Chicago’s dining scene adds Osteria Gilberto, retro Tini Bar and Susu’s weekend bakery

Chicago’s restaurant scene is adding three distinct destinations: a new Italian dining room in Lincoln Park, a retro-inspired cocktail bar beneath LIA Tavern in River North, and a weekend bakery service in the West Loop. Together, the openings span handmade pasta, theatrical drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and Middle Eastern-influenced pastries.

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Osteria Gilberto opens in Lincoln Park

Osteria Gilberto is now open at 1224 W. Webster Ave., offering a 56-seat setting built around Italian tradition and modern design. According to the restaurant’s announcement, partners Sergio Barbone, Agustin Di Rienzo and Katherine Serrano created the restaurant with warm wood, rich fabrics, and a backlit wine wall.

Executive Chef Sergio Ornelas, whose Chicago background includes Michelin-starred Mexique, Tanta and Tzuco, leads a menu centered on fresh, house-made pasta. Per the press release, highlights include Wagyu polpette, steak tartare, caviar service, agnolotti al limone and the 16-layer lasagna di Gilberto.

The menu also includes six-hour braised short rib brasato and branzino piccata. “There’s a warmth to Osteria Gilberto that we want guests to feel from the moment they walk through the door—before they even taste the food,” said Katherine Serrano, partner and brand director, according to the press release.

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Tini Bar opens underneath LIA Tavern in River North

Tini Bar is expected to open the week of Thanksgiving 2026 beneath LIA Tavern at 11 W. Illinois St. According to the press release, the 30-seat, 630-square-foot space will draw on cocktail-party culture from the 1950s through the 1970s, with chrome tables, lounge seating and red glass tile.

Chef and co-owner Justin Vaiciunas plans a menu of about 15 to 20 cocktails, including five or six martinis, the announcement confirmed. A custom ceiling-fed system will serve the Warhol Martini, while other drinks will include a smoky Old-Fashioned, a Midori melon sake sour and a matcha piña colada. 

“Tini Bites” will include miniature sandwiches, pickle dip, and savory cones. Seating will be first-come, first-served.

Susu launches weekend bakery

In the West Loop, Susu will launch a weekend bakery service on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 652 W. Randolph St. The bakery will operate Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon, with preorder pickup through the restaurant’s back entrance.

According to the announcement, Executive Chef and Partner Alexander Willis’ menu will feature a Wagyu sujuk breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, American cheese, red shatta aioli, and green chermoula on hand-rolled sourdough pita. 

Pastries will include croissants, Shakshuka Danish, Tea Tea Cheesecake, Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Tahini Canelé. Preorders open Mondays at 3 p.m. for the following weekend.