Osteria Gilberto, 1224 W. Webster Ave., is bringing an elegant, refined take on Italian dining to Lincoln Park. Now open, the intimate 56-seat venue was designed for lingering over a long, delicious meal with loved ones, featuring warm wood, rich fabrics and a striking backlit wine wall. Owned by partners and friends Sergio Barbone, Agustin Di Rienzo and Katherine Serrano, Osteria Gilberto will be a warm, intimate destination for neighbors and friends to come together to unwind, connect and celebrate life's everyday moments.
With a vision to build a dining experience centered around Italian tradition elevated with modern touches, the ownership team tapped Chef Sergio Ornelas to lead the kitchen as Executive Chef. A native of Chicago’s culinary landscape, Chef Ornelas has honed his craft in some of the city’s most prestigious kitchens including the likes of Michelin-starred Mexique, and other beloved spots such as Tanta and Tzuco, bringing the experience of working alongside acclaimed chefs Carlos Gaytán and Jesús Delgado, to shape every plate at Osteria Gilberto.
For the dining room’s design, the team looked to Chicago-based, award-winning studio Crespo & Br. to bring their vision to life through inventive architecture to develop an irresistible and inviting atmosphere. The team elegantly translated the warmth of a traditional Italian osteria through a modern lens, drawing inspiration from the earthy character of Rome, Tuscany and Liguria in subtle ways to seamlessly bring the beauty and culture of Italy to the Osteria Gilberto table. A structured geometric language moves across the ceiling, furniture and architectural details, lending the dining room a quiet rhythm, while warm timber, tactile surfaces and richly upholstered seating soften its more structured elements. Diffused lighting, pendant fixtures and touches of burnished bronze complete the restaurant's intimate, evening-ready glow.
The menu centers on house-made pasta, prepared fresh daily, alongside refined antipasti and secondi rooted in classical Italian technique. Standouts include Wagyu-forward dishes like the Polpette and Steak Tartare, caviar service and pasta highlights such as the Agnolotti al Limone and the 16-layer Lasagna di Gilberto. Diners will also find heartier secondi like the six-hour braised Short Rib Brasato and Branzino Piccata a must-try. Osteria Gilberto also pours a bar program built around handcrafted cocktails and a curated, fully Italian wine list.
The restaurant takes its name from founder and owner Sergio Barbone's father, Gilberto Barbone, born and raised in Livorno, Italy, before a move to Venezuela, where he met and married Marina Bastidas and raised two sons, Ugo and Sergio. An engineer with a doctorate in robotics, Gilberto still made Italian tradition a nightly ritual at home, a gathering he called “tavola”: everyone at the table, eating, laughing and talking for hours. He played piano, danced and dressed impeccably, always in a suit and tie, and never wavered from his love of Barolo and pasta cacio e pepe. His presence carries throughout the restaurant that bears his name: the logo forms the letter G from a musical whole note, a nod to his piano playing, wood details throughout the space reflect his love of craftsmanship, the wine program is entirely Italian, and the hand-made ravioli on the menu is a direct tribute to a dish Gilberto and his brother once made together by hand.
Osteria Gilberto is located at 1224 W. Webster Ave. in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. Reservations are available via OpenTable. For more information including the full menu, visit osteriagilberto.com and follow along on social media at @osteriagilberto.