Rastrelli's

Our Story

Rastrelli's Restaurant was founded by Pete and Ida Rastrelli, my father and mother, who had a passion for serving the community and sharing their Italian heritage through food. Our story begins in the small town of Fornaci De Barga, Tuscany, Italy, where my father, an Italian immigrant, came to settle in the United States. He worked as a candy maker, finding his way to Chicago with the help of his sister and two brothers. There, he met my mother, the child of Italian immigrants from the same region as his own. Their love story began in a small candy shop in Clinton, Iowa, where my father worked and my mother trained as a nurse.

As a family, we have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the community for over 85 years. Our founding philosophy is rooted in the idea of service, which has guided our approach to food preparation and service. Our journey began in 1939, when we opened Rastrelli's Revere Candy Shop in the Revere Hotel. The candy shop was a popular gathering spot, featuring handmade ice cream and candies. In 1950, we relocated to a smaller store on Main Avenue, where we introduced new menu items, including spaghetti, burgers, and chicken.

The turning point came when my brother Bob, a veteran, brought home the idea of pizza from his travels. This sparked a new era for our business, as my father worked tirelessly to perfect his pizza recipe. The rest, as they say, is history.

Our Business

Today, Rastrelli's Restaurant is a cornerstone of the community, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere, complete with a salad bar and a menu featuring a blend of Italian-American classics and American favorites. We take great pride in our commitment to quality and freshly prepared ingredients, using traditional methods to craft our dishes from scratch. Our bread, a signature staple, is freshly baked daily, accompanied by our famous cabbage salad.

Our menu boasts an array of options, from pizzas to pasta dishes, including our signature Pizza, Saporito, and Chicken Asiago. We also offer a selection of sandwiches, salads, and entrees, catering to a diverse range of tastes and dietary preferences.

Our Commitment

At Rastrelli's Restaurant, we are dedicated to preserving the traditional values of our founders, who believed in the importance of family, community, and the joy of sharing a meal together. We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere, where every guest feels at home and enjoys a memorable dining experience.

In recognition of our commitment to our community, we have made it a point to give back through various charitable initiatives and sponsor local events. We believe that service is not just limited to our customers, but extends to the community as a whole.

Join Us

We invite you to join us at Rastrelli's Restaurant, where tradition meets innovation, and the spirit of family and community come together in every bite. Please come and taste the difference for yourself.