Timpano Italian Chophouse (Naperville)

Just wondering if anyone has tried this relatively new place. Overall, I'm very skeptical, based on its predecessor (Samba Room), its status as a chain restaurant, its faux authenticity, and the high price of many of the entrees. However, our neighbor (whose judgment I trust) thought that the food was excellent.

Interesting the way the world works. This place, I believe, was started by one of the big "concept" factories in Florida. Possibly Outback, but maybe a smaller player. Anyway, the originals in Tampa and Orlando have a Chicago/NY Italian American theme, and I believed when I first saw the Tampa branch that the corporation was trying to go toe-to-toe with Maggiano's for the slightly-higher-end-Italian-American-theme establishment. The context is that Maggiano's was going gangbusters in Tampa at the time and the competition wanted in.

To my mind, it would be highly ironic to eat at such a place in Chicago, but not quite as sad as eating at Buca di Beppo.

PS, I now see that this is the Maggiano clone offered by TGI, as in Friday's.

The restaurant is owned by E-Brands, of Orlando, FL. I agree that it is somewhat ironic to eat at a faux/theme place in the Chicago area whose theme is "the classic restaurants and clubs of Chicago [and New York]." However, I don't think that this place is intending to compete with Maggiano's or Buca di Beppo. It is quite expensive with a menu that is much more focused on aged beef and chops.

In any event, I don't really care about the faux atmosphere -- although it may prove to be annoying -- as always, I'm more interested in the quality of the food.

http://www.e-brands.net/home.html

I remember there being one in Schaumburg several years ago (in the space on Golf Rd now occupied by TGI Fridays).

I thought it was pretty good, nothing spectactular, but decent food, good service, nice atmosphere. Don't recall the price... must have been at least 5 years ago when I was last there.

Must be 2 different Timpano's chains. I saw a TGI connection somewhere, but now I think the fancy places in N'Ville and Florida are unrelated. The chain referenced by the OP is too new to have been in Schaumberg 5 years ago.

JeffB wrote:Must be 2 different Timpano's chains. I saw a TGI connection somewhere, but now I think the fancy places in N'Ville and Florida are unrelated. The chain referenced by the OP is too new to have been in Schaumberg 5 years ago.

When visiting the website for e-brands I learned that they own both the Samba Room and Timpano's chains based out of Florida.

Flip

The erstwhile Schaumburg Timpano's was indeed owned by Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, owners of TGI Fridays. They divested.

Nation's Restaurant News wrote:Carlson to divest e-brands, focus on core concepts

DALLAS -- Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, in order to focus its attention on its T.G.I. Friday's and Pick Up Stix concepts, has put its emerging brands division on the market.

Carlson already has rolled out new T.G.I. Friday's menus, reducing the number of items and introducing 18 new ones, and it is working on new ideas at a test unit in Lewisville, Texas, to update and upscale the 38-year-old concept.

The emerging brands division, which is composed of 21 restaurants, was launched in 1998 with the purchase of the upscale Star Canyon and expanded with the creation of Samba Room, Mignon, Taqueria Canonita, Timpano Italian Chophouse and FishBowl. Dallas-based Carlson said the restaurants in its emerging-brands, or e-brands division, as it's called, may be sold singly or as a group, but no deals had been finalized.

Just thought I'd report back on this place, for the benefit of you west suburbanites, as I suspect that Timpano will be in the space formerly occupied by Samba Room for a while.

We both had steaks (filets) and they were well-prepared and flavorful. The side of asparagus "al forno" was excellent. The asparagus was baked and covered with a nicely browned layer of cheese (I believe parmigiano-reggiano and asiago and/or pecorino). The dessert "tray" is rather gimmicky. The desserts are somewhat unique, as I would best describe them as "mini" desserts (such as tiramisu in a small glass slightly larger than a good-sized shot glass). This was okay with us, as we're not big on dessert -- others may be disappointed, but I doubt you'll leave hungry.

Our server was a bit over the top, but seemed to be genuinely interested in making sure that we enjoyed our experience. Several "general manager" types stopped by to confirm that we were enjoying our meals (I suspect that this practice is, in part, because the restaurant is relatively new). The atmosphere definitely is faux "Chicago steakhouse", but the live entertainment is a nice touch, as the musicians can be heard throughout the restaurant (it was very loud upon entering near the bar, but conversation-friendly where we were seated).

