TV Restaurants

What Happened to Table 52 After Best Thing I Ever Ate? (Chicago, IL)

Best Thing I Ever Ate, Season 3 Chicago, Illinois

Current status

Closed

As of October 2026, Table 52 has closed — confirmed via Yelp, August 2026.

What the source shows: A Yelp listing updated in August 2026 marks Table Fifty-Two as closed, and Chicago public-TV site WTTW's 'Check, Please!' guide separately lists it as closed, with Food Network's current directory showing the same address now operating as Blue Door Kitchen & Garden. How we decide a status →

What happened after Best Thing I Ever Ate?

On 'Hidden Treasures,' Food Network's restaurant listing credits host Ted Allen with featuring chef Art Smith's fried chicken at Table Fifty-Two, brined for three days before being dredged in a blend of spices and fried, and served only on Sundays. The restaurant, opened by Smith, Oprah Winfrey's former personal chef, sat at 52 W. Elm St. in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. A Yelp listing updated in August 2026 marks Table Fifty-Two as closed, and Chicago public-television site WTTW's 'Check, Please!' restaurant guide likewise lists the restaurant as closed.

Food Network's current restaurant directory shows the same Elm Street address now operating as Blue Door Kitchen & Garden, described as a relaxed bistro from chef Art Smith serving Southern-leaning fare, which the listing identifies as the space formerly occupied by Table Fifty-Two. No dated source was found describing exactly when Table Fifty-Two closed or reopened under the new name.

The episode Best Thing I Ever Ate, Season 3

Episode 8
Air date not confirmed
Title: Hidden Treasures · What was featured: Chef Art Smith's Sunday-only fried chicken

Also in Season 3 Best Thing I Ever Ate

Season 3: 63 of 93 still open · 3 renamed, moved or under new owners

All 13 Season 3 episodes →

Nearest open restaurants By distance from 52 W Elm St

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Before you go: Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources we checked 4 references

  1. Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/table-fifty-two-chicago
  2. checkplease.wttw.com https://checkplease.wttw.com/restaurants/table-fifty-two-closed
  3. foodnetwork.com https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/il/chicago/blue-door-kitchen-restaurant
  4. gayot.com https://www.gayot.com/restaurants/table-fifty-two-chicago-il-60610_5ch071003.html
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Record btiea-0257 · checked by Cal Marchetti.