thinking of Embeya as Mike Sheerin’s restaurant, because in a two-star review Phil Vettel praises him for “incorporating Thai, Japanese and Chinese influences, but as before, Embeya’s food is ingredient-focused, unbeholden to tradition, and if some of the preparations are novel, the food tends to the familiar.”

CAFE SPIAGGIA AT AGE-A 30

The view still counts for a lot at Cafe Spiaggia, Spiaggia’s one-floor-down sibling, despite some hit or miss dishes, says Bill Daley in his two-star review. (Tribune)

SPAT-A NAPOLI

The New York vs. Chicago pizza wars flare up again, when Serious Eats’ J. Kenji Lopez-Alt goes on an anti-deep dish tirade and the Reader fights back by saying New York’s best pizza, DiFara, is beloved because it’s the one closest to Chicago pizza.

MERCADETAILS

Crain’s reports that Mercadito Counter is closing. Mercadito Counter reports that they’re not, but the location is up for rent and they may reopen elsewhere. Maybe. (Crain’s/Eater)

FRENCH FOOD REDUX

Cyrano’s closes. French food’s over! The Blanchard is a hot ticket. French food’s back!

CATALPALTED TO SUCCESS

Logan Square’s new casual café Catalpa Kitchen already looks like a hit, to judge by brunch and lunch lines. (Website)