According to Chicago Magazine’s Dish Newsletter:

The old Platiyo space (3313 N. Clark St.) next to Mia Francesca is getting a big-name tenant: Lynne Wallack, the owner of Deleece (4004 N. Southport Ave.; 773-325-1710). Wallack; her husband, John Handler; and Deleece’s chef, Josh Hansen, are partners in Shochu, the planned 80-seat Japanese-American lounge named for a Japanese distilled liquor. “This will be the place that brings shochu into Chicago, and does it in an American way,” says Wallack, who cites the fact that shochu now outsells saké in Japan. “The Japanese compare it to vodka but it’s lower in calories and alcohol content. [Shochu is roughly 25 to 30 percent alcohol content]. And smoother.” Wallack’s crew has a menu of “Asian-edged” small plates (maki, yakitori with seven different sauces) to go with an extensive shochu/cocktail list.

As if Chicago doesn’t have enough trendy over-rated pan-asian treats…can you say Japonais?

Basing a restaurant on an obscure Japanese spirit (obscure to Americans anyway) that’s akin to overpriced clear, tasteless vodka seems like recipe for disaster. Of course everything’s about location, location, location, and no doubt the Clark Street mafia will be toasting each Cub’s victory with a mix of Red Bull and Shochu (Shochu Bombs anyone?).