Dēliz

When Etta closed the doors to its Bucktown location last fall, the restaurant’s chef, Jake Peterson, took over the two-level space on North Avenue to transform it into a lavish steakhouse. Dēliz, which translates to “delicious” in Italian, is an addition to the city's already-dense steakhouse scene. 

The vibe: Billed as an Italian steakhouse with la dolce vita flair, Dēliz actually does offer a social setting, unlike some eateries that promise the same experience but often fall flat. 

The food: Housemade pasta and steaks prepared on custom Argentinian-style grills anchor the menu, with a few fish and chicken dishes also on offer. For duos, I recommend pairing a steak with one or two pasta dishes. We opted for the caccio e pepe with decadent black truffle and pillowy buffalo ricotta gnocchi, along with the 10-ounce steak frites. 

The drinks: Cocktails like a cannoli-infused espresso martini and the smooth, mezcal-based Vivace with lavender honey syrup are decent, but the wine is the way to go here. With a heavy focus on Italian makers, the curated wine program offers an extensive selection of pours.

Time Out tip: The dessert menu, shaped by celebrity chef Jessica Scott, is the grand finale you won’t want to miss.