Owners of DRM Cafe and Deli in St. Charles to open modern European bistro and wine bar next month

The owners of the recently closed DRM Cafe and Deli in St. Charles plan to open a modern European bistro and wine bar next month.

Bella European Bistro plans to open in March in the former JC Sake sushi restaurant at 3843 E. Main St., near the Target store in St. Charles.

DRM Cafe and Deli, which opened in 2017 at 610 E. Main St. and was known for its authentic Polish and German food, closed earlier this month. The new restaurant’s starting hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Restaurants and bars recently were allowed to have indoor seating again – with limited capacity – as the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the area continues to fall.

Joanna Migo, who had operated DRM Cafe and Deli with her husband, Dan Migo, had previously talked about the concept behind Bella European Bistro.

“The concept is not just going to be Polish and German food,” she had said. “That’s what we kind of specialized [in at DRM], the old-school style Chicago deli. But for Bella, it’s going to be a little mix of everything. It will all have that European touch. If you think of DRM as like the cool brother from New York, Bella is like the sister that kind of jet sets to Europe and lives in Paris and goes to Spain and Greece on the weekend. It’s a little bit of each country kind of dressed up.”

Bella, which is related to the Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese and Latin words for beautiful, is named after her daughter, Isabella. Joanna Migo has both Mexican and Italian heritage.

“It’s going to be a beautiful restaurant with beautiful food,” she said.

DRM bore her husband’s initials. He was born in Poland.

Bella will be open for brunch and dinner. Brunch items will include crepes, potato pancakes, apple pancakes, omelets, challah French toast, shakshuka and croque madame.

Lobster and crab rolls, gourmet burgers and sliders, including filet, pastrami, corned beef brisket and schnitzel, also will be on the menu along with homemade rotating soups. Bella will feature plates for sharing, such as cheese and chocolate fondue, European charcuterie plates, zapiekanka, tartines, gourmet pizzas and Spanish-style tapas.

The dinner menu will include seafood entrees like seafood stews, steaks, chops and traditional Polish, German, Spanish, Italian and American favorites. Bella will have an extensive dessert menu, including flan, tortes, cakes, German strudel, and cannoli, as well as a full-service bar.

Bella also will house a European wine and spirits gift shop.