Gioco Announces New Executive Chef and New Menu

Gioco announces new Executive Chef, Jim Kilberg and his new menu. Chef Kilberg is back at Gioco, where he spent three years as a Sous Chef before traveling back to Italy to immerse himself in Italian culture and cuisine and returned to Chicago as Gioco’s Chef de Cuisine and later as Executive Chef.

Menu highlights include:

• Grilled Baby Octopus
• Braised Duck with House Made Pappardelle 
• Wood-Fire Grilled Veal Chop
• Whole Roasted Branzino with Tomato, Olive and Caper
• Linguini with Clams, Shrimp and Calamari

Chicago restaurateurs Jerry Kleiner and Howard Davis opened Gioco in 1999 and pioneered the retail development in the South Loop and inspired future restaurant groups and Chicago's culinary scene. Kleiner and Davis opened Vivo, Marche and Red Light on West Randolph before today's popular Restaurant Row in the West Loop, where Kleiner had a knack for creating the next hot spot.

“We are delighted to have Chef Kilberg back at Gioco,” says Howard Davis, Owner. “Chef Kilberg’s love for Italian cuisine and culture provides our guests with one of the best authentic Italian dining experiences in Chicago set in a warm rustic space in an historic building in the South Loop.”

For reservations to taste the new menu, call 312.939.3870.

About Gioco
Gioco pioneered the retail development of the South Loop when it opened in September of 1999. The restaurant has been a mainstay in the South Loop neighborhood as other restaurants and stores have opened up over the years. Gioco is located at 1312 S. Wabash in an historic building built in 1890 and is one of the few remaining buildings in Chicago from that era. The Gioco space features the original old brick and plaster walls, an old wooden walk-in cooler and a walk-in safe built into the wall, used by the Chicago gangsters for one of the gambling and/or brothel houses that dominated the area in the early 1900s. Gioco Restaurant was designed to retain these old world elements and to feature them in a modernized space. For more information, visit http://www.giocochicago.com.

Lights Out in the West Loop: Red Light Closes

Red Light at 820 W. Randolph St has closed its doors according to an article in today's Crain's ChicagoBusiness. Just like it's sister restaurant, Gioco, a sign posted on the door Wednesday announced that it was closed. The reason for its closing: an expired state license. Gioco closed its doors on Wednesday too, for falling behind on employee withholding and sales tax payments.

Red Light was a popular pan-Asian restaurant located in the West Loop.

This is another blow to KDK Restaurants, Inc. Jerry Kleiner who said Gioco would be reopening is saying the same about Red Light, although now, he's directing all questions to his lawyer Howard Davis, a KDK partner as is Kleiner.

Gioco's closing was another in a list of restaurant closings on S. Wabash Ave. First Ole' Hardwood closed due to a fire that was called suspicious on December 30, 2010; Opera, another KDK restaurant closed it's doors after dinner service the following day.

In the West Loop, Marché also owned by KDK closed June 13, 2010 after 17 years at 833 W. Randolph St.

Gioco "Shuttered" Over Taxes

According to today's Crain's ChicagoBusiness, South Loop restaurant pioneer, Gioco, closed Wednesday due to falling behind on "employee withholding and sales tax payments."

Gioco was the first of the upscale restaurants on S. Wabash Ave. in the South Loop.

The popular Italian eatery at 1312 S. Wabash Ave. had its state license revoked, while the tax matter is being addressed. The Jerry Kleiner empire that once included such upscale fare as Marché, Room 21, and Opera, now includes only one restaurant--Red Light in the West Loop.

One of several identical signs posted on the windows of Gioco

According to Kleiner, Gioco is profitable, although no actual numbers were disclosed. Gioco's former neighbor, Opera is due to reopen as The Scout this spring.

What do you think? Will Gioco reopen? Would you be sorry to see it go?

Opera Gets a New Face

Something is happening at 1301 S. Wabash Ave. The building once occupied by Opera, is getting a makeover. According to earlier reports here and elsewhere, a new restaurant was scheduled to open within three to four months after Opera closed the end of last year. It looks like they may be on schedule. The word from partner Jerry Kleiner in December, was that it was reopening as a "gastropubby sports bar."

A group of preschoolers cross the street, stopping work outside.

A few weeks ago, it looked as if workers were changing out lights on the facade. But today, work started early in the morning and continued late in the day.

The bottle glass was removed this morning.

When I moved to the South Loop in 2004, Opera was one of the most popular restaurants in the city. It helped bolster the South Loop's image and proved that the north side didn't have a monopoly on all the cool restaurants.

New glass was installed by this evening.

I really enjoyed going to Opera. As mentioned before, it helped make the South Loop the "hottest neighborhood in the country," according to a cover story in Chicago Magazine a few seasons ago. Let's hope this new restaurant brings some excitement to S. Wabash Ave. and the South Loop.

The new entrance up close with what looks like flagstone bricks being installed on either side of the revolving door

Marché to close in June

Popular French restaurant Marché located at 833 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop will close its doors June 13. According the ChicagoBusiness.com, cowner Jerry Kleiner said, "it's time to do something else." Kleiner and partner Howard Davis, an attorney, opened the French brasserie 17 years ago in 1993.

Kleiner and Howard own the popular South Loop restaurants Gioco and Opera.

Opera will be hosting the the "Meet Me at the Movies" wrap party on Thursday June 24. The movie screened that night will be Houseboat starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren.