Lincolnshire restaurant Simon Lin's Asian Bistro closes, new eatery is coming
A prominent Lincolnshire restaurant has closed, but village officials say the space won't be vacant for long.
Simon Lin's Asian Bistro, 410 N. Milwaukee Ave., shuttered its kitchen for good last weekend after 12 years of business. Its upscale menu was a fusion of Chinese and Japanese cuisines.
A restaurant called Strawberry Field is set to open in its place this spring, however. It will be owned by Gus Romas and his family, the same people who run the popular Bo-Bo's Gyros in nearby Vernon Hills and the Canteen Restaurant in Barrington.
Strawberry Field will be open for breakfast and lunch. The menu will feature skillets, stuffed French toast and other early-meal options, as well as burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups later in the day, Romas said.
In keeping with the restaurant's name, dishes will be cooked with fresh, natural ingredients, including seasonal items bought at farms, Romas said.
"Everything will be homemade," he said.
An extensive interior renovation is planned. No structural or architectural changes are expected, officials said.
Lincolnshire Mayor Elizabeth Brandt was a fan of Simon Lin's and said she was sad to see the restaurant close. But she's excited about the new venture.
"The challenge with any restaurant is that you run in life cycles," Brandt said. "Overall (it's) an improvement for Lincolnshire."
The building is on the west side of Milwaukee Avenue, between Olde Half Day Road and Route 22. It's not far from the Village Green shopping center, the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort and other local attractions.
It's also near corporate buildings that are teeming with potential customers.
"If they have good food, they will do well," Brandt said.
Romas said he initially investigated opening a restaurant at the Lin's site about 15 years ago. With Lin's closing, it's a great time to launch something there, he said.
"It was a perfect fit," Romas said.