by Ashok Selvam

Ever wonder why Chicago has so many Italian restaurants? Julia Zhu, the owner of Bar Roma, the upcoming casual Italian restaurant in Andersonville, said it's because they're recession proof. That's the advice gleamed from her boyfriend, restaurateur Howard Davis, who's kept Gioco Italian open in the South Loop while saying goodbye to his other spots Red Light and Opera.

Though some Chicagoans may roll their eyes at the prospect of another Italian spot, diners continue to frequent them. Davis is helping Zhu, a Shanghai native, on the project. She partnered on Oysy Sushi in The Loop before divesting a few years ago.

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Source: http://chicago.eater.com/