Overall, the experience was about what I expected -- I wasn't disappointed with our meal, nor was I thrilled to the point that we'll be rushing back there. IMO, it is on par with Sullivan's, and not as good as Hugo's. It certainly isn't cheap, and is not intending to compete with Maggiano's or even Rosebud. They definitely are aiming at the Sullivan's/Hugo's crowd. It was pretty crowded when we were there (8:30 - 10:00 on a Saturday night), but not "packed." I suspect that at some point we'll return to try some other entrees and perhaps the flatbreads (which are supposed to be good).

Ron A. wrote: IMO, it is on par with Sullivan's, and not as good as Hugo's. It certainly isn't cheap, and is not intending to compete with Maggiano's or even Rosebud. They definitely are aiming at the Sullivan's/Hugo's crowd.

Hmm, Ron, "on a par with Sullivan's?" Since my one meal at Sullivan's was one of the worst steakhouse meals I have ever had - okay, only partly because the meat was medicore, but also the idiot server who knew zip but kept telling us what we should and should not eat and drink (the recommendations were laughably moronic), and the price was excessive for what was delivered.

Hugo's I like, but my last meal there was mediocre, too, so I am limiting my visits to lunch for now. Naperville seems to be an outpost of sub-par clones these days, with nothing original, well executed or particularly interesting at least toward the finer dining end (still have not tried Catch 35, so I can't comment on that one - I am imagining it is a more expensive version of Pier 34, which is not so busy now, so I go there for my seafood).

I still do not understand why these other places do a decent business and Tango languishes with food that is at least as good, lower prices and no wait. I also do not understand why we cannot support a good chef making good food. But I digress. Anyway, sounds like Timpano's will reside on the same list as Samba Room did - okay for a business dinner if someone else is paying, or I can't get into any other place.

Rant over, thanks for your patience.

dicksond,

Unfortunately, I think your observations are pretty accurate. There's nothing too original or interesting going on in downtown N'ville -- it has become an outpost for city places.

Not to sound like an elitist, but maybe the fact that places like Sullivan's flourish (while places like Ted Cizma's Elaine go under) says something about the typical residents' taste and standards for high-end dining. That said, I think that, generally speaking, Naperville has a lot to offer for the suburbs (although most of it is arguably pretty mainstream and pedestrian).

Ron A. wrote:Not to sound like an elitist, but maybe the fact that places like Sullivan's flourish (while places like Ted Cizma's Elaine go under) says something about the typical residents' taste and standards for high-end dining.

Even though I pretty much agree with you about the typical Naperville resident, a big reason Elaine failed is because it couldn't control costs. There's another reason as well, which I would prefer to not discuss, but let's just say it's no accident that Ted Cizma has dropped off the radar since his departure from Elaine...

You need sonar to find Ted Cizma now. He's the chef at Soundings, at the Shedd Aquarium.

C'mon, you can surely dish

Don't know about the gossip, but I did eat at Elaine twice, and sorely wanted to like it, but the food did not click for me at all.

The last time, if you want gossip, I ran into one of the Lachowicz Bros (then of Les Deux Gros) in the hall, greeted him with surprise and asked what brought him here. He said they were "looking at some possibilities." A short while later he moved to Le Francais, and the rest is history.

Now I want your gossip, please.

dicksond wrote:Don't know about the gossip, but I did eat at Elaine twice, and sorely wanted to like it, but the food did not click for me at all.

The last time, if you want gossip, I ran into one of the Lachowicz Bros (then of Les Deux Gros) in the hall, greeted him with surprise and asked what brought him here. He said they were "looking at some possibilities." A short while later he moved to Le Francais, and the rest is history.

Now I want your gossip, please.

The owners of Elaine reached an agreement with Ted Cizma which allowed him to exit gracefully (no pun intended). The Lachowicz brothers were brought in as consultants in an attempt to get a handle on costs, but IMO their methods drove away the core patrons, and shortly thereafter the restaurant was 10 West.

My gossip? It ain't gossip, it's first-hand knowledge. Ted Cizma has burned so many bridges, both personally and professionally, that unless he moves out of the Chicago area, I seriously doubt whether he will ever again approach the level of prominence he had during the Grace/Elaine years.

This is the extent to which I'm willing to discuss this issue. Moderators, if you feel this post went "over the line", feel free to remove it.