Lupi & Iris comes from James Beard Award-winning chef Adam Siegel.

Adam Siegel’s new Downtown restaurant, Lupi & Iris, has a long-awaited opening date – Tuesday, May 17, with dinner service from 5-9 p.m. Occupying 10,500-square-feet inside the 7Seventy7 Building (777 N. Van Buren St.), the new spot pays culinary homage to the cuisines of the French and Italian Rivieras.

Siegel and his business partner, architect and developer Michael DeMichele, have spent the last year focused on bringing this project to fruition.

“When we say we focused on every detail, we’re being literal. It took us months to select our table setting of china, glassware and silverware. The pieces we chose are 100% unique to Lupi & Iris,” says Siegel, formerly executive chef for The Bartolotta Restaurants, in a press release.

When I spoke to Siegel a few months ago, he kept a lid on interior details. But I now know these tidbits: the 84-seat dining room includes upholstered teal leather chairs imported from Italy. Walnut paneling and upholstered walls frame both the main dining area and two private rooms. The flooring is oak, with an alternative design inlay. The open ceiling is marked by undulating waves of custom acoustic baffles and chandeliers.

There’s also an 18-seat horseshoe-shaped zinc bar with walnut paneling and inlaid brass accents. The bar area features an elevated lounge with upholstered banquette in burnt-orange leather. Behind the bar is a glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled walk-in wine vault holding 200 bottles and featuring an end-grain teak island for decanting and tasting.

As for the kitchen, it’s open-concept, with an eight-seat chef’s counter bordered by three workstations, giving diners a lot of cool culinary scenery to take in.

The patio – expected to open in June (weather dependent) – seats 60.

Siegel also shared some specific menu items: 

Siegel calls the menu “a reflection of my years of experience as a chef. Throughout my career, I’ve worked for Italian, French and Spanish chefs. I’ve worked in France and lived and worked in Italy. All of those influences can be found in the menu I created. I’m doing cuisine that I love and I’m looking forward to sharing Lupi & Iris with the city that I love.” 

More specifics: Hours will begin with dinner Mon-Thurs 5-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5-10 p.m.; Sun 5-9 p.m. Lunch will be added in mid-June and brunch, in late-June. Reservations can be made here or by calling 414-293-9090.

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