More than 25 years ago, Tony Angeli started a festival and special event company and by chance, Andy Mastrino and John Taylor started working for him.
The rest is history.
The trio took their passion for great food and excellent service and opened Angeli’s, a welcoming trattoria that has been a Naperville favorite since 1996.
“It is truly great to be one of the few family-run places still around,” John Taylor said. “We owe all of that to our loyal customers who have several great choices in town but continue to support us.”
Taylor said it’s the “constant passion for going above and beyond expectations” that has helped them flourish in Naperville, a town that is special to them and where they have all raised their families.
“When we (first) opened one of our regular customers told us if we take care of the community the community will take care of us,” Taylor said. “We held that advice close to our hearts; we are so fortunate to operate our business and raise our families in such a great area.”
What started out as a 40-seat joint has grown to a more than 5,000-square-foot restaurant with a loyal following.
“Even though we have grown over the years, our focus (has been to keep) the feel cozy,” Taylor said. “Our staff — both in the front of the house and the kitchen — provides some of the best food and service around and are the keys for our success.”
We sat down with Taylor to learn more.
What’s on the menu? Taylor said the menu includes “something for everyone on any given occasion.” From spaghetti with homemade meat sauce to veal piccata, salmon vesuvio, filet Marsala or a chicken giardiniera, Angeli’s has you covered. In addition to the Italian classics, Taylor said they’ve added items for those who are looking for lighter options, like subbing out pasta for sauteed spinach or offering entree-sized salads instead of pasta.
About the owners: Naperville residents Tony Angeli, John Taylor and Andy Mastrino have been friends and business partners for over 25 years. John and Andy started working for Tony at a special event company and two years later, they decided to open a restaurant together.
A mission statement or philosophy: “Our philosophy has been simple from the start,” Taylor said. “Take the little things you learned while growing up, like treating people as you want to be treated and surrounding yourself with good people, and transfer those same values to your business.“
What’s the decor like? What started as a 40-seat restaurant now can serve up to 200 guests thanks to two expansions at the Chicago Avenue location. While Angeli’s increased in size, the owners were intent on maintaining the “neighborhood joint” feel. The renovation included the addition of a massive bar, intricate stonework and high end finishes while the traditional dining room includes classic red and white checked table cloths and Italian murals.
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Food specialties: John Taylor said it’s hard to choose a specialty at Angeli’s, but when pressed, he picks the veal saltimbocca because it’s “a winner every time.” This dish includes a layer of provolone and prosciutto di Parma on top of tender veal medallions with a sage and white wine reduction and is served over a bed of capellini. When it comes to entree salads, the meatball salad is popular, and includes romaine lettuce, fresh tomatoes, roasted peppers, pepperoncini peppers, black olives and red onion tossed with homemade balsamic vinaigrette and topped with three meatballs and shredded parmesan cheese.
We’re different because: Taylor said this family-owned business maintains the highest standards while holding on to the little things that have made them successful: providing excellent food and outstanding service at a fair value.
Extras: Private rooms are available (afternoons and evenings) for up to 200 guests. Angeli’s also offers a full line of catering services from small parties to weddings, corporate events and company picnics of any size.
Price range: Appetizers range from $7.95-$12.95, entree salads from $14.95-$22.95 and pasta from $9.95-$19.95. Entrees (served with your choice of soup or salad) range from $18.95 for chicken, $25.95-$27.95 for veal, $17.95-$27.95 for seafood and $34.95 for steak. They have daily specials like half-price appetizers on Wednesday or half-price glasses of wine for “ladies night” on Thursday.
Logistics: Angeli’s is located at 1748 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville, two miles east of downtown at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Maple Avenue. They are open from 4-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4-9 p.m. Sundays. Call 630-420-1370 or go to www.angeliscatering.com.
