The entrepreneurs behind many of Chicago’s most exciting restaurants wanted to add an Italian concept to the city’s West Loop neighborhood. Inspired by the generation of Italian-American immigrants from the early 20th century, Gary Lee Partners’ design expressed the hospitality and warmth of a matriarch’s dining room in the context of a brick and timber building.

The space presents the feeling of an Italian Sunday dinner, every night. Current and approachable, the design is based on the common memory of multiple generations, from baby boomers to millennials. Like the food, the beauty of the interior lies in its simple construction and very refined execution.

Connected to the main restaurant is a cozy counter for gourmet sandwiches, olive oils, wines and sundries. Despite its more casual purpose, this space retains the style and sophistication of the main restaurant.

From the found light fixtures to the antique glass, Formento’s is a space that updates the traditional elements of the Italian-American dining experience for a new generation of guests.