Article updated: 4/16/2014 5:29 PM

A third Chicago area Ditka's Restaurant will open this summer at the Trackside Off-Track Betting facility on the grounds of Arlington International Racecourse. The full-service restaurant will include space for private dining and banquets, officials said.

Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer

A third Chicago area location of Ditka's Restaurant will open in Arlington Heights this summer on the grounds of Arlington International Racecourse, officials said Wednesday.

Ditka's, owned by and named for former Chicago Bears player and coach Mike Ditka, will open in the Arlington Trackside Off-Track Betting facility at the northwest corner of Euclid Avenue and Wilke Road by July 1, said Howard Sudberry, senior director of marketing and communications for the track.

"I'm very happy to be involved with Arlington. They do things in a first-class manner," Ditka said in a news release. "I can't think of a better location than Trackside at Arlington. It is exciting to be opening a third Ditka's in Chicagoland."

The opening will be kind of a homecoming for Dikta, who operated a restaurant at Trackside in the late 1980s after the fire at Arlington Park.

The new Arlington Heights location will operate as a full restaurant in the dining room area on the first floor of the off-track betting facility. It will include space for private dining and banquet options, Sudberry said.

Betting will not be allowed in the restaurant, but there will still be space for off-track betting in another section of the first floor and the entire second floor of the facility, officials said.

"We are excited to able to team with Coach Ditka to bring this kind of quality restaurant to our customers and to the people of the Northwest suburbs," Arlington Racetrack General Manager Tony Petrillo said in a release. "His restaurants are known to have the same high standards as Arlington."

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Ditka's Restaurant opening at Arlington Trackside

Greeley will soon be home to Colorados largest piece of a popular East Coast burger franchise.

Steak n Shake is coming to Centerplace shopping center, with construction starting next week.

Some would call it the In and Out Burger of the East Coast.

Its a very popular restaurant. Ive built three of them and there are lines out the door, said Brian Fine, of Fine Builders, which will build the new Greeley location, directly south of Best Buy with frontage along the U.S. 34 Bypass.

The fast-food restaurant is part of a growing wave of development at Centerplace, which kicked into a higher gear this year with the opening of Tokyo Joes and Village Inn taking over the old TGI Fridays location, in addition to new construction of Ulta Salon and Beauty store, set to go right next door to the Steak n Shake. There are only two more lots left, both east of Ulta, that can develop the third phase, said Carlin Barkeen, a planner with the city of Greeley.

This is in addition to the construction going on south of the main shopping center with the additions of Panera, Chick-fil-A, and the forthcoming Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Steak n Shake, founded in 1934 in Indiana, has about 500 restaurants peppered throughout the Midwest and Eastern seaboard. It has been slow to franchise out West, with only a handful west of Kansas. It boasts several varieties of steakburgers and fries, shakes and sundaes, and breakfast items.

Fine said at 3,750 square feet, the Greeley Steak n Shake will be the largest in Colorado (about 400 square feet larger in the kitchen area). There are already three such restaurants in the state two in Denver and one in Colorado Springs.

Fine said the franchiser of the Greeley restaurant, which he would not name, also has been looking at locations in Loveland and Fort Collins, but the Greeley site became available first.

They are exploring property in all of that northern Colorado area, Fine said. It was just hard to find. This was the first that came available and accessible.

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Steak n Shake to open soon at Centerplace in Greeley

They've established a lunch and dinner menu, hoping to appeal to customers of all kinds.

"If you're looking for seafood we have salmon, cod, we have shrimp on the menu. Crab cakes is a new special for this month. We always have the burgers and the pizza. Our ribs are fall off the bone, great tasting ribs. Basically, something for everyone," says Stephen.

Stephen's dad, Gerald, is a veteran of more than 30 years as a construction worker and superintendent. He also ran a mail-order business, but as he prepares to retire, he's helping his son out, establishing the restaurant. And now overseeing desserts, among other things.

He is also responsible for the restaurant's decor, including the construction of fireplaces, two fireplaces, the way he wanted them.

Gerald says, "I demanded that they be large fireplaces. The architect that was helping us, he kept designing them down. You know, three or four times, 'oh no, you're wasting space.' And I said, no I want at least eight foot wide fireplaces. You know. It's for the look of the place. I think we really needed them. So we ended up with the right ones."

As we said they want to appeal to a wide clientele, this is the steak quesadilla being prepared and of course Stephen already mentioned the pizza, but if you're in for dinner you might like to try one of their specialties.

"This is one of the best cuts you can possibly buy. " Stephen is describing their ten ounce, inch or more thick pork chop. "We make our own marinade for it, soak it for a day or two. And that ensures that when we cook the chop and it's all done, that it's juicy inside. And that's very important, going out to a restaurant, and not getting' leather pork chops."

They also feature a nice variety of salads.

"Apple salad has chopped apples in it, coated with honey, has dried cranberries, blue cheese, walnuts, and grapes, and most people get a raspberry vinaigrette dressing with it, and I'd say that's our number one selling salad."

