A new Italian restaurant is set to open in downtown Aurora in a space recently vacated by another eatery.
Amore Mio, an Italian-American restaurant created by chef Roberto Avila, is going to open in the former Gillerson’s Grubbery building, 33 W. New York St., a half-block from River Street on the West Side.
According to Avila, the restaurant “pays homage to the essence of the great Italian-American restaurants of the mid-20th century in New York City.” He said those restaurants had “delicious, exceptionally well-prepared food” that was served “in settings that were simultaneously elegant, comfortable and unpretentious.”
Avila is the chef and creator of Altiro, the Latin fusion restaurants that have several locations, including downtown Aurora, at Galena Boulevard and Stolp Avenue, and Geneva.
He said one reason he chose Aurora was because of the city’s history and because it’s the second-largest city in Illinois. Avila’s specialty is Italian food, and he said an Italian restaurant “would be a great asset to the downtown Aurora theater community.”
“They chose Aurora because they know we believe in business,” said Elle Withall, downtown director for the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. She said the fact that a new restaurant is opening in the former Gillerson’s spot only months after the old restaurant closed is “a good sign of the momentum” going on downtown.
“The mayor, and every department at the city, is there to hold their hand,” she said. “They are the liaison between city government and community building.”
Avila said the restaurant would be tucked into a basement level, and would offer nightly live music and a piano bar area on Wednesdays through Sundays. It would feature local musicians from surrounding communities.
“At the bar and lounge area, you can enjoy martinis and classic and exceptional organic cocktails,” he said.
The restaurant will also have a brick oven for pizzas, Avila said.