Bess Bistro’s Italian-American Replacement Sophia’s Eyes July Opening

Sophia’s, the Italian-American restaurant replacing shuttered Bess Bistro on West 6th Street, is looking to open sometime in July. The restaurant will offer late night food from Thursday to Saturday, though hours aren’t available yet.

Mark Sparacino moves to Austin to join Sophia’s as the executive chef. He will keep his position as executive chef of Prosecco Ristorante in Chicago, which he also owns. His menu will include the usual fare imported pastas, seafood, and sharable plates. Special highlights will include a whole roasted fish, crudo, orecchiette tartufate with black truffle cream, limoncello tart, and daily cookies.

The cocktail program focuses on vermouths, amaro, and barrel-aged drinks. Among the wines available will be a good selection of sparkling ones from Italy. La Rosa is its summer-ready drink, made with pink grapefruit liqueur, vodka, strawberries, citrus, and prosecco.

The restaurant is run by BDG Hospitality, which also operates Parliament and The Kensington Roof Garden and Lounge in its home base of Chicago. The group took over Sandra Bullock’s Bess Bistro spot in March. That opened in 2006.