The spot: Claustrophobes need not fear Adesso, a corner Italian restaurant with a spacious, airy dining room and even more expansive outdoor seating along Broadway and Buckingham Place. Sit along the bustling sidewalk, and you'll never lack for topics of conversation (though if you're looking for a bit more intimacy, ask for a seat on the Buckingham side). Inside, the industrial chic decor sets a sleek backdrop for the regional Italian cuisine. On the menu, you'll find traditional pasta favorites such as lasagne Barese ($15) and spicy spaghetti arrabiata ($11; $14 with shrimp), as well as some unique options such as the hamburger con rucula, an arugula-pesto burger smothered in provolone and served on a pretzel roll with a side of rosemary-sea salt fries ($11).

The bottle: Wander up the street to Treasure Island (3460 N. Broadway. 773-327-3880) for a bottle of Italian wine to complete your meal. Tracy Liang, director of wine and spirits for Treasure Island Foods, makes it easy for you to select the perfect vino with shelf notes on several wines. She recommends a medium-bodied 2004 Villa Calcinaia Chianti Classico "Piegaia" ($13.99) to go with heavier lasagna or cream-based dishes, or a crisp 2006 Villa del Borgo Pinot Grigio ($9.99) to complement seafood. The 2005 Dievole "Pinocchio" Nero d'Avola ($10.99), a popular red choice due to the sketch of the famous puppet on the label, is best served with stick-to-your-ribs pasta or meat dishes.

[ Emily Hiser Lobdell is a Metromix special contributor. ] metromix@tribune.com

So we finally caught up with chef Shawn McClain to get the scoop on his involvement with the revamping of LePassage. As it turns out, Three-Headed Productions partner Matt Lindner is a friend of McClain's, as well as in investor in his restaurant Green Zebra.

"It's a friendship thing," McClain said of his role in the LePassage project. The chef will draw up some ideas for updated bar food and small plates-as of now, nothing's been finalized. "I'm sure [the menu] will be eclectic. ...no specific theme ... It's not gonna be serious," McClain said.

Other than coming up with the ideas for the nighttime nibbles, don't expect to see him working at the subterranean spot. McClain tells us he's just helping out where he can with ideas, but he will not be in the kitchen. He's just a friend helping a friend.

The Chicago City Council considers a bill allowing restaurants to allow owners to bring their dogs to outdoor cafes today. If it passes, Brasserie Jo says has the perfect way for Fido to celebrate.

Doggy beer.

Yes, depending on the outcome, tomorrow the restaurant will provide coupons for Happy Tail Ale, which will be redeemable at the restaurant next alfresco season (the law won't go into effect until 2008) attatched to a house-made doggy biscuit.

What is Happy Tail Ale? According to the manufacturer's web site, beerfordogs.com, the drink contains "malted barely and filtered water, fortified with glucosamine and vitamin E, with natural beef flavoring."

Well, if your dog is trying to cut back, don't worry--there's no alcohol in it.