LEYE Brings New Italian Restaurant to Wheeling: "Saranello's"

WHEELING, IL – Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants Enterprises (LEYE) brings out the latest flavor in real Italian cooking when Saranello’s opens mid-October in the Westin Chicago North Shore, 601 N. Milwaukee Avenue, in suburban Wheeling.

Inspired by his travels and passion for Italy’s culture, Executive Chef Mychael Bonner has created a broad menu of Italian-fare utilizing the freshest ingredients to create the fullest flavors to bring homemade, hand-crafted pizzas and pastas, as well as prime steaks and fresh fish dishes to the table.

Feel the energy while dining in a casual and rustic 6700-square-foot setting. Dine at natural reclaimed wood tables with seating for 175, surrounded by inviting darker woods, exposed brick and beams, subtle filament lighting, and accented with muted chocolate and caramel tones throughout. An impressive 50-foot bar lines an entire wall with seating for 100.

Saranello’s is all about enjoying great Italian food in a welcoming setting, having fun and good conversation! To begin, there is an Antipasti Platter featuring a trio of colorful farmer’s market vegetables and an assortment of Artisan meats and cheeses; and Eggplant Rollatini, lightly toasted mini-rolls made with fresh mozzarella and creamy eggplant in a zesty sauce, to name a few.

All pastas are handmade, flavorful and light, topped with long-simmering rich, full-bodied sauces. Signature pasta dishes include a feathery 3 Finger Cavatelli, with pulled Amish chicken, a savory pesto broth and pine nuts; and house-made Ricotta Cheese Ravioli. Pork & Veal Meatballs with a spicy Arrabbiata sauce and Chicken Meatballs with Marinara are prepared with tender loving care, ground in-house with delicate seasonings.

Pizzas are crisp and baked Little Italy-style in a stone hearth deck oven - not too thick and not too thin. Toppings include homemade sausage, crispy pepperoni and roasted fennel. A variety of other house specialties include: Roasted Chicken & Peppers with natural au jus; Whitefish Milanese with a mild sesame almond crust; Veal Marsala and Veal Cacciatore; and Filet Mignon and New York Strip Steak.

Select offerings from a barrel roll wine cart, featuring Master Sommelier Alpana Singh’s carefully chosen Italian wines, perfectly designed for pairings.

Dessert ends on a sweet note at Saranello’s. A cookie cart rounds the room filled with such delicacies as crunchy biscotti and pignoli's, a traditional pine nut cookie. Homemade ice creams and gelatos also are a treat.

Saranello’s will feature a lunch menu with such specialties as Old-World Lasagna with Three Meat Sauce; Italian Grinders, a classic Italian version of a sub sandwich; and a signature Chopped Salad. A freshly prepared grab-n-go breakfast is available daily for hotel guests and area business workers.

Private dining facilities also are available for holiday parties, business meetings and other gatherings. A larger space accommodates seating for 50 while two smaller dining rooms each offer more intimate settings for 25 guests.

Saranello’s will be open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and on Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Lunch will be served every day of the week, beginning the first week of November. For information and reservations, please call 847-777-6878.