North Park’s Favorite Brunch Duo Opens a Modern Italian Restaurant – SONO is Here

North Park has a new dinner destination, and it comes from a pair of familiar faces. Ocean Mohamadi and Nino Cusimano – the husband-and-wife team behind beloved brunch spot Flora – are opening SONO. It is a modern Italian restaurant just a few blocks from their first place.

The name says it all. “Sono” is the Italian word for “I am,” and that sense of identity runs straight through everything the restaurant is about. It is reflected in the food, the space, and the people behind it.

A Menu Rooted in Southern and Central Italian Tradition

Cusimano steps into the executive chef role at SONO, bringing a menu shaped by the flavors of Sicily, Rome, and Naples. The focus is on shared plates, housemade pastas, and artisan pizzas. House focaccia is served tableside to start things off right.

A few dishes worth knowing about: the Pizza Sono, topped with salsiccia, friarielli arrostiti, bufala, shaved parmigiano, and toasted walnuts. There is also homemade baked gnocchi with pomodoro sauce, eggplant, basil, and fresh mozzarella di bufala. In addition, try Polipo Croccante – crispy octopus with potato purée and pea sauce.

It’s elevated Italian cooking without the stuffiness.

Cocktails Designed for Slow Sipping and Second Rounds

Mohamadi takes the lead on the beverage program, and her approach is anything but ordinary. Expect timeless cocktails reworked with seasonal ingredients, house infusions, and techniques like milk-clarified and fat-washed preparations. These are drinks built for pairing with food, lingering over, and ordering again.

A Space That Feels Both Grounded and Polished

The interior is the work of Cassandra Builer of Huntress Decor – the same designer behind Flora – and it shows.

The aesthetic nods subtly to 1970s glamour, blending organic woods and concrete floors with leather, hand-applied finishes, and pops of pattern. Chrome accents sit alongside deep burgundy and muted blue. As a result, the space feels warm and considered without trying too hard.