Chuck George opens Chuck’s in Milan, blending American comfort food with Italian flair

Chuck George, the stateside restaurateur known for his popular smashburger concept in Milan’s Sidewalk Kitchens, has opened a new bistro in the Italian city. Chuck’s launched this week at Via Vigna 6, offering a menu that blends US comfort food with Italian-American influences. The new venue marks George’s second venture in Milan and represents a shift from his burger-focused beginnings towards a broader culinary identity.

The restaurant features a menu that reinterprets classic dishes such as Eggplant Parmesan, Alfredo Casarecce and Spaghetti and Meatballs, alongside the Fried Onion Smashburger – a twist on the item that first brought George acclaim. Other dishes include Grandma Mary’s Apple Butter Grilled Cheese, with desserts such as cheesecake served with chicory chocolate sauce.

Drinks at Chuck’s focus on natural wines and beers, with cocktails available on tap. The wine list has been curated in collaboration with Cedric Buchet, a fashion photographer turned wine enthusiast, and includes biodynamic selections from France and Switzerland. There are bottles from Anders Frederik Steen, Le Frères Soulier and a house label with Batch Wines titled LMNOP. Beers from Danish brewery Mikkeller are also on tap, alongside seasonal cocktails from Spill Drinks, which change with the time of year.

The interiors, developed in partnership with Milan-based architecture firm OTS, draw inspiration from the classic American diner. The space features a blue-and-white checkered floor, retro marble tables and vintage-style lighting. George explained: “Given the site’s large windows, I wanted to create a juxtaposition from the cobblestoned streets adjacent to it, so I began the design around the brightly coloured ceramic tile floor and created the space around that. To refrain from clashing with its historical surroundings, I inserted mute wood tones, gentle marble edges as well as curved wall sconces with matte globe spheres to soften the experience as your eyes wander from floor to ceiling.” Artworks by photographers such as Lorena Lohr and Ralph Goings are also featured, reflecting the restauranteur’s ongoing interest in visual art.

The new venue aims to offer an all-day dining experience, transitioning from a naturally lit café in the daytime to a softly lit bistro setting in the evening. Commenting on the restaurant’s evolution, George said: “What was to be solely a burger shop evolved alongside the design process. It’s in my nature to constantly change, reiterate, evolve the work that I’m doing and the conversation I am genuinely just having with myself. As for the introduction of Italian-American dishes on the menu in Italy, well, it’s quite a conversation starter isn’t it?”.

Food Desk

To book a table at Chuck’s, Via Bonvesin de la Riva, 3, 20129 Milano MI, Italy, visit the restaurant’s website here.