This was just a bummer, plain and simple: Autre Monde Café, which brought upscale dining in an easygoing neighborhood atmosphere to Berwyn, and landed a spot on Chicago magazine’s Best New Restaurants list as well as other accolades, suffered significant kitchen damage in a fire on June 28. Owners John and Christine Tully Aranza announced plans to reopen quickly, but as the months stretched on, one wondered. Happily, the repairs are finally complete and the restaurant will reopen Saturday for dinner; brunch will begin in a month or so. Also happily, they were not only able to keep the team (including chefs Dan Pancake and Beth Partridge and Matt Saccaro) together, but according to their newsletter, used the time to work in “some of the city’s best kitchens” and to turn up at events like Chicago Gourmet, and they promise a new fall menu as well as an updated cocktail and wine list from John Aranza (who is the sommelier as well).
