The Gilardis have owned other restaurants throughout the years, including Philly G’s and Gilardi’s, but their newest venture, Tina G’s Cafe in Mundelein, offered Tina and Phil a new challenge: breakfast.
“It was fun to create the menu,” Tina Gilardi said. “We could offer dishes like Lobster Benedict, and that gave us an opportunity to think out of the box and be a little more creative and fun. Now we can offer lobster three times a day. And salmon — smoked salmon with breakfast and pasta and salmon at lunch and dinner.”
Tina G’s opened in July 2016 in downtown Mundelein, close to home for the longtime husband and wife culinary team.
Tina Gilardi said a lot of people frequent Tina G’s Cafe who were past customers. “Our dinner menu is similar to Philly G’s and Gilardi’s. Braised beef, ravioli and steak cognac,” she said.
Phil and Tina will also bus the tables and bring the water. “I like to make sure everyone is taken care of. If it helps our team work better and make things easier then yes, I’ll bring the daily dish. We wear a lot of hats here,” she said.
“Imagine hosting a party every night at our house. That’s what it’s like for us. I can meet all of your expectations. That’s one of the things I’ve always prided myself on is that we can make that happen. We like to try and accommodate everyone we can. It’s the whole reason we got into this. We want to make sure to go the extra mile.”
On the menu: Breakfast, lunch and dinner incorporating new dishes and old favorites from the couple’s two earlier restaurants.
About the owners: The Gilardis also own sports bar Tavern on 60 in Mundelein, but as Phil Gilardi stresses, Tina G’s Cafe is Tina’s place and Tavern is his. They met in 1991 when they were working for his father’s restaurant.
Philosophy: “We worked together for 25 years and were married for 21 years. I’m a very firm believer in our philosophy that we like to make sure everything is perfect for our clients,” Tina Gilardi said.
Decor: Upscale Italian with a rustic, family feel.
Specialties: For breakfast: Lobster omelet, Lobster Benedict, French toast on cinnamon swirl bread, bottomless mimosas. For lunch: Lobster rolls. For dinner: Ravioli, steak cognac with mushrooms.
We’re different because: “There are a lot of great restaurants in these areas, Mundelein and Libertyville, but I think Philly and I and our passion and love for this makes us different. We work well with each other,” Tina Gilardi said.
Price range: Breakfast from $2 to $14 for pancakes, omelets, eggs Benedict, sandwiches, French toast, sides and spirits. Lunch from $6 to $15 for salads, stuffed tomatoes, and pastas. Dinner from $6 to $28 for appetizers, salads, pastas and chicken, steak and pork. Desserts from $3 to $7 for ice cream, gelato, cake, cannoli and pie.
Logistics: Tina G’s Cafe, 10 E. Park St., Mundelein. Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Contact 847-566-8462; www.tinags.com.
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Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.