Etta, the rustic cuisine restaurant that serves wood-fired pizzas, housemade pasta, and farm-fresh salads, is opening a new location in Evanston at 710 Clark St.
The 6,808-square-foot restaurant will sit on the first floor of Evanston Labs, which is currently under development at the corner of Orrington Avenue and Clark Street, according to Crain’s. Etta is the first tenant to join the 10-story development, set to be completed next spring. The new wood-fired food restaurant concept is scheduled to open in Summer 2024. The company is planning to open two more Etta locations, three more Cafe Sophie sites, and at least two new concepts by the end of next year, co-owner David Pisor tells What Now Chicago.
“We are thrilled to be opening our third Chicago location at the North Shore’s most anticipated new development, Evanston Labs,” Pisor said in the release. “We look forward to growing our partnership with TCC in key markets.”
Ownership of the company was recently shaken up after a 10-month-long court battle after accusations of Pisor being frozen out of the company he founded. As a result, What If If Syndicate reached an agreement at the beginning of the year to divvy the restaurant’s portfolio. Under the agreement, partners Jim Lasky and Danny Grant will retain ownership of Maple & Ash, Monarch, and Kessaku brands. Pisor and Daniel Perretta will maintain ownership of Etta, Celestina, and Café Sophie.
Etta currently has restaurants in River North and Bucktown, as well as sites in Culver City, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ. All restaurants feature sophisticated yet familiar dishes using expert cooking techniques. Pisor tells What Now Chicago the new Evanston location will have an added touch of formality, with special offerings for the students at Northwestern University. Pisor says the company expects to enhance the Etta experience with every new opening.
