Chef Lee Wolen to Open Alla Vita, an Italian-American Restaurant, Summer 2021

Boka Restaurant Group, in partnership with chef Lee Wolen, has announced Alla Vita, an Italian-American restaurant, opening late summer 2021. Alla Vita, which means "to life," felt like an appropriate name to celebrate dining again after a year-long pandemic.

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Alla Vita has been in development for a long time. Boka Restaurant Group and Lee were looking for a location pre-pandemic. With the closing of Bellemore due to the pandemic, Alla Vita will take over the former West Loop location at 564 W Randolph. 

Alla Vita will be a group-friendly restaurant, highlighting Italian food that people like to eat. Sample dishes include homemade garlic knots, mushroom lasagna with house made pasta and ricotta dumplings. A Lee Wolen chicken dish will also be on the menu; the executive chef of GG's Chicken Shop is taking the next few months to work on his chicken Parmesan. Meg Galus (Boka) will be the restaurant's pastry chef.