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Read the press release here.

Paris Club Closes in River North, Will Become Italian Restaurant

By David Matthews | January 5, 2016 12:39pm
 An interior shot of Paris Club and a new Il Porcellino dish (inset).
An interior shot of Paris Club and a new Il Porcellino dish (inset).
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Facebook/Jeffrey Marini

RIVER NORTH — The owners of Paris Club have closed the River North bistro in favor of a new Italian restaurant coming soon. 

Il Porcellino, a "rustic everyday trattoria," will open this spring at 59 W. Hubbard St., according to Lettuce Entertain Enterprises, which owns Paris Club and other well-known restaurants here. Named after a famous bronze statue in Florence, the eatery will feature "everyday" Italian fare sourced locally, the restaurant group says. 

“We’ve had a longtime vision of opening a casual trattoria with dishes that showcase the more rustic side of Italian cuisine, really paying homage to the great Italian home cooks around the world," Doug Psaltis, the restaurant's chef, said in a statement.

The new concept means the end of Paris Club, which opened in 2011. A Lettuce Entertain You spokeswoman said the nearby Studio Paris nightclub and Ramen-san bar will remain unchanged. 

"While we were extremely proud of Paris Club Bistro & Bar, we felt it was time to make a change. An everyday trattoria is something we have been excited about for a long time and we used this as an opportunity to open one," R.J. Melman, a Lettuce Entertain You managing partner, said in a statement.

The menu, which has yet to be finalized, will include pasta, Sicilian focaccia pizzas, and a "wine program," Lettuce Entertain You said. Scroll down for more photos of the food before the restaurant opens: 


Insalata di Mare. [All photos by Jeffrey Marini]


Insalata Tricolore


Gnocchi alla Bolognese. 

Eater first reported the news Tuesday morning. 

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