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Sarah Gruenberg's Monteverde isn't the only Italian spot opening in the city today as the arrival of La Storia, from the folks behind Chicago q and Blue Door Farm Stand and originally expected to open last December, will finally begin welcoming guests in the Gold Coast at 4:30 p.m.
Housed within two former family residences built in 1896 and 1918 respectively, the 4,000 square-foot La Storia (seating for around 120 and featuring the last commissioned mural from renowned caricaturist Edward Sorel) aims to cover a broad scope of Italian cuisine, and not just in terms of region. Executive chef Justin Ferguson's menus (dinner, dessert and wine - all on display below) reflect Italy's past and present as well.
Though Ferguson, who spoke last year about his desire to take "items that aren't traditional and make them traditional," and his team will be making everything in house from local purveyors (including homemade pastas), he is also importing a number of products from Italy. Those include prosciutto di Parma that has been aged for 600 days, as well as olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cheeses.
Broken into five groups, Ferguson's dinner menu features many dishes that should be instantly familiar to most (spaghetti, ravioli, steaks, chops, carpaccio, crudo), but the adventurous eater will also find something interesting (risotto coniglio featuring "glazed rabbit" and polenta cremosa con funghi with wild mushroom friacassee). Management intends on starting brunch service next spring, in time for warmer weather when the patio and sidewalk café will also make their debut.
The dessert menu is short, with only four dishes (brioche donuts, gelato, chocolate torte and panna cotta) and features a selection of coffees, teas and dessert wines. But whereas the dessert menu is brief, the wine menu is expansive.
See what La Storia has in store for the Gold Coast by previewing the opening menus. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
La Storia, 1154 N. Dearborn St., (312) 915-5950.
La Storia Dinner Menu
La Storia Dessert Menu
La Storia Wine Menu
