Like a Mahlerian orchestra, Chicago is adding another piccolo. Piccolo Sogno Due (340 N. Clark St.; no phone yet) is under construction in River North, in the former Singha Thai space that most recently was slated to be the now-canceled relocation of Carol Wallack’s Sola.
A sister restaurant to the West Loop’s Piccolo Sogno, the new spot will focus on seafood from all regions of Italy when it opens in four months. “It’s already gutted,” says Tony Priolo, the chef/owner of both restaurants. “I’m walking and avoiding nails now.” Priolo plans to travel between places, but his longtime chef de cuisine, Miguel Solorio, at PS will be entrusted to steer that kitchen when necessary. There will be meat and game on PS2’s menu, but the offerings there will be oceancentric, whereas PS’s menu is balanced between land and sea. What about pizza? Both menus will sport wood-fired pizzas. Also like PS, PS2 will have a moderately priced wine list.
The décor at Piccolo Sogno Due will use elements from Piccolo Sogno, which was designed off a Deruta china pattern with dragons called Raffaello. Priolo doesn’t have an exact count of the seats at the new place yet, but the total is under 140. Fittingly for a sibling of Piccolo Sogno, outdoor seating will open in the spring—just a block from the river.
There’s an old joke in orchestras about how you get two piccolos to play in tune. (Shoot one.) Here’s hoping Priolo doesn't come to that.