NEWS FROM : Food & Wine  

By Donna Vickroy The Salus family has made it through another hectic Christmas holiday. But this time the party's really over. At year's end, Kathy and Larry Salus will close Rosario's Italian Foods, the Southwest Side shop her parents opened 61 years ago.   "It's been a very good life. We're very lucky," Kathy said, standing in front...

By Elaine Glusac Star chef Fabio Viviani follows up his River North hit Siena Tavern with Bar Siena, another delectable Italian destination. The fontina and wild mushroom pizza showcases Bar Siena's signature crust—perfectly puffy around the edges — at its earthy best.   There are few sure bets in the high-risk restaurant business, but...

Say hello, Livingston County, to Cello Ristorante. Restaurateur Adam Merkel confirmed Tuesday that he will open a modern Italian restaurant in downtown Howell shortly after he relocates Diamonds Steak & Seafood this summer to the Mr. B's Rustic Tavern building, 101 W. Grand River Ave.   After Diamonds relocates, Cello Ristorante wil...

One of restaurateur Rich Melman's gifts, I think, is his ability to identify niches, up and down the dining price scale, and fill them. The same mind that created Ambria, Everest and Avanzare also came up with Mon Ami Gabi, Tucci Benucch and Frankie's Scaloppine.   Apparently there's a gene for that sort of thing, because it's been passed do...

By Jessi Virtusio When Enrico's Italian Dining closed in 2012, some were skeptical about the Frankfort staple reopening in a new location. Fast-forward approximately four years to the Vineyards of Frankfort shopping center a half mile north of Enrico's original location. That is where the current restaurant is located.   "We were very...

With the opening of Rosati's Sports Pub in Newville, four experienced restaurant franchise owners, including two Rosati family members, are bringing traditional Italian-style cooking to a new location. In recent years, the building at 723 E. Ellendale Road has been a number of bar and grills.   Finn's Bar and Grill closed in 2011, Doc...

Frankie's Deli has had a lot to celebrate lately. The venerable Italian food emporium marked its 50th anniversary with a five-day culinary extravaganza in late November that culminated in a visit from Italian Senator Renato Turano. "My family has been doing business with Turano Baking Co. for half a century and it was important for us to make...

A Berwyn restaurant is set to expand into Oak Park this summer, opening a second location on North Marion Street.   Giovanni Matteo Mancini, owner and executive chef of La Notte Café, said he plans to open at 118 N. Marion St. in late July or early August. The Italian restaurant fills the space formerly occupied by Aripo's Venezuelan Arepa H...

Bar Roma (5101 N. Clark, Andersonville) will open in early November, in the space that's previously housed Tapas Las Ramblas, Il Flasco, and Riojas. Julia Zhu, a one-time partner in the Michigan Avenue incarnation of Oysy Sushi, is masterminding the project. To reimagine this storied address, she teams up with executive chef Fred Ramos (Gioco); übe...

By Jacob Hamilton Alberto Gulino's family has been serving up slices of their Italian heritage from the day they came to Bay City from Sicily half a century ago.   And for the past six months, Gulino has been back at one of his family's original West Side locations cooking up wood-fired, Italian-style pies. Gulino's Pizza & Sons, 1406 N...

By Louisa Chu Veteran restaurateur Phil Stefani has purchased the closed Chinese-American classic restaurant property Kow Kow in Lincolnwood and plans to tear down the building to open an Italian steak and seafood restaurant by summer 2017, purchase with help from his daughter Gina Stefani.   Gina Stefani owns MAD Social in the West Loop.&nbs...

Save the Date: On Monday, November 10, dine with Joe Bastianich and take a tour of some of the greatest Italian wines with the famed restaurateur, Eataly partner, author, and TV personality at Eataly's fine dining restaurant, Baffo.   Savor a selection of 5 distinguished Italian vini in rare large formats and older vintages, complemented by...