Streeterville just scored a two-for-one Italian upgrade. Roanoke Hospitality has rolled out La Bella Trattoria on Rush at 101 E. Erie St., opening the doors on May 15, and is lining up a rooftop sibling called Altezza to arrive later in the month. The Streeterville outpost brings a 50-seat indoor dining room, a 60-seat outdoor patio and a menu built around handmade pastas, seafood and a neo‑Neapolitan pizza program, while the forthcoming rooftop is set to lean into aperitivo-style small plates and craft cocktails for lingering evenings in the sky.
As reported by Chicago Food Magazine, La Bella Trattoria on Rush began seating diners Friday, May 15, at the corner of Rush and Erie and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The outlet notes a signature pizza program built on a 24-hour cold-fermented dough using double-zero flour sourced from Le 5 Stagioni, with pies finished in an oven running at about 540°F to build color and crispness. Reservations and location details are listed on La Bella.
Altezza rooftop leans into aperitivo culture
Altezza Rooftop is scheduled to open May 28 in the same building and will focus on small plates and cocktails inspired by Italy’s aperitivo tradition. “We’ve designed the Altezza Rooftop experience to bring the warmth of the aperitivo culture to Chicago,” CEO Bryan Gerrish said, according to Chicago Food Magazine. The rooftop menu is set to emphasize seasonal, Italian-forward cocktails alongside shareable plates and wood-fired pizzas.
Kitchen leadership and technique
Executive Chef Jacob Arenas is leading culinary direction for La Bella on Rush and helped build the Altezza menu in collaboration with Roanoke’s VP of Culinary, Rick Tramonto, a high-profile hire for the group earlier this year. Roanoke’s press listings highlight Tramonto’s involvement with the company, signaling the group’s push to pair elevated culinary talent with hotel-anchored dining projects.
What this adds to Streeterville
The pair of openings continues a recent run of hotel- and hospitality-linked restaurant launches in Streeterville as operators chase tourists, neighborhood regulars and shifting downtown foot traffic. Eater Chicago recently reported on Roanoke’s strategy of anchoring multiple concepts in and around hotels, a model the company appears to be leaning on with the 101 building.
Timing and where to find them
La Bella Trattoria on Rush is already taking guests at 101 E. Erie St., while Altezza Rooftop is slated to welcome visitors on May 28. For menus, hours and reservations, see La Bella’s location page and check OpenTable for booking availability.
