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Piccolo Buco brings century-old Roman pizza tradition to Schaumburg, Illinois

Photo: Allie Beau Creative

June 15, 2026

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Roman pizzeria Piccolo Buco will expand its American presence this month with the opening of its fourth U.S. location in Schaumburg, Illinois, according to a press release.

The restaurant, scheduled to open June 29, is known for its century-old Roman-style pizza featuring a tall, cloudlike crust with a crisp rim that is cut tableside with scissors rather than a traditional pizza cutter. The brand originated in 1916 near Rome's Trevi Fountain, where Chef Luca Issa took over his family's restaurant in 2015 before partnering with Cooper's Hawk Founder Tim McEnery to bring the concept to the United States.

"We're thrilled to bring Piccolo Buco to Schaumburg. The first time I sat down with Luca at his original restaurant in Rome, I knew I had come across something very special. The pizza was incredible, but it was Luca's passion, hospitality and sense of community that really stayed with me. I immediately started thinking about how we could bring that experience back home," Tim McEnery, Founder and CEO of Piccolo Buco, said in the press release. "Pizza is serious business around here and Piccolo Buco is unlike anything else. It's a little slice of Rome, built around great food, great wine and bringing people together. We can't wait to open our doors and welcome the Schaumburg community."

The menu focuses on Roman classics, including pastas, antipasti and toasted Sardinian sandwiches made with the restaurant's pizza dough. Ingredients include organic San Marzano-style tomatoes from California, yellow tomatoes from southern Italy, artisan salami made in Chicago using a family recipe, and Italian "00" Caputo flour.

The beverage program features an Italian-forward wine list alongside Cooper's Hawk signatures. It also includes the Gusti Bar, a tasting concept offering rotating wine flights inspired by the Italian tradition of small wine tastings.

The Schaumburg pizzeria features a semi-private dining space, a large tasting bar and accommodations for 158 indoor guests and 30 patio diners.