Vie Owner Virant to Open New Hinsdale Restaurant

By Joe O'Donnell

Paul Virant, an award-winning chef and owner of Western Springs restaurant, Vie, has partnered with restaurateur Peter Burdi to open a contemporary American bistro in downtown Hinsdale. 

The restaurant, Burdi's fourth, will open in the former Zak's Place space at 112 S. Washington St., according to Hinsdale economic development director Tim Scott.

"The lease has been signed and the project is being planned out," Scott said. "We're meeting some time in the next week to work out a timeline in detail."    

Burdi confirmed his partnership with Virant on the new restaurant, but did not want to comment further at this time.

Burdi, a Burr Ridge resident, owns the 1st Street restaurants Il Poggiolo, Nabuki and CiNe in Hinsdale. Virant is the owner of Western Springs' Vie, 4471 Lawn Ave., and Chicago's Perennial Virant, 1800 N. Lincoln Ave.

"We're super-excited about the people who are involved," Scott said. "This is exciting to have for town."

Vie, which opened in 2004, received Michelin stars in 2010 and 2011.

"Chef Virant's restaurants are built upon his guiding philosophy of making the ingredients—their origin, production and quality—the full focus of his culinary approach," Perennial Virant's About page reads. "Embracing the Midwestern seasons and utilizing methods of preservation allow guests to always expect a menu that showcases local flavors and ingredients in abundance."

The space Burdi and Virant's new restaurant will occupy has been vacant since November 2012, when Zak's Place closed after its owners could not agree on a long-term lease extension with the building owner.