Phil Stefani to open Italian restaurant with daughter Gina Stefani in former Kow Kow space

Veteran restaurateur Phil Stefani has purchased the closed Chinese-American classic restaurant property Kow Kow in Lincolnwood and plans to tear down the building to open an Italian steak and seafood restaurant by summer 2017, with help from his daughter Gina Stefani.

Gina Stefani owns MAD Social in the West Loop.

The Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants group owns a number of Chicago-area establishments, including five locations of Tuscany restaurant, Riva at Navy Pier, and The Flamingo Rum Club, which opened in River North last week.

“We’re going to start from scratch rather than try to remodel the existing building, which would be pretty difficult,” said the senior Stefani.

By Louisa Chu . Contact Reporter

Chicago Tribune