Italian Steakhouse Dēliz Is Coming to Bucktown in the Old Etta Space | Eater Chicago

"A polished-yet-approachable neighborhood Italian steakhouse opening in December in the former Etta space at 1840 W. North Avenue, this two-level spot balances elegance with comfort through hospitality so “everyone feels like they’re part of one social dining experience.” Downstairs offers a classic, intimate room with warm lighting and soft accents suited to date nights and celebrations, anchored by a dramatic staircase predicted to become one of the city’s most photographed; upstairs the energy ramps up with TVs showing sports, lively music, and late-night service stretching into the early hours on weekends—“a place where people can come to start their nights, to end their nights.” Chef Jake Peterson’s menu blends classic steakhouse fare with Italian influences: premium Midwest steaks and full-blooded Australian wagyu cooked on custom Argentinian-style grills; housemade pastas with seasonal stuffed creations and gluten-free options; charred Spanish octopus with ’nduja sugo and smoked potato; and a seafood tower of oysters, shrimp, lobster, and crab that arrives theatrically in a swirl of dry-ice fog, with luxuries like truffle in the mix. Desserts, consulted on by Jessica Scott, include a Basque cheesecake layered with pistachio mousse and chocolate mirror glaze and a playfully presented tiramisu topped with chocolate “pearls” resembling caviar over espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, and a salted rum caramel swirl. Drinks lean inventive and Italian: a cannoli-infused espresso martini, a citrusy cosmopolitan with Italian bergamot and Cedro lemon, and an Old Fashioned with fig-infused black walnut liqueur and caramelized honey syrup, supported by a wine list spotlighting Italian and New World producers with select reserve bottles housed in a dedicated cellar." - Jeffy Mai