While slightly overshadowed this morning by a certain chef’s takeover of The Pump Room, we are also thrilled to report that Rick Tramonto may open a new restaurant in Chicago soon. While he still owns Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood in Wheeling and has a house in nearby Vernon Hills, he hasn’t had a restaurant in the city limits since he left TRU about a year ago. Instead, he’s been down in New Orleans working with John Folse on Restaurant R’evolution and Bar R’evolution, which should both open in October. In town for the NRA Show over the weekend, he told the Tribune that he’s “definitely going to open up something else in Chicago next year after I get this New Orleans property opened.” So, what’s in store?
Nothing is official, but he has two projects in mind. The first is a restaurant that would allow him to “do my Italian again.” But he is also planning on bringing an outlet of Bar R’evolution up north. He’s already looked at two sites downtown, and would love to have it open by next summer. That’s great news! Of course, we’ll have to wait until the first New Orleans branch opens first to see what it is like, but he explained that it “wouldn’t be as complicated or contemporary as what Grant (Achatz) is doing, but it would have that spirit with a Rick Tramonto spin.”
Rick Tramonto and John Folse talk New Orleans and new restaurant plans in Chicago [Chicago Tribune]