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McGowan's Menu: Reedy's Family Restaurant In McBain

PERU B-K West is more than just a drive-in restaurant to its owner, J.D. Hann. Its a piece of his childhood, a historic Peru landmark, and its his baby.

I grew up with this place, the 57-year-old Peru native said. We used to walk the tracks on Saturday and come here and drink root-beer floats back when they were a quarter. Its always been a part of me.

Thats why it hurt so bad when a EF-1 twister tore through the eatery known for its hot dogs, hamburgers and floats back in July.

The powerful storm turned the steel drive-in canopy into a twisted piece of rubble and smashed an employees truck into a fence.

The building that housed the kitchen also sustained damage. Thats where the six girls working at the time hid during the tornados fury.

The girls went into the bathroom, Hann said. They were diving for the floor. It was horrifying. But nobody got hurt, and thats the main thing.

After the storm, clean-up workers found parts of the canopy two miles away, laying on the municipal golf course.

The destruction was devastating to Hann, whos owned the 64-year-old restaurant for the last 12 years.

And now that its being rebuilt, the part of Hann that was crushed when his restaurant crumbled is being restored.

Construction on the new canopy started earlier this month, and the restaurant thats normally open from March to October should be serving up its iconic drive-in food by the end of the month, Hann said.

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Peru restaurant B-K West rebuilding after tornado

By Kathy Hanrahan

Raleigh, N.C. Award-winning Asheville restaurant Tupelo Honey Cafe is headed to Raleigh, the restaurant announced Monday on its website.

The Southern eatery will open a 5,800 square-foot restaurant inside the new 401 Oberlin apartments across from the Cameron Village shopping area in late fall. The location, currently under construction, will seat 220 guests and include a patio.

Raleigh will be its fourth North Carolina location.

The restaurant opened its first location in 2000 in downtown Asheville.They have since expanded to two locations in Asheville and one in Charlotte. They also have locations in Greenville, S.C., and Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn. They are planning to open restaurants in Johnson City, Tenn. in June and in Atlanta in 2015.

Some of their signature menu items include sweet potato pancakes, shrimp and grits and "Fried Chicken Saltimbocca and Moonshine Mary."

"Weve long admired the food scene that has grown up around the Triangle," Tupelo Honey owner Steve Frabitore said. "When the opportunity to move in to 425 Oberlin presented itself, we jumped. We look forward to being a part of the Raleigh business community"

Tupelo Honey chef Brian Sonoskus and Elizabeth Sims met with media and shared slices of some freshly prepared pecan pie on Monday afternoon. They said the focus isn't to bring an "Asheville restaurant to Raleigh." They want to make it a true Raleigh restaurant with decor showcasing the area's talent (they are seeking out local artists) and using local suppliers when possible.

The first tenants at 401 Oberlin are expected to move in next month, representatives said. Spaces are still available at the complex that will also house Benelux Cafe.

Those looking to dine at the building will have access to a parking lot on the lower-level, which is open to visitors. Residential parking will be in a different section. There will also be a lot nearby that is reserved for Tupelo Honey Cafe customers

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Tupelo Honey Cafe to open Raleigh location this fall

Word spread quickly in May of 1906 when plans were announced to erect a ballroom and restaurant beside the body of water called Lakeview. It was to be called Pleasant Lake Park and construction started immediately.

The plan caught the attention of the Norfolk & Bristol Electric Rail Road which had added a Wrentham branch to its Mansfield-Norwood run. It would require just a short spur line -- 2,435 feet to be exact -- for them to carry passengers out to the new entertainment facility. This would be a major boost for the new entrepreneurs.

The proponents were Ross Bros. & Williams. The Ross family had been in the area many years and eventually took over the wool scouring plant at the outfall of the lake, known then as Carpenters Pond.

Construction of the new ballroom and restaurant was completed in just two months, with work continuing right up to the actual day of the opening, which had been set for July 4. By opening day, the name of the new facility had been changed. It would be called Lake View Park.

The spur line for the trolley cars could not be finished prior to the grand opening, but patrons didn't seem to mind walking the last leg of the journey. Many visited the area in the afternoon and more than 1,000 people visited the new park that day. An estimated 500 to 600 were present at any one time during the evening and it was estimated that 100 couples were dancing to the music of Slavin's Orchestra from Norwood.

The facility featured a 30 x 50-foot dining room, a dance hall 60 x 90 feet and a theatre measuring 25 x 35 feet, all in a lakeside setting including picnic and walking areas. The opening night was a grand success, leaving no doubt that the lakeside venue on Granite Street (it didn't become Lakeview Road until 1933) would be a major entertainment and recreation venue.

Their Wednesday opening was followed by a Thursday dance and another on Saturday, and several reservations were made for activities in the park. They were off and running.

More improvements

Building upon everything that had gone right their first year, Ross Bros. and Williams spared no effort in making their facilities "more commodious and attractive" as noted by the scribes of those times.

A promenade with roof and side coverings had been added to the large dance hall, 170 feet long and 10 feet wide with windows every 10 feet for the grandest of entrances. A new restaurant facilitated the original one to be made over into a kitchen. A rustic 50-foot bridge across the cove, pine trees and cedars planted along the shore of the lake and flower beds in front of the building accented the natural beauty of the area. All that remained was to build a concrete walk leading from the dance hall to the restaurant.

