Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, historic house in Geneva, and Fiora’s now calls the house home.
“This house is 90 years old and was owned by a wealthy family as a second home,” said co-owner Ann Anastasio. Ten years ago she and her husband Mike bought it to save it from demolition. “My dad worked here in this building 30 years ago. We knew there was a beautiful space on the first floor and when we walked in I said, ‘We need to open a restaurant here.’ It took us over a year to complete the renovations. We really believed in our vision.”
Fiora’s is named after Mike and Ann Anastasio’s 10-year-old daughter, Alexa Fiora. “We just made up her name from Ann Frances, which is my name. My husband is Italian and he wanted a name that reflected that,” Anastasio said.
Fiora’s opened eight years ago. “We want people to feel like they walk into someone’s house for a drink, like a home away from home. Our own slice of heaven,” Anastasio said of the different rooms, including the library bar, sunroom, wine cellar and chandelier room, with two original chandeliers.
The menu includes seafood, poultry, ribs, steak and pasta. “Before we opened we had traveled a bit and asked friends what they liked,” Anastasio said. “The majority of our popular dishes are items we would enjoy. Our menu changes daily and it really depends on fresh fruit, vegetables and meats our chef has that day. He is very creative.”
Anastasio said she believes in giving back to the Geneva community, and she is thrilled that Fiora’s “will become a place to go and meet.
“We have live music on a beautiful summer night. We have people that stop in the street with their families and even dance. That’s what life is all about, right? Dancing with your children on the lawn.”
About the owners: The Anastasios bought the historic house to rescue it from demolition. “We knew that most people wouldn’t be able to see this place if it were turned private so we decided to open a restaurant so that everyone could enjoy it,” Anastasio said.
Specialties: American- and European-influenced cuisine ranging from homemade soups to scallops, boneless short rib, salmon, duck, calamari, bang bang shrimp and crabcakes.
Prices: Artisan cheese selections are $6.95 for one and $16.95 for three. Appetizers from $9.95 to $13.95. Soup and salad from $5.95 to $10.95. Lunch from $4.95 to $11.95. Sandwiches from $10.95 to $13.95. Entrees from $10.95 to $35.95. Sides from $3.95 to $4.95. Desserts are $6 to $7. Dessert wine and spirits from $8 to $10. Bourbons from $9 to $12.
More Top Picks How To Help An Autistic Child During A Meltdown
Logistics: Fiora’s is at 317 S. Third St., Geneva. Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call 630-262-1317 or go to www.fioras.com.
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.