June 24--Bar Toma (110 E. Pearson St., 312-266-3110) will close for a few weeks, beginning July 6, for a remodel that proprietor Tony Mantuano says will double its pizza-making capacity and return the restaurant to its roots.
"We were getting away from pizza," Mantuano said of his casual Italian restaurant, "and that's what we want to be known for. We have a great pizza and a great crust, and there's a lot of craft in that. We want to highlight what we do well."
To that end, Bar Toma is adding a second wood-fueled pizza oven, and relocating both ovens near the front door.
"Our oven was in the back," Mantuano said. "We said, 'let's put them in front where the guests can see them. We'll have two wood-burners right by the front entrance."
The dining room also will be redesigned, primarily to accommodate the pizza ovens.
"The layout will adjust some, but it's really all about the ovens," Mantuano said. "It's a lot of work; three-fourths of it is adding the proper ventilation."
Mantuano estimates that the project will take three weeks. "Four weeks, max," he said.
Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.
pvettel@tribpub.com
