From the team at SOMOS Hospitality comes UMMO, an exciting, Chicago concept with a vibrant approach to hospitality.
Principal/Co-Founder Germán González and Executive Chef José Sosa – along with Chef/Partner Carlos Gaytán – have introduced UMMO, a new restaurant and social lounge located in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighbourhood. Together, they bring new Italian cuisine to the city.
The name UMMO is derived from fumo in Italian, which translates to “smoke”. It is intended as a spirited nod to live fire cooking, which plays an integral role in many of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Designed by the award-winning Studio K Creative, UMMO features two distinct, yet deeply interconnected experiences: the first-floor restaurant and second-floor, social loft. With cues inspired by galleries in Milan, UMMO’s spaces share a colourful story of culture and artful living.
The visual experience begins outside of the restaurant, where the façade of 22 W. Hubbard has been completely transformed with the placement of vertical slats tracing the entire length of the building. Made from black aluminum, rows are spaced evenly from one to the next. Dramatically lit from both the top and bottom, expect a stunning visual effect – and a true sense of arrival.
As guests are ushered into the sophisticated, open-layout dining room seating 50 and a stylish bar for 12, they are warmly enveloped in demure, natural palettes of sage, tan and brown. This direction is intentional. Like Chef Sosa’s approach to simplicity on the plate, Herold shares the same philosophy when it comes to design – allowing for the fullest expression of color to come from the presence of people. Ombre herringbone flooring, custom crafted by Italian-based Diesel, draws the eye long and all the way to the bustling open kitchen on the far end of the dining room. There, the gaze rests on a show-stopping, copper countertop placed directly in front of the kitchen, a dramatic focal point.
Art in all forms is an integral component of UMMO’s environment. With curation by notable Chicago gallerist Laura Cartwright, expect to find sophisticated pieces that introduce both colour and conversation. In the dining room, these might include prized vintage jazz prints from musical festivals in Italy, mid-century finds, unique sculptures and more. Herold and her team also replaced the dining room’s shared staircase wall leading to the loft with glass, creating a fascinating point of visual connection between diners and those walking upstairs. And the open kitchen? Art in motion, from pasta rolling to live-fire cooking.
As guests travel upstairs to the social loft, they will begin to feel – step by step – even more jovial energy, beginning with enigmatic art pieces hung to ceiling height along the staircase. Upstairs, art is thoughtfully placed throughout the expansive loft area – leaning against a wall, or atop a shelf casually hanging from the beams. An immense, back-lit retro installation extends the entire length of the west wall, at once somehow conjuring both disco and modern Italian art.
The loft at UMMO is cool and 70’s vintage-inspired, with well-loved Persian rugs padding the floors and seating and table configurations that range from convivial brasserie-style to stylish lounge formats. Eclectic furniture pieces are chic and purposeful – a credenza and a chaise here, a soft leather couch there. The loft’s gaming area unites guests in activity, while a separate dining room swathed in hues of indigo blue is available for those seeking a private experience.
Whether enjoying an Italian meal in the dining room to the strains of jazz or toasting to the good life with friends upstairs as vibey house beats fill the air, UMMO is an oasis finely designed for the enjoyment of food, conversation, art, music and storytelling. It is designed for the enjoyment of life.
