Local Voices

New Highwood Steakhouse to Open in Early July

P.M. Prime received its liquor license this week and is moving ahead with an early July opening in the space formerly occupied by Gabriel's.

The following is from P.M. Prime:

P.M. Prime was awarded its liquor license on Tuesday evening in a unanimous vote by the Highwood city council.  Proprietor Steve Platcow of Lake Forest plans to open the new steakhouse in early July in the space that was formerly occupied by the popular Gabriel’s Restaurant.  Platcow is teaming up with James Beard nominee Chef Dominic Zumpano to offer traditional steakhouse fare along with some modern interpretations.

The menu will include popular steakhouse favorites such as the filet mignon and New York strip, but it will also have some more unusual cuts such as the kobe skirt steak or hanger cut steaks.  P.M. Prime will feature the highest quality cuts of prime beef available. Chef Zumpano will incorporate modern techniques that will appeal to foodies, but also have some timeless classics for traditional steak lover.  Diners may find Chicken Fried Steak Medallions on the menu one evening, or Shrimp Dijon with Tamarind Sauce and Pickled Tomatoes the next.  And they can always count on a getting a great steak.  Chef Zumpano is also looking to connect diners to the cuisine by offering some special experiences such as finishing a risotto or lamb shank for diners tableside.

P.M. Prime will accommodate 85 diners, plus 20 in the outdoor café. The decor will be classically elegant with a modern flair.  There will be two private rooms that can accommodate groups of 2-35.  One room overlooks a very impressive wine cellar.  The restaurant will open at 310 Green Bay Rd, Highwood, IL 60040.

Chef Dominic Zumpano’s culinary career has spanned from Maine’s Rose Garden Restaurant, one of only 47 five-diamond restaurants in the U.S., to Lake Forest’s popular Market House on the Square.   Zumpano was nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest and was asked to cook at James Beard House and Bon Appetit Culinary Studio in New York.   He was nominated for Chicago’s Jean Bonchet award as a rising chef and was also featured in Best Chefs of America as one of Chicago’s top chefs for its 2013 book.    
Zumpano is well-known for the passion and creativity that he brings to his cuisine.   Zumpano is known for inventing innovative, seasonal menus based on fresh, local ingredients produced from a network of artisans and organic farmers. He also loves preparing a great steak and is particularly proud of his own signature steak sauce which he describes as “being so rich that it deserves its own trust fund”.

Lake Forest resident Steve Platcow, CEO of RPM Advertising in Chicago, has spent the last decade championing the fine dining experiences found at Caesars Palace, Horseshoe and Harrah’s nationwide.  In addition to overseeing some of RPM’s biggest campaigns, Steve’s vision was a guiding force in the award-winning and Roger Ebert critically acclaimed documentary, Not Yet Begun to Fight.  Currently, Steve serves as a board member on the Chicago Public Library Foundation as well as the Illinois Chapter of the March of Dimes. He received a B.S. in Organizational Communications at Arizona State and has earned his Commercial Pilot’s License.


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