A new dining destination

CityGate Grille hopes hungry people will flock to I-88, Rt. 59

After opening a few weeks ago and percolating on a slow simmer, one of Naperville's newest restaurants, the CityGate Grille, launched its grand opening Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor A. George Pradel.

The new restaurant boasts American-Mediterranean cuisine, which director and chief operating officer of the CityGate Management Corporation Jeff Wardlow said offers sort of an "open canvas" to the dining experience.

"There will be American food with a Greek, Italian or Mediterranean flavor, which is neat, as it's somewhat of a blank canvas," Wardlow said. "We are working with chef David Sapp, who worked with us when we ran the restaurant that operated in this location earlier known as 'Riva.' David used to work at a Greek restaurant in Oak Brook, where he learned a lot about the Mediterranean influences he now uses."

Sapp began running his own kitchen at age 21 and also has worked at a range of restaurants, from traditional steakhouses to French-inspired bistros. The owners hope those experiences will elevate CityGate's cuisine.

Wardlow said the new restaurant is part of a cluster of three eateries all in the CityGate complex, which also include the well-reviewed Sugar Toad, as well as Trattoria Totuccio -- a casual Italian spot. The goal of all three restaurants, Wardlow said, is to forge new territory in the Naperville restaurant landscape.

"Everyone knows about all the restaurants downtown, as well as the places that have opened to the south as you get towards Plainfield," Wardlow said. "We think the intersection of I-88 and Route 59 is going to become a new destination site for people, and we're hoping to offer a restaurant in the suburbs with a nice urban feel."

CityGate can seat about 200 guests and also features two separate party rooms, with accommodations for up to 75 guests in the large room and about 20 in the smaller room. The Hotel Arista, located on the 31-acre CityGate complex, should provide a steady stream of patrons, but Wardlow insists the newest restaurant "has been designed to be completely accessible in design as well as in menu."

"We have entrees starting at $15 which people who dine out would agree is very reasonable, up to maybe $28 for a fillet," he said. "We think people will find this affordable as well as a place to enjoy when they go out."