Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani Bringing Italian Steakhouse To Glenview

GLENVIEW, IL — A modern Italian steakhouse from celebrity chef Fabio Viviani is expected to open in Glenview this fall.

The Glenview Village Board on Tuesday gave first consideration to increasing the village's number of Class A liquor licenses from 59 to 60 for Lago Restaurant, planned for 1808 Waukegan Road.

Village officials described Lago as a modern Italian steakhouse created by Viviani, combining classic Italian cuisine with premium steaks, fresh seafood and house-made pasta. The Glenview restaurant would be the concept's second location, joining one in Lake Zurich.

The restaurant is expected to open in mid-October.

RELATED: Foxtail At Glen View House Opening In Downtown Glenview

Plans call for a lounge and bar area, a private-event boardroom, open-air dining when weather permits and a wine cellar featuring selections from throughout Italy, according to the presentation to trustees.

The proposed Class A license would allow alcohol to be served for consumption on-site at the restaurant. Trustees unanimously advanced the ordinance on first consideration.

Viviani is an Italian-born chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and television personality who became nationally known as a contestant on Bravo's "Top Chef" in 2008, when viewers voted him the season's Fan Favorite. He later returned for "Top Chef: All-Stars" and has since built a hospitality group with restaurants and event venues across the country, including several concepts in the Chicago area.

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Evans Scholars Headquarters Planning Expansion

The board also advanced plans for an expansion of the Evans Scholars Foundation and Western Golf Association headquarters at 2501 Patriot Boulevard.

The proposed addition would add just over 18,000 square feet to the approximately 25,000-square-foot building constructed in 2018. Plans also include parking changes, a new drop-off area, a courtyard, landscaping and additional connections to Patriot Boulevard.

John Burns, of the Evans Scholars Foundation, told trustees the organization has simply outgrown the building as its scholarship program and staff expand.

"We've had the really good fortune to be expanding and growing, with our goal of getting 1,500 scholarships out annually," Burns said.

The organization currently supports more than 1,300 students with full tuition and housing scholarships at 27 universities, he said.

"We're hiring so quickly that we just need the space to actually put people in," Burns told the board.

Trustees approved the project on first consideration. The foundation would still need to submit construction permits and complete remaining appearance-approval requirements.

2027 Budget Workshops Coming

Village President Mike Jenny also announced that staff has begun preparing Glenview's 2027 budget.

The first public budget workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Village Hall. Residents are encouraged to attend and provide input on village spending priorities.

Jenny also reminded drivers that the 20 mph speed limit applies on village residential roads and in school zones as students return for the 2026-27 school year.

RELATED: Glenview Students Head Back To School — Key 2026-27 Dates

Local Flag Football Teams Recognized

The board also recognized members of Glenview's AllGo Flag Football Academy after a strong summer in national competition.

The academy's 14U and 15U teams qualified for the NFL Flag Championships in Indianapolis, with the 14U team earning its spot by winning a regional qualifier in Green Bay and the 15U team advancing through a Chicago qualifier. Both teams then competed at the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, where the 14U team reached the quarterfinals and the 15U team reached the semifinals.

The program grew out of an all-girls team that began several years ago in the Glenview Junior Titans program.

Tom Godbout, founder and coach, told trustees many of the players are now competing at the high school level, with the team entering the season ranked fourth in Illinois and 24th nationally by USA Today.