NORTH CENTER — The North Side of Chicago is a "Lou's desert" no more, as Malnati's opens its long-awaited North Center restaurant Monday, initially for dinner and then adding lunch service in a week.
"This bridges the gap between Lincoln Park and Lincolnwood," said Malnati's chief operating officer Jim D'Angelo, during a friends and family preview dinner Friday night.
Delivery service, also available as of Monday, will extend west to Kedzie, north to Bryn Mawr, east to the lakefront and south to Irving Park Road.
As of Monday, Lou Malnati's new North Center restaurant is open for business. [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
Malnati's had been looking for the right opportunity in the area for four to five years, according to CEO Marc Malnati, son of founder Lou Malnati.
"This is such a fantastic neighborhood, it's really come of age," he said.
The first time he saw the site, where the Golden Angel pancake house formerly stood, Malnati knew he had found a home for his company's 16th sit-down eatery.
"We're in," was his immediate reaction upon visiting the property at 4340 N. Lincoln Ave.
Patty Wetli says the new spot really fits in to the neighborhood vibe:
Malnati's pizza pies are made from scratch. The company even owns the source of its tomatoes, which are picked by Malnati's, for Malnati's. [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
Though the menu will be familiar to any Chicagoan who's eaten at Malnati's since the family-owned chain was founded in 1971 — deep dish and thin crust pizza, salads and pastas — the decor is a distinctively original mashup of retro and contemporary, rustic and urban.
"It's going to hit the market right between the eyes," said Malnati. "I think our team just nailed it."
Patrons can judge for themselves come Monday. Here's a sneak peek at what they'll find.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
Zoning was changed to allow Malnati's to serve alcohol. Patrons are welcome to nab a seat at the bar, where the full menu of food is also available. Note the orange wall at the end of the bar: That's where the former Golden Angel sign will hang.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
One of the most unusual features of the new restaurant is this "living wall" of plants. It boasts its own computer-operated irrigation system, run from the restaurant's basement.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
A large wood wall with the Malnati's logo burned into the lumber is the focal point of the restaurant's west side.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
The dining room includes a front atrium section that's surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, which will open up accordian-style when weather permits.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
Decor elements manage to feel both contemporary and retro at the same time, like this large circular booth.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
A wood screen separates the main dining area from the bar.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
The restaurant's east wall is covered in tiles that mimic the color palette of the exterior sign.
[DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
Picture patio seating here, at the front of the building just outside the atrium. Malnati's is also applying for additional sidewalk seating along Leavitt Street.
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