Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani bringing two new restaurants to Barrington
Celebrity chef and suburban resident Fabio Viviani is bringing two new restaurants to downtown Barrington.
The first, BOCADO Tapas, will open this fall upstairs at 133 Park Ave. in the village’s downtown.
The eatery will focus on “shareable plates, bold yet approachable flavors and a thoughtfully crafted beverage program, all within a warm, energetic atmosphere designed for everything from weeknight dinners to cocktails and late-night gatherings,” according to a news release.
“I love the idea of taking the spirit of tapas, the variety, the bold flavors and the social experience of sharing food, and giving it our own interpretation,” Viviani said in the release. “Spain is really the starting point, but the menu allows us to travel through South America and across the Mediterranean. The menu is meant to be fun and approachable, but there is a lot of thought behind every dish.”
The restaurant promises the flavor traditions of the Spanish Mediterranean with influences that extend as far as South America, with dishes like Peruvian-style ceviches, tacos and other craveable small plates.
The menu also will draw inspiration from Brazil and Argentina’s coastal cuisines, incorporating dips, skewers, grilled proteins, fresh seafood and vegetable-forward dishes.
The beverage program will complement the menu with classic and contemporary cocktails as well as a curated wine program.
Viviani, who lives in Barrington Hills, rose to fame as a fan favorite on Bravo’s Top Chef and has made frequent appearances on Food Network and shows like “Good Morning America.”
Among his myriad restaurants nationwide are Giostra, a classic Italian restaurant in South Barrington and the Italian steakhouse LAGO in Lake Zurich.
After BOCADO, Viviani plans to open Retoro downstairs in the same building in early 2027.
Retoro will feature an intimate, chef-led Japanese dining experience centered on the tradition of omakase, a dining style in which guests entrust the chef with selecting and presenting the evening’s dishes.
Rather than ordering from a traditional menu, diners will be guided through a multicourse progression of sushi, sashimi and other Japanese-inspired dishes, with a curated menu that can change nightly. The chef will personally introduce each course and share the ingredients, preparation and flavors behind every dish, creating an immersive and highly personalized culinary experience.
“There is something special about being able to create restaurants in the community where I live,” Viviani said. “We want BOCADO and Retoro to add to the energy happening on Main Street and help make Barrington an even stronger dining destination and social scene.”
rwest@dailyherald.com