In mid-May a new dining venue opened at the Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino & Resort and its creator, celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, was on hand Tuesday, May 27, to introduce his new venture to local media.
Located atop the building on its 17th floor, Alto translates to “high” in Italian. It offers sweeping, panoramic views of the suburbs surrounding the East Hazel Crest property and Thornton quarry. Chicago’s stunning skyline is clearly visible. Floor-to-ceiling windows enclose the venue on three sides, and an open-air rooftop area with small dining tables and outdoor furniture provides a spot to relax with a cocktail as you take in the sights.
“With Alto, we’re elevating guests’ dining experience by delivering refined flavors and exceptional hospitality in one of the most dynamic dining rooms in Chicagoland,” said Viviani. “It’s approachable elegance with vibrant character—exactly what the Southland deserves.”
Upscale menu focused on prime cuts and inspired by flavors of Italy
Alto’s menu blends old world Italian flavors with modern flair, creative craft cocktails, fresh seafood, exceptional beef cuts and house-made pastas and sauces.
Pasture-raised filet, whole Maine lobster, fresh branzino, squid ink lumache and a shellfish salad are among the specialities offered. Lobster bisque is served table side. Wet-aged steaks are aged for a minimum of 28 days. Lump crab, jumbo shrimp and lobster tail are available accompaniments to steaks along with an array of a half-dozen scratch-made sauces.
The menu highlights steaks, classic Italian-American, some seafood dishes, and fresh pasta made from scratch. Viviani said he’s excited about the octopus, our pork chop and veal, and the dry-aged steaks.
“The best thing, I think, about the Alto menu is that while we have a fairly refined look and feel, the food is styled in the Italian way – very approachable, luscious, delicious and the absolute perfect ratio between what it’s worth and what you have to pay for it. You’ll be very happy with the menu here at Alto,” he said.
Executive Chef Dirk Flanigan said one of his favorite dishes is the Spicy Creste di Gallo, a curly pasta with San Marzano tomatoes, Grana Padano cheese, vodka and Calabrian chili. At $22, the scratch-made dish is one of the more economical menu items. Steaks start at $48 for a petite filet and go up to $200 for a 36-ounce Heritage Angus sourced from local meat purveyor, Meats by Linz. Appetizers are in the $22 to $28 range and a variety of soups and salads are under $20.
If you’re really looking to splurge, order “The Willis” tower for $80 or “The Creek” seafood tower for $215, which encompasses all the items of the “The Willis” (shrimp cocktail, 1/2 shell oysters, cold poached mussels, tuna tartare, crab salad) along with a whole poached Maine lobster and accoutrements.
Finish your meal with the Dolci (“sweets” or “desserts” in Italian) options of tiramisu, pistachio creme brûlée, chocolate peanut butter tart, gelato, sorbet or their signature carrot cake cheesecake, which is drizzled with a sweet caramel sauce infused with pureed carrot.
Alto is full of the kind of creativity and opulence Viviani has become known for in the food industry. The native of Florence, Italy, began working in a local bakery at age 11 and transitioned into restaurant kitchens. He was a sous chef by age 16.
Viviani, a favorite on “Top Chef,” has opened 20 restaurants in the U.S. , including Siena Tavern in Chicago and later opened a number of other concepts in Chicago and the suburbs as well as a catering business.
In addition to Alto, Viviani’s team oversees several other dining venues at Wind Creek Chicago, including Shuck It, a seafood and oyster bar located on the first floor in the Food Bazaar food hall. Wind Creek’s Food Bazaar features six unique venues: Abuela Cocina, Salt and Sea, Burgers’n Wiches, Bottega, Southern District and Sugar Lips, in addition to Shuck It.
Milestone moment for the region
“This is a milestone moment for Wind Creek Hospitality — not just for our resort, but for the region,” said Roger Kuehn, executive vice president and general manager of Wind Creek Chicago Southland. “From the beginning, we set out to raise the bar for what’s possible in the Southland, and with Alto, we’re proud to help redefine Chicago’s culinary edge just beyond the city skyline.”
In April the 255-room hotel inside Wind Creek Chicago Southland, that includes 43 suites, opened and spa service was launched recently, as well. The casino opened in November 2024.
Alto offers dinner service hours five days a week. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, opening at 5 p.m. It closes at 10 p.m. every day except Saturday when hours are extended to 11 p.m. For more information or to view a menu, go to windcreek.com/chicagosouthland/dining/alto.
