Socca's Roger Herring Opening Redd-Herring in Clarendon Hills

Socca chef/owner Roger Herring is set to open a cool new American bistro in Clarendon Hills this Friday if everything goes to plan. Redd-Herring, which will see chef David Gollan (Girl & The Goat, Spiaggia) whipping up his magic in the kitchen, takes the place of a failed Mexican restaurant and will hopefully bring a bit of the city out to the suburbs.

The 65-seat eatery features a handful of paintings by chef Art Smith's artist husband, Jesus Salguerio, including one of a large red fish that accents the dining room. Other touches, like chocolate brown banquettes, red flourishes and exposed brick, help make the restaurant "feel like a little neighborhood chop house," Gollan said. Adding to the quaint vibe is an intimate copper-topped bar with a small plasma TV that won't distract from the real focus: the food.

Gollan and Herring have created a menu focusing on American comfort dishes with French and Italian influences. Some of the menu items include appetizers like scallop with pork belly; Allen Brothers steak diane bites; and potato-crusted goat cheese. They'll have smoky mac 'n' cheese and franks 'n' beans as sides.

Herring's pizzettes, which were first created at Socca and called out by Smith on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, will change daily. Entree options will be straightforward but hearty: Duroc double-bone pork chops; pappardelle with wild boar ragout; a one-pound meatball with buccatini and red sauce; New Zealand wild salmon with potato bacon hash; and more. There's even a kid's menu ... because after all, this is the suburbs. "Honestly I think it's more geared toward the community out there, I don't think we're trying to draw on the city so much," Gollan added. "It's a warm space and a great community."