Let's just say that Sugo's sure was a good idea.
Michael Del Pietro's Sugo's Spaghetteria opened in Frontenac in October 2008; he expanded it less than 90 days after opening. Seven months later, Del Pietro rolled out a copycat, Babbo's Spaghetteria , in Chesterfield. And Via Vino Enoteca, a "contemporary wine bar with global cuisine," is scheduled to open next door to Sugo's in early October. Now comes word that Del Pietro's next restaurant, an as-yet-unnamed "eclectic Italian" spinoff, will be located at 6118 Delmar in the East Loop, 2 doors east of the flagship Pi. "Haven't chosen the name yet,' admitted Del Pietro, "but it won't be a Sugo's, Babbo's or a Spaghetteria."
When asked exactly what "eclectic Italian" meant, though, Del Pietro responded, "Where the other restaurants are traditional Italian, the new place will be less so, with a heavy emphasis on vegetables, " as well as different treatments for meats, "like chicken meatballs, instead of the traditional beef and pork." The price point (= very reasonable) will be similar to that at Sugo's, and items like the thin-crust pizza and the sugo itself will be exactly the same.
To utilize the large skylight in the 3200 SF space, Del Pietro will create "a giant greenhouse in the ceiling," a design element he described as "an indoor herb garden on pulleys." An April 2011 opening is expected...right when those first spring herbs are ready for harvest.
