Archive for November, 2009
November 20th, 2009
It’s been a busy few weeks for the folks at Sam’s Family Restaurant.
The closing of the Pump Handle Inn last month meant a loss of business for many establishments like them near 11th Street and Harrison Ave.
The future loss of business was enough that the owner of the building decided to close the restaurant, which meant the Ramadani family had to leave the space at 1603 Harrison Ave. they had leased and occupied for 23 years.
Their longtime connections to the community led them to the unoccupied restaurant space at 915 S. Alpine Road, just south of East State Street, a few weeks ago. That space most recently was occupied by the Undecided Restaurant, and used to be the Red Flame, Grandma’s, Bogart’s and for a long time was the Last Straw.
The family hopes to reopen Sam’s there by Monday. They’ve been busy painting the walls and chairs and rearranging the restaurant to make all of the equipment fit.
Sisters Fateme and DeeDee Ramadani, daughters of the restaurant’s namesake Sam Ramadani, said they’re happy to be somewhat close to the old location, but the reality of one location closing and another opening hasn’t really set in yet.
“We were all really close (at the old location). The customers and the staff all knew each other by name,” Fateme Ramadani said. “It’s been tough not being open, but we’ve had a lot of help from customers moving and getting this place ready … The whole thing is really surreal.”
The new restaurant will have a salad bar and a dinner buffet. Aside from that, the menu will stay pretty much the same.
Regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, with plans to hopefully have later hours on Friday and Saturday. Call the restaurant at 815-398-8022 for more information.
November 20th, 2009
Granny’s Home Cookin’, 3605 Auburn St., is open with a menu full of breakfast, lunch and dinner specials.
The restaurant opened Nov. 7, owner Martin Acevedo said. He owns the Garden View Family Restaurant in Mount Morris and ran a Granny’s restaurant in Freeport for many years.
Acevedo said he was looking to break into the Rockford restaurant market.
Breakfast specials start at just less than $2 for oatmeal and $3 for waffles. Sandwich specials run about $4.50 and dinners start at $5.99.
Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. now seven days a week, but Acevedo said they may bump up the closing time to 9 p.m. Call the restaurant at 815-490-1200 for more information.
November 13th, 2009
Mizu restaurant, 3801 N. Perryville Road, is open for lunch and dinner, minus alcohol for now.
The space started out as an Asian restaurant but most recently operated at The Breeze bar and grill.
The menu features sushi and sashimi priced from $3 to $15, as well as soups and salads, appetizers, special dinner entrees, hibachi entrees, tempura and hot noodle dishes, fried noodle and fried rice dishes, special selections for children and desserts.
Most dinner entrees range in price from $10.95 to $20.95. Lunch specials and platters range from $8.50 to $11.50.
Owners are John Li and Ken Lin, who have some experience with local restaurants. Mizu offers dine-in and take-out service, and officials hope to start catering and booking larger parties soon.
Manager May Chen said the restaurant hopes to have a liquor license by next month, and the plan is to sell beer, wine and sake selections.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Call the restaurant at 815-633-5555 for more information.
November 6th, 2009
A new sports bar and pub is opening this fall inside the Clocktower Resort & Conference Center, 7801 E. State St.
The Tilted Kilt is set to open soon, offering food, drinks and sexy waitresses. According to the Web site, the servers dress in short plaid kilts, matching red halter tops, knee socks and low-cut, midriff-baring white shirts that tie in the front.
The Web site advertises the Tilted Kilt as “the best-looking sports pub you’ve ever seen.” Menu items include sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, pizzas and unique features like “Danny Boy’s Shepherd’s Pie” and “Fast Bastard’s Meatloaf Sandwich.”
The original Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery opened in 2003 at the Las Vegas Rio Hotel and Casino. There are also similar franchises in Chicago and Wisconsin.
Officials are having a “casting call” — presumably interviewing prospective employees — Nov. 20 through Nov. 22. Call General Manager Erin Colombi at 815-229-4031 for more information.
November 6th, 2009
Park City Restaurant and Pancake House, 4820 N. Second St., has closed its doors, but work already has started to reopen the establishment.
The restaurant first opened in 2004. Executive Plastering Co. of Machesney Park is the contractor doing exterior work on the building now.
Fortino Corrillo is the person reopening the restaurant, according to Loves Park city records. The business is already permitted to operate as a restaurant, but officials are unsure what kind of food will be served when the business reopens.
Stay tuned for more information on this one.
November 6th, 2009
Phomma (left) and son Dezz Souvannasane stand outside the Charley’s Grilled Subs restaurant near Perryville Road and East State Street.
Rockford diners can now feast on Philly steak sandwiches and gourmet fries at Charley’s Grilled Subs, 7038 Walton St.
The restaurant is run by the Souvannasane family, including father Phomma and son Dezz. They also run Charley’s Steakery at CherryVale Mall.
The family came from Laos but has been in Rockford for more than 20 years. Dezz is the new location’s general manager, and he has hopes of opening more restaurants in the future.
Betsy Wright, Charley’s director of marketing, said customers requested a bigger location and more offerings. Charley’s corporate office is based in Columbus, Ohio, and today the company has about 400 locations across the world.
The menu features grilled Philly steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and other deli sandwiches, as well as fries. Individual items range in price from about $2 to $6. Items are prepared as ordered.
Call Charley’s at 815-227-5679 for more information.
