Feb. 17--Alpana Singh is headed to Evanston.
The award-winning sommelier and owner of Boarding House and Seven Lions restaurants will open an Italian-Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Evanston sometime this year.
"I used to live in Rogers Park," Singh said, "and I went to Evanston all the time for dining and shopping; it was just so much more convenient than going downtown. So when this opportunity came up, I thought, 'hmmm.'"
Singh signed a lease for an 8,000 square-foot space at 1701 Maple Ave. (formerly Bravo! Cucina Italiana, which closed in October), and plans to create a three-faceted operation under the name Terra Vine.
"Terra Vine will be the large dining room," she said, "then a smaller space, Bar Terra, will be a 40-seat bar featuring a smaller menu, a convenient option for people going to the movies or wanting a casual quick bite.
"The third component will be a private-dining and catering concept; we'll have four private rooms that will seat 10, 20, 40 and 60, but can be combined to hold 140."
Singh said the next step would be to "solidify a culinary team," and because she doesn't anticipate major remodeling (although she plans to install a custom-made hardwood grill), thinks the restaurant could be ready as early as this summer.
"Italian-Mediterranean is something I've always wanted to do," she said. "I really like the wine component, so it's a nice pairing in that sense, pun intended."
Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.
pvettel@tribpub.com
Twitter @philvettel
