Highly-Anticipated Italian Restaurant Opens Doors in Chicago

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Jim Hoffman | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 11:55 AM ET

Opening today, August 13, 2025 in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, the new Italian restaurant Dimmi Dimmi, has had locals and Italian-food fans eagerly awaiting its arrival. Taking over the storied corner space at 1112 W. Armitage Avenue, the longtime home to neighborhood favorite Tarantino's for more than three decades, Dimmi Dimmi is stepping into some pretty big shoes, but doing so with confidence, warmth, and plenty of pasta.

Tell Me More

The name "Dimmi Dimmi" which means "tell me, tell me" in Italian, sets the tone for what guests can expect. As explained on dimmidimmiitalian.com, the new restaurant is designed to be "loud, warm, a little nosy, and full of love. We built this place as a tribute to the original group chat, the corner table, the stoop, the sidewalk hang. The kind of spot where stories flow like wine, and someone’s always asking 'you gonna eat that?'”

Dimmi Dimmi is the latest concept from Cornerstone Restaurant Group, the team behind popular spots like Urbanbelly, The Table at Crate and the Michael Jordan Steakhouse.

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Meet the Chef

Leading the kitchen is Chef Matt Eckfeld, a Michigan native whose culinary career has taken him from Chicago to Las Vegas, New York, and London. Now back in the Midwest, he's crafting a menu that blends Chicago-Italian favorites with seasonal, produce driven dishes.

Eckfeld describes Dimmi Dimmi's cuisine as Chicago-Italian: "It's rooted in a deep Italian-American history, but it's not just red sauce and meatballs. Think chicken Vesuvio, Italian beef, giardiniera, and a whole sausage culture that's unique to this city. At Dimmi Dimmi, we honor that by making our giardiniera in-house, working with local farms like Slagel Farms for our sausage, and giving respectful nods to Chicago classics...It's Italian-American, yes, but with a very Chicago soul."

What to Expect

The menu leans into handmade pastas, crispy-crust pizzas, fresh-from-the-oven focaccia, and local, seasonal produce. Guests can expect updated takes on classics—like Italian beef carpaccio, salmon Vesuvio, and ribeye cacciatore, alongside sharable classics such as cavatelli Bolognese, spicy vodka stuffed-shells and tiramisu.

While the food is a draw in itself, Dimmi Dimmi's atmosphere is part of the appeal. The corner-spot invites casual drop-ins at the bar just as much as it encourages celebratory dinners with friends. It's the kind of place you can count on for comfort and familiarity.

Whether you're craving a cozy date night, hungry for a family dinner, or just looking for a perfectly made barrel-aged Negroni and a slice of pizza, Dimmi Dimmi promises a fresh reason to fall in love with Lincoln Park all over again.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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