Ballyhoo grabs another slice of Greenleaf building for Pizza by Sal

Another year, another expansion for Ballyhoo Hospitality, the surging restaurant group that has opened several North Shore properties in the past four years.

Just after its one month anniversary, Pizza by Sal has expanded into the adjacent space in the 1100 block of Greenleaf Avenue in Wilmette, giving Ballyhoo four storefronts — two taken up by Buck Russell’s Bakery and Sandwich Shop — in the one-level building.

The new digs, which opened Thursday, Feb. 15, give the pizzeria a full dining room to go with its takeout and delivery services.

Nicole Manion, Ballyhoo’s director of marketing, told The Record that the community welcomed Pizza by Sal “with open arms” over the past year, and the restaurant group saw “a great opportunity” to open a dine-in pizzeria.

“We wanted to give the community a place where they can celebrate the baseball win or hockey game and be a destination for birthday parties and celebrations or a family night out,” she said.

In January 2023, Pizza by Sal began serving up New York-style pizza for takeout and delivery out of 1133 Greenleaf Ave. nextdoor to its sister restaurant Buck Russell’s.

Pizza by Sal is the newest concept from Ballyhoo Hospitality, which has five North Shore properties, including Pomeroy in Winnetka (2021) and Sophia Steak in Wilmette (2020) and Lake Forest (2022), with at least one more, DeNucci’s Italian in Highland Park, on its way.

The shop is run by Salvatore “Sal” Lo Cascio, a chef formerly of another Ballyhoo restaurant, Coda di Volpe in Chicago. Lo Cascio’s speciality is Neapolitan- and Sicilian-style pizza, and he began his culinary training in Palermo, Italy — his hometown.

Pizza by Sal offers pasta dishes, salads, soup and garlic knots and is open daily from 3-9 p.m. The new dine-in menu includes some customer favorites — such as spaghetti limone and chicken piccata — from DeNucci’s in Lincoln Park. Pizza by the slice will also still be available.

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