Italian Restaurant to Open in Highwood in October

Ballaro, a restaurant which will offer a contemporary take on Italian food and drink, will open in downtown Highwood in late October.

Developed by lifelong friends and area natives Josh Kaplan and Mark Newman, Ballaro - inspired by Palermo’s Ballaro market - is at its heart a destination-worthy neighborhood restaurant, according to a recent news release.

Newman, a native of nearby Highland Park, has worked at area high-profile restaurants, including mk, 160blue and Le Lan under renowned chefs Martial Noguier, Todd Stein, Roland Liccioni and the legendary Carlos’ restaurant in Highland Park. He also spent time abroad, staging at Villa Tiboldi (Piedmont, Italy, 2008) and traveling and working across Italy and Sicily and has held a corporate chef position in the Big Bowl division of Lettuce Entertain You.

Kaplan, who is also from the Chicago area, has been a Beverage Manager at the renowned MK restaurant, assistant manager position at Evanston’s Va Pensiero and was a part of the highly acclaimed Lola Bistro in Cleveland.

According to the news release, wine is celebrated as much as the food at Ballaro.

“As with the food, we look to beverage producers utilizing sustainable growing methods as well as organic and biodynamic growers.”

Ballaro will be open at 214 Green Bay Road beginning in late October.

Dinner hours will be Tuesday - Thursday 5-9:30 p.m., Friday, Saturday 5-10:30 p.m., and Sunday 5-9 p.m.

Photo: Owners Mark Newman and Josh Kaplan.