RIVER NORTH — A new Italian restaurant, Torchio, is focused on bringing fresh, house-made pasta and authentic Italian food to River North.
Torchio Pasta Bar opens May 16 at 738 N. Wells St. The Italian restaurant will serve up lunch and dinner with a focus on pasta that’s made in-house every day with seasonal ingredients. Diners will even be able to sit at a station where they can watch as pasta is made.
The 1,800-square-foot restaurant will seat up to 51 people, and the pasta-making station will have room for six to watch. A dog-friendly sidewalk patio will be open in warmer months with seating for another 16 people.
The menu will vary with seasonal ingredients, but customers can expect to see dishes like spring vegetable fettuccine made with asparagus, peas, zucchini and lemon squash; Giovanna’s Bolognese, based on an Italian “nonna’s” recipe; and spaghetti with “clam soup” with baby clams, according to a news release.
The restaurant will also offer bar snacks and small plates, including crostini, salami platters, and beef and veal meatballs. Desserts will include gelato, house-made biscotti and olive oil cake.
Torchio will also have a wine menu, specialty cocktails and Limoncello and Aperol spritzes. Local and Italian craft beers will be available as well.
Torchio will serve lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and dinner 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Check out the menu:
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