Lola and Luca Sema got the keys to 500 W. St Clair Ave., the former home of XO Steaks, about eight months ago. After stripping the space down to its exposed-brick shell and rebuilding it, the husband-and-wife team is nearly ready to invite their first dinner guests to Acqua di Luca. That is expected to take place on Monday June 14.
The Italian-style seafood restaurant has a completely different look and feel than its predecessor thanks to exposed brick walls, new hardwood flooring, an open kitchen and new configuration that relocated the bar to the opposite side of the main room. New lighting, new furniture and new windows, some of which fold out of view, combine to create an open, elegant restaurant.