Dion Antic Working With Bob San Owners to Open Canto

While Dion Antic may or may not be opening Cluck, a 24-hour fried chicken joint, and Grit, a Country/Western bar—two concepts he discussed last December—312 Dining Diva revealed this morning that Antic will open Canto in Wicker Park on Aug. 23.

Antic teamed with the owners of Bob San and designer Jordan Mozer (Hudson Club) to open this Japanese-style tapas bar next to the long-standing Division Street sushi spot with a focus on sake and karaoke. Antic said Canto will be "grown up with no PBR, no Jameson and a state-of-the-art karaoke system," and instead will highlight whiskey, gin and vodka with menu items falling under $20.

Antic, who also owns Bagel on Damen and Melt in the area, leaked that he may also open a BYO oyster bar called Bardot around the Damen and Division intersection next spring. But since Grit and Cluck still haven't opened, you'll just have to wait and see.
· Dion Antic Now "Consulting" at Porkchop; Working on Cluck, Grit and Suburban Porkchops [~EChi~]
· Dion Antic Returns to Division Street with Canto [312DD]

[Photo: Canto]

UPDATE: Antic contacted Eater to clarify that Canto is owned by Bob San and that he was brought in as a consultant to reconcept the space. Bardot, however, will be his new project on Division near Hoyne. Additionally, Mozer originally worked with Bob San owner Jiann Wen Bee, aka Bob Bee, a few years ago to makeover the space that will become Canto as well as the design for Bob San. Mozer wanted to clarify that the image above does not reflect his team's work and is a new design.