Spring marks new beginnings, and DineAmic Hospitality is taking that to heart: The award-winning Chicago-based restaurant group will expand to the suburbs with its latest concept, Bar Siena Old Orchard, in spring 2022. Located next to Nordstrom on the southeast corner of the Westfield Old Orchard shopping center, the new restaurant will include an 8,500-square-foot interior as well as two expansive patios.
“Much like its West Loop sister spot, Bar Siena Old Orchard’s vibe will be a combination of elements the quaint and charming trattorias in Siena, Italy, and the industrial aesthetic of Chicagoland,” says DineAmic Hospitality Founding Partner Luke Stoioff. “We aim to bring the flavor, flare and energy of the casual Italian-American dining experience to the Midwest.”
The opening marks a sort of homecoming for Stoioff, who grew up in Northbrook and has fond memories of visiting Old Orchard with his family. “This is an especially meaningful opening for us, as we’ll be bringing DineAmic to a location I feel so personally connected to,” he says.
Though the space is sprawling, the environment is intimate. A spice-inspired color palette offers warmth; and finishes like patina-zinc bar tops and ash-wood millwork combine rustic with luxe.
The east side of the space features the main entrance to the restaurant from the parking lot. Guests will walk through a large outdoor all-season pergola area with retractable walls for year-round use. This space will have a large central tree adorned with twinkle lights and surrounded by warm chandeliers. The north side of the pergola will be a 25-foot-high living wall with ivy and abundant florals. The pergola can seat 100 people.
On the west side, where the restaurant opens to the mall, a chic wine bar is crafted from honed granite and soft textiles. Directly across are dual private dining rooms, which can be reserved for events individually or combined into one larger space. Outside, the west patio can accommodate 50 additional diners.
The heart of the restaurant is the open kitchen, centrally located in the main dining room and complete with a handmade Marra Forni brick oven dubbed “Bella Due.” (The original “Bella” lives at Bar Siena in the West Loop.) Here executive chef and Bar Siena partner Fabio Viviani and his team will be on prominent display preparing the from-scratch Italian fare Bar Siena has become known for.
The menu pays homage to various regions of Italy, from adaptations of Italian street food and small-plate starters known a cicchetti, to the hole-less bomboloni for dessert. Bar Siena fans will recognize some menu favorites, such as the Burrata with Spicy Apricot; Octopus over Swiss Chard; and Parmesan-Crusted Parker House Rolls with Prosciutto, Fontina and Honey. Fire-roasted pizzas and large-format dishes like Branzino Fish and Chips and Eggplant Parmesan round out the dinner menu. New menu items exclusive to Old Orchard will be revealed soon. “The menu will focus on cicchetti style dining, perfect for sharing with your colleagues, family or friends,” says DineAmic Hospitality Principal David Rekhson. “We will be bringing over the current restaurants most loved menu items, in addition to introducing new dishes curated perfectly for the Old Orchard location.”
Bar Siena will be open during mall hours for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
