LOGAN SQUARE — A bar and restaurant whipping up Neapolitan-style pizzas is set to open next week in an already-hot area of Logan Square.
Ugo's, 2833 W. Armitage Ave., is chef and owner Stephen Hasson's first restaurant, which he calls a modern Italian diner.
Hasson, who has worked in the kitchens of Alinea, Sixteen, Wood and most recently Salero, hopes Ugo's will became a neighborhood staple as well as a late-night option.
The new restaurant, set to open Oct. 8, is located on a stretch that Crain's recently dubbed "Chicago's other restaurant row."
"I put everything I have in this world to get this open," Hasson said.
Ugo's menu will focus on individually sized pizzas, with a heavy emphasis on traditional styles. Also on slate are freshly made pastas and small bar plates such as bruschetta, friend ravioli and eggplant. There is a full bar, which will have cans and bottles of craft beer, an extensive wine list and craft cocktails.
The restaurant will be making its own mozzarella and pepperoni and hopes to buy a year's worth of tomatoes from local farmers next summer for all tomato-based sauces: "I want to spend as much money locally that I can," he said.
Hasson said the name comes from his grandfather Sol Hasson's nickname while growing up in Naples, Italy.
"Out of respect to him, I wanted to name it after him," Hasson said. "He's the hardest working person I know."
The previous restaurant in the space, Mitad Del Mundo, closed unexpectedly last winter and Ugo's took over in December. While Mitad Del Mundo ran a nightclub in the basement of the space, Hasson plans to instead create a prep kitchen similar to that at Publican Quality Meats.
If things go well Hasson hopes to build a deck on the restaurant's roof that would open next summer.
Ugo's will be open until 2 a.m. during the week and until 3 a.m. on Saturdays, and serving food and drinks right up until close.
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