Anticipated 2012 Openings: Restaurant Edition

Getting bored with the same old same old? Well luckily, with a new year brings new openings. Get ready to start counting down the days for these five highly anticipated restaurant openings and stay tuned for our bar/nightlife picks coming later this afternoon.

Au Cheval - Gilt Bar owner Brendan Sodikoff (also behind Delve favorite Maude's Liquor Bar) describes this upcoming West Loop eatery as a classic diner with a gastronomic touch. The restaurant (occupying the former Greektown Gyros space) opens in early 2012 offering customers a full bar and a hefty menu. Teaser items include Peppered bacon steak with truffle jus and potato purée and a Fried bologna sandwich. Sodikoff will be busy this year as he is also spearheading Bavette’s, a "traditional American steakhouse with a European influence."

RPM Italian – A long awaited opening, now with an official name. Standing for the initials of the Rancics, Melmans and chef Doug Psaltis, RPM is the brainchild of Guiliana and Bill Rancic, occupying the former Ben Pao space. Though Psaltis is heading up the modern, Italian-inspired menu, Giuliana promises it will feature a few of her family recipes courtesy of her mother, aka Mama DiPandi.

Stout Barrel House & Galley – While you are probably still in mourning for the close of Manor (insert sarcasm here), we are looking forward its new tenant. This chef-driven American bar and eatery plans to focus on comfort food with local and sustainable ingredients. Don't expect it to look anything like Manor when it opens in March; the inside has been completely re-done to reflect a more comfortable, unpretentious vibe. Open for lunch and dinner, the space (created by the people behind Stay and Cedar Hotel) will also have a late-night license.

G.E.B. - Celeb chef Graham Elliot is planning to open his third restaurant in the West Loop this spring. GEB, short for "Graham Elliot Bistro" is situated between Graham Elliot and Gramwhich in pricing, forgoing multi-course tastings for an a la carte menu with simple, three-ingredient entrees for $20 or less. Attention alfresco lovers, Elliot stated that the best part of his latest endeavor is “a huge courtyard in the back that we're sharing with the Nellcote guys next door… It literally feels like you're in the 1800s in London, like cobblestone and its really enclosed by all these buildings, so it’s really secluded." Anyone up for some time travel?

Panza – While we alluded to this River North opening earlier this year (by the people behind Davanti Enoteca and Mia Francesca), additional details have been released that make the wait that much harder. The small plate rustic eatery/wine bar will offer eaters desserts via a walk-up window to "Hole Lotta Love" - a homemade doughnut shop located on the side of the restaurant. Diet starts tomorrow.