Jeff Ruby
. . . To Grandmother’s House We Go
Scott Harris (Mia Francesca) and Patrick Concannon (Don Juan’s) plan to open a rustic Italian spot called Osteria Ottimo (16111 S. La Grange Rd., Orland Park; 708-403-3366) around the New Year. “It’s going to feel as though it’s been there for a hundred years,” says Concannon, who has been a corporate chef at Francesca’s for the past six years. “Old barn wood, lots of brick, white mosaic tile.” The 130-seat spot will also feature an open kitchen, a glassed-in antipasti area, and straight-up Italian comfort food: lasagne...
Read moreNew ’Cue
Main Street Smokehouse (536 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville), a promising 35-seat spot slated to open the first week of January, plans to put its own spins on barbecue styles around the country. “I’m pairing pork shoulder with my own apple cider ale barbecue sauce, and ribs with maple chipotle sauce, and brisket with a sweet Tennessee-style sauce,” says the owner, Eddie Moore, a culinary school graduate who has been working as a caterer in...
Read moreA Measured Approach
“The logo is a carafe pouring wine into a goblet; then the sign in the window says it’s BYO,” says a sharp-eyed FOD who noticed Uptown’s new Fontana Grill (1329 W. Wilson Ave.; 773-561-0400). OK, to be fair, the Italian wine bar/restaurant doesn’t have its liquor license yet. But when it arrives, expect a unique concept: 24 bottles, changing monthly, each priced at either $22 or $44, and you will be charged by...
Read moreContinuing Adventures of Pizza
Standing on the shoulders of Ravenswood’s Spacca Napoli and countless others—oh, and 119 years of history—Andersonville’s new Antica Pizzeria (5663 N. Clark St.; 773-944-1492) has joined the Neapolitan pizza uprising. Mario Rapisarda, the chef-partner (his partner is Faris Faycurry who also has a stake in Dylan’s Tavern and Grill), is a Sicily native and a veteran of Spiaggia, so we’re guessing he knows from Italian food. “It’s a very small, simple menu, because Mario is all about quality control,” said a manager. “Everything is made fresh daily, and they shop for...