Evanston’s newest restaurant will whisk diners and their taste buds off to the French countryside.
White paper still covers the windows of 618 Church St., but on May 15, the French bistro La Petite Amelia will be open for business.
The restaurant is the latest investment for Evanston native Robert LaPata, who has been in the restaurant business for 18 years. He co-owned Koi Chinese & Sushi, 624 Davis St., when it opened two years ago, but he has since left that restaurant.
Amelia, named after LaPata’s 2-year-old daughter, will offer simple French country dishes. Among the planned menu items are steak frites, herb-roasted chicken and escargot, LaPata said. The restaurant will also sport an all-French wine list.
Although Amelia will stick to traditional French cuisine, LaPata said the bistro will adjust its menu for local tastes.
“There’s definitely a Midwestern palate that people have here in the Chicagoland area so we’re not going to do anything too crazy,” he said.
With his new venture, LaPata said he hopes to fill an empty niche in venues close to Northwestern’s campus.
“I thought it was fitting,” he said. “There was no French bistro in the downtown area and I thought it was something the neighborhood would enjoy.”
LaPata said he hopes Amelia’s accessible location and affordable prices will draw both students and residents. The average dish will cost between $8 and $15.
“It can be nice for a group of six or eight people because it’s not too expensive,” he said. “And it’s a nice place to bring a date.”
Evanston has two other French restaurants: Oceanique, 505 Main St., and Jilly’s Cafe, 2614 Green Bay Road. Entrees at both venues start at about $15.
LaPata also hopes to attract diners by playing to the sometimes nocturnal behavior of NU students.
“We will be open for late night dining on the weekends until midnight or 1 a.m. to fill that need for good, quality food after-hours.”
A veteran of the business, LaPata got his start working for hotel companies such as Hyatt and Hilton. His latest stints include working for the restaurant company Lettuce Entertain You and Heaven on Seven, a Cajun eatery in Chicago.
After Koi, LaPata said opening Amelia seemed like a natural decision.
“Every person in the restaurant business wants to open up their own place,” he said.
“I love French food, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
LaPata said he wanted Amelia to have a “casual, come as you are” atmosphere, but some are skeptical the restaurant will become popular among NU students.
McCormick sophomore Kevin Cheung said he is not sure if Evanston needs a French bistro because students will likely seek less expensive fare.
“I think I’d rather go to some place cheaper, like Joy Yee’s or JK (Sweets),” said Cheung.
But Kiran Kilaru, a Weinberg junior, said she would welcome Amelia if it offered affordable French food.
“Evanston is known as being the capital of dining,” Kilaru said. “We have a lot of other stuff, why not French?”
Reach Angela Chang at [email protected].