RIVER NORTH — il Porcellino, the Italian trattoria replacing River North's Paris Club, will open Thursday.
Led by Lettuce Entertain You and named after a Florentine statue thought to bring good luck, the restaurant at 59 W. Hubbard St. will serve "everyday" Italian fare including pasta, focaccia pizza, and the "Il Porcellino," a signature dish with Berkshire pork and Cicerchia beans.
“We’ve had a long-time vision of opening a casual trattoria with dishes that showcase the more rustic side of Italian cuisine which pays respect to the great Italian home cooks around the world,” owner/partner Doug Psaltis said in a statement. “These dishes are a culmination of our entire teams’ travels and serve as inspiration for the spirit of Il Porcellino.”
The restaurant will replace Paris Club & Bistro, which closed in January. Lettuce Entertain You is the Chicago chain behind popular restaurants here including Shaw's Crab House, Mon Ami Gabi, and more casual eateries such as Wow Bao.
"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, told DNAinfo Chicago in January.
The restaurant is taking reservation now, and will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Insalata di Mare. [All photos by Jeffrey Marini]
Insalata Tricolore
Gnocchi alla Bolognese.
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