Skip to Content
News

Chicago Gets a Luxurious New Italian Restaurant in UMMO

Chef and partner José Sosa and his team have created a menu of pasta, grilled meats, and seafoods in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.

Chef cooking over a flame

UMMO’s kitchen features a live-fire grill for steaks, vegetables, and more. Photo: Neil Burger Photography

UMMO opened late last week in Chicago, bringing contemporary Italian dishes to an elegantly designed space in the upscale River North district. Chef and partner José Sosa and SOMOS Hospitality, also behind the Mexican restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Carlos Gaytán, Tzuco, began service Friday. 

The menu at UMMO reads like a greatest hits of Italian cuisine, with favorite dishes such as cacio e pepe, bistecca alla Fiorentina, mushroom risotto, and chicken Milanese. But the preparations showcase an artful flair, with ingredients sourced from Italy and the U.S., including partnerships with key brands like Acetaia San Giacomo for balsamic vinegar.

beef tartare served on a bone
Wagyu beef tartare served with gnocco fritto at UMMO in Chicago. Photo: Neil Burger Photography

The Wagyu beef tartare, for example, comes served on a bone, with pickled baby carrots and caramelized onion aioli, and gnocco fritto for accompaniment. Desserts, from star pastry chef Jesús Escalara, also showcase creativity while staying true to Italian flavors. The wine list, from beverage director James Van Der Bosch, an Alinea Group alum, skews Italian but features French, Spanish, and U.S. producers as well. He also oversees a clever cocktail program that includes cocktails using balsamic vinegar and even channeling the flavor profile of bone marrow.

Chicago firm Studio K Creative created the open layout dining room, which seats 100 with an additional 12 seats at the bar. The space features clean lines and a warm color palette of brown, tan, and sage, and a custom-crafted herringbone floor from Italy’s Diesel. UMMO’s upstairs lounge, a sprawling loft with room for 200, serves the full menu and will host DJs and live music on weekends.

More photos and a rendering of the dining room follow:

Chef Jose Sosa
Chef and partner José Sosa leads the kitchen at newly opened UMMO in Chicago. Photo: Neil Burger Photography
Pastry chef Jesús Escelera has created a dolce menu with such artful creations as Pomodoro e Basilico: Tomato, raspberry, and vanilla campote served with basil sorbet. Photo: Neil Burger Photography
Rendering of the dining room at UMMO
The dining room at UMMO. Rendering courtesy of Studio K Creative

UMMO, 20 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-374-8736, ummochicago.com, @ummochicago on Instagram

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Appetito

Appetito Hosts ITA Talks: “Last Call” with Caffe, Gelato, Amaro & Grappa

Appetito hosted another panel discussion in conjunction with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) this past Tuesday in Manhattan.

May 23, 2025

Venchi and Laudemio Frescobaldi Partner for a Spread and Gelato

Two iconic Italian brands have partnered on new items that combine extra virgin olive oil with chocolate and gelato.

May 22, 2025

Birmingham’s Big Rock Italian Chophouse Opens in July

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants introduces its newest concept to Metro Detroit with Big Rock Italian Chophouse, set to open in July 2025 inside Birmingham’s former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot. Expect premium steaks, indulgent pastas, a cigar lounge, and more.

How a Beloved Aunt Inspired Zia Pia, an Italian Importer in Charlotte, NC

When Victoria Custodi launched Zia Pia in 2013, she wasn’t just starting a business; she was honoring a legacy.

May 21, 2025

Rosemary’s Debuts New Spritz Menu in NYC’s West Village

From classic Aperol to limoncello and elderflower, Rosemary’s introduces a cocktail menu made for warm-weather sipping.

See all posts