A couple weeks back we learned that Scott Harris was going to be closing down Francesca’s Forno in Wicker Park to give it some of the Purple Pig and Davanti Enoteca magic. You know, fatty pork dishes, cheap wine, and huge crowds. It sounded great. But if you’ve walked by recently you know that the restaurant is still very much the same. So what’s actually happening? Turns out the transformation won’t begin until about March 14, with the proposed reopening happening around March 30. That’s a really quick turnaround, but if there is one thing Harris can do, it’s kick out a knew restaurant concept quickly. What else can we expect?
The renovation will expand the bar area, and will also install new “roll-back windows,” which will allow the windows to open during the warmer months. These changes seem right in line with Harris’s wish for the new space to be a “lively, fun atmosphere with communal tables, cheap wine and creative small plates.” Harris has also picked Larry Tio to run the kitchen, who had previously worked at Mon Ami Gagi.