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Lake View Park: A place of many memories

VICTORVILLE High Desert residents may soon see a new restaurant in town, while some are still wondering about the closures of some old ones.

According to Victorville Senior Planner Scott Webb, the Planning Commission approved construction of a BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse in November, but the developer has not yet submitted documents for the plan check.

Calls to BJs were directed to an agent at VantageOne Real Estate office in Irvine, but calls to the Orange County office were not returned as of Friday.

According to the VantageOne website, the company manages 5.4 acres of retail development property on Bear Valley and Amargosa roads.

Meanwhile, after making a big oil-fried splash, Uncle Dittos World Famous Fried Fish closed its doors in the Stater Bros. shopping center at Bear Valley and Navajo roads in Apple Valley last month.

At least seven High Desert foodies and fans of the eatery called the Daily Press asking what happened to the restaurant.

Were in transition right now, said Audrey Henry, the restaurants spokeswoman. We plan on finding a new location, but were still offering catering and the best Southern-comfort food in the High Desert.

Audrey Henry said the restaurant is named after her husband, Glenn Henry Jr., who was called Ditto instead of Junior by his family.

Audrey Glen said the couple will be catering events at Oak Hills Brewery and other locations. For more information, search for Uncle Dittos on Facebook or write to uncleditto@gmail.com.

Less than a year after Hot Dog on a Stick opened its first California drive-thru on Bear Valley Road in June, the eatery closed its doors last month.

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Restaurant brewhouse coming to Victorville

Its an A-bomination!

Most restaurants havent improved since the city instituted its letter-grade inspection system a sham that has fattened City Hall coffers but hasnt produced the public-health improvements touted by the city, a City Council analyst charged.

We have a government agency thats willing to blatantly lie to the public, Artyom Matusov told The Post. If we cant trust the Health Department to provide real scientific data ... then we cant trust any agency.

Matusov said some sanitary conditions at city restaurants have gotten worse, not better, since the new system began in 2010.

Performance in six violation categories flies, food not hot or cold enough, unsanitary equipment, improper food storage and improper food protection surfaces has plummeted, he found.

And food-poisoning complaints to the 311 hot line for restaurants, bars and delis surged from 2,066 in 2009 to 2,305 in 2013.

They are intentionally misleading the public about the success of the program, said Matusov, 29, a Harvard University Kennedy School of Government grad.

The city trumpeted data that showed more restaurants got an A grade on their initial inspection since the start of the program.

But that method overrepresents the number of A grades, since As will stick around longer up to a year before another inspection.

The citys restaurant grading system is completely arbitrary ... and most restaurants arent doing well on the test, which itself is convoluted and impossible to figure out, Matusov said.

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City restaurant health inspection grades a shame: expert

MASON CITY | A new hotel, restaurant and housing development is being planned for the Mason City property now occupied by the Clarion Inn.

Redevelopment of the 5.2-acre property at 2101 4th St. S.W. will include demolition of the existing Clarion Inn and construction of an83-room Hampton Inn and Suites, a 40-unit condominium and a separate 4,600-square-foot restaurant building.

The development is being proposed byKinseth Hospitality Companies, which owns the Clarion Inn and which would own the new property.

The Mason City Council is scheduled to consider a development agreement with Kinseth at the council meeting Tuesday night.

The total investment for the project is estimated at $15 million.

Bruce Kinseth, vice president of Kinseth Hospitalities, said the new structure will replace the 50-year-old two-story hotel facility with 132 rooms and three buildings adjacent to Spring Lake. It was formerly a Holiday Inn and prior to that a Madonna Inn.

Hampton Inn and Suites are one of the Hilton Worldwide brands.

Kinseth said construction of the hotel will beginin the fall with expectedopening in 2015.

"Were excited to get this project moving as it will be great use of the current site as a new multi-use development with the hotel, restaurant and residential development, he said.

The new hotel will feature an onsite fitness center, an indoor pool, acomplimentary hot breakfast andhigh speed wireless Internet access.

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Hotel, condo, restaurant plan proposed

Colonie

The Village at New Loudon, a $50 million community that will include shops, offices, apartments and townhomes, is taking shape on a nearly 37-acre parcel along Route 9 in Latham.

Several businesses already have opened, and two apartment buildings are in final design stages. Design work is being done by Cotler Architecture of Latham.

"It will have a village feel, with sidewalks," said spokeswoman Deidre Emerle. Apartments will feature balconies and fireplaces, and "we're looking at underground parking," she added.

Several businesses already have opened, including a Dunkin' Donuts, Rumors Salon & Spa, Tala Bistro and Berkshire Bank.

The headquarters of Robert Marini Builders occupies second-floor office space in one of the buildings.

Bellini's restaurant is planning to open later this month, Emerle said.

Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches and Burger 21, two national chains that are new to the area, also will be opening.

Behind the buildings lining Route 9 will be two apartment buildings, one with retail on the first floor.

The development also will include the 72-unit Townhomes at Shaker Creek.

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It takes a village to construct one