Bucktown's Dining Scene Gets Glamorous: New Italian Steakhouse Dēliz Is Turning Heads on North Avenue

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Bucktown · May 25, 2026

Bucktown's restaurant row just got a whole lot more dressed up. Dēliz, a new Italian steakhouse with serious la dolce vita energy, has been making waves since it opened inside the former Etta space on North Avenue — and Time Out Chicago's glowing review this week confirms the buzz is well earned. Chef Jake Peterson, who helmed the kitchen at Etta before its Bucktown closure last fall, teamed up with Steve Gogolab — a veteran of the ritzy STK steakhouse brand — to reimagine the two-level space into something lavishly new. The name translates to "delicious" in Italian, and by all accounts it lives up to the billing.

The menu leans into premium Midwest cuts and Australian wagyu, including coveted Mayura Station chocolate-fed wagyu and a 40-day dry-aged Kansas City strip. The dessert menu is led by celebrity chef Jessica Scott, and the Basque cheesecake with chocolate mirror glaze and pistachio mousse has apparently become a table-side staple. The ruby-red aesthetic and social atmosphere round out an experience that feels special without taking itself too seriously.

Meanwhile, on the housing front, the City Council officially approved a new four-story, 30-unit apartment building at 1801 N. Winnebago Ave. this past Wednesday — a long-vacant lot near the Blue Line tracks that will include six affordable units and 23 parking spaces. It's a win for neighbors who've watched that site sit empty for years. Two big reasons to celebrate in Bucktown this Memorial Day weekend — go check out Dēliz for a special night out, and keep tabs on the Winnebago Ave build as the neighborhood continues to grow.

Sources:
1. https://www.timeout.com/chicago/news/bucktowns-new-italian-steakhouse-deliz-is-going-for-glam-051926
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/21/ukrainian-village-bucktown-apartment-proposals-approved-by-city-council/