Nine months ago, Michael Meranda revealed his plans to open a new Italian restaurant in River North that featured his award-winning gelato. The path to opening Sapori Antichi Bar Italianohasn’t been as smooth as their tasty Italian desserts are, but on Monday Meranda and wife Mary finally opened their restaurant.

They’re serving lunch and dinner with “an authentic Italian presentation” indicative of “what’s going on in Italy right now.”“You will really get a family experience,” Meranda said, noting that his mother — Eugenia — may even work in the kitchen. “It’s old world with modern Italian flair.”