Lee Wolen
Wedgewood-Houston, which is already dwelling to a number of of the town’s greatest Italian eating places — together with Il Forno and iggy’s — quickly will probably be dwelling to a different Italian standout. In an unique, the Scene has discovered that Chicago’s Alla Vita will open a location within the neighborhood in 2026.
“Wedgewood-Houston has change into a hub for considerate, well-executed meals, and I’m excited for Alla Vita to be a part of that,” Chef Lee Wolen tells the Scene. “There’s a powerful artistic spirit within the neighborhood, and it’s the type of place the place folks admire good cooking. I’m trying ahead to being right here and including our voice to the combination.”
Wolen has a protracted record of profession accolades. He’s been a James Beard Award finalist many occasions, spent three years at New York’s acclaimed Eleven Madison Park, and has garnered a number of Chicago and trade awards.
Wolen guarantees an Alla Vita menu that builds on what has made the restaurant beloved in Chicago: Italian classics that shouldn’t be revolutionary at this level however in some way are. Wolen describes it as “contemporary, approachable Italian meals.” Favorites embody arancini stuffed with scamorza cheese and served with ’nduja aioli and fennel pollen, chopped salad with gem lettuce, radicchio, finocchiona, pepperoncini and tomato in a purple wine French dressing, wood-fired pizzas, and — be nonetheless my coronary heart — cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings.
Alla Vita’s cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings
The brand new location can even function a number of new dishes created completely for Nashville. Wolen is known for his hen (he’s the chef behind Boka Restaurant Group’s GG’s Rooster Store), so it stands to cause that his hen parmigiana — served with fire-roasted tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella and contemporary basil — is a fan favourite. The wine record contains Italian and West Coast American bottles, and Alla Vita will supply a full cocktail menu.
The aesthetic of the house will probably be a garden-inspired retreat, with Italian floral prints and a shade palette. Count on customized woodwork, flowing materials and greenery from Chicago’s Kehoe Designs.
Owned by Chicago’s Boka Restaurant Group, which can be opening Momotaro within the neighborhood (and a 3rd idea TBD quickly), Alla Vita is a venture in partnership with developer AJ Capital. Alla Vita will open throughout the road from Pastis Nashville, within the Wedgewood Village growth.
