April 28--From bunny to chicken?
Iliana Regan closed Bunny, the Micro Bakery (2928 N. Broadway) last week, citing financial necessity, and the property remained with former partner Philip Tadros, who wasted no time finding an appropriate tenant.
The Budlong (the name is an homage to the Lincoln Square neighborhood, which once included the Budlong Pickle Farm and Factory) will offer Nashville-style hot chicken, pickles, buttermilk biscuits and spudnuts (potato-flour doughnuts).
"I've been developing the recipes at my test kitchen for about a year," said owner Jared Leonard, who also owns Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse in Rogers Park (6954 N. Western Ave.) "Our original location is slated to open in Lincoln Square (at 4619 N. Western Ave.), but it's taking longer than expected, so when Phil Tadros asked if I wanted to partner on Broadway for Budlong #2, I jumped on it."
Thus, we have the rare instance of a restaurant opening its second location before its first.
The Budlong (Broadway) will open in couple of weeks; Leonard has snagged Jonathan Zaragoza (Birria Zaragoza) as chef de cuisine.
Leonard said the Western Avenue location will open in summer.
Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.
