DINEAMIC DUO BRINGS BAR SIENA NORTH

Food and beverage impresarios David Rekhson and Luke Stoioff of DineAmic Hospitality have weathered a lot of changes in the dining industry since first launching their business with city nightclub hits more than a decade ago. As their youthful following matured into homeowners with families, the team met evolving guest desires by collaborating with celeb rity Top Chef partner Fabio Viviani to broaden menus and to add more restaurants. Now with 14 concepts in its portfolio, DineA-mic’s growth continues with expansion to the suburbs. Most recently that meant the launch of Bar Siena North Shore at the Old Orchard Mall in Skokie.

“As our company grew and our demographic expanded, we wanted to ensure that people who had great experiences with our city locations could now enjoy those moments closer to home with their families,” says Rekhson. “Bringing our concepts to suburban communities allows us to reconnect with guests in a more personal way.

For Stoioff, who grew up in Northbrook and has fond memories of visiting the mall with his family, the opening has been something of a homecoming: “This location is especially meaningful to me, as I grew up on the North Shore and have so many fond memories of coming to this mall with my family as a kid,” says Stoioff. “It’s exciting to bring our brand to a place that holds such a special connection for me.”

Much like the flagship location in the West Loop, Bar Siena North Shore combines elements of charming trattorias in Siena, Italy, with Chicago’s urban vibe. With 8,500-square-foot and two large patios, the Skokie location can accommodate 250 seated guests (or 350 for receptions.) Inside, the space’s spice-inspired color palette, finished out with patina-zinc bar tops and ash-wood millwork, creates a warm ambiance. And outside, Bar Siena’s all-season pergola patio area, with twinkle-lit tree, chandeliers, and a 25-foot tall “living wall” planted with ivy and floras, is very popular—especially in Spring and Summer months.

Looking at its menus, Bar Siena North Shore offers newly broadened selections, featuring more family-style shareable plates and hearty Italian classics. “Guests here love the mix of fun, trendy dishes for a night out but also crave hearty, comforting Italian classics they can enjoy with family,” says Rekhson. “It’s about finding that perfect balance between the two.” Such offerings make the place a big draw not only for shoppers to the mall, but as a lunch and dinner destination.

Leaning into guests’ Italian comfort cravings, Bar Siena North Shore dishes include favorites such as Chicken Parmesan with house pomodoro and smoked mozzarella, and Chicken Marsala with wild mushrooms and parmesan polenta. And popular large format meatless options such as the eggplant parmesan, pan seared salmon, and a halibut Milanese debuted here and did so well, they have been added to menus at other Bar Siena locations.

As well, the restaurant’s robust pizza program, featuring pizzas baked in a handmade Marra Forni brick oven, has also been expanded to include new options such as the Roasted Tomato Pesto pizza, and another topped with prosciutto and figs.

An added benefit to these and other menu enhancements is that they improve experiences for families dining out with kids. The company launched its “DineAmic Littles” program with the Old Orchard opening, including everything from kid-friendly foods served on specially designed unbreakable plates, to offering kids arts and crafts to entertain them while they eat. And behind the scenes, staff now goes through a kid-service training program helping them to be cognizant of kids’ needs and safety. As a result? “With the launch of our DineAmic Littles program, we’ve focused on creating an environment where parents can truly relax and enjoy their meal, knowing that their kids are having just as much fun as they are,” says Stoioff.

Looking ahead, “As we head into spring, we’re really excited to roll out new seasonal dishes and make the most of our beautiful patio spaces,” says Rekhson. “We’re especially looking forward to our grand brunch buffet for Mother’s Day—this event is all about bringing people together to celebrate life’s special moments, and there’s nothing better than seeing families enjoying great food and making memories with us.”

DineAmic Hospitality’s Bar Siena North Shore is located at Old Orchard Mall, 4999 Old Orchard Road, Suite A2, in Skokie, 847-261-8902, barsiena.com.