Acanto - Chicago
Located next door to his highly regarded The Gage restaurant, Billy Lawless' Acanto is a completely different concept from its predecessor. It's Italian focused for one (The Gage is Irish inspired), and the wine selections are much more curated for a well-defined list.
The restaurant is casually elegant, attracting business types and tourists who typically stroll in from Millennium Park across the street. The word Acanto is the Italian translation of Acanthus, the flowery leaf used extensively in Roman architecture and by famed architect Louis Sullivan in his distinctive terracotta ornamentation found on the facade of the historically landmarked building at 18 South Michigan Avenue.
Menu highlights include hand-made pastas, the butcher's cut of steak and thin-crust pizzas.
