GP Italiano, 1. S. La Grange Rd., opened its doors in November of 2021, in the middle of the worst period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bucking the odds, the modern Italian dining establishment made it through its first year and is one of the La Grange eateries participating in the 2023 La Grange Restaurant Week that begins February 24.
“The next month we got hit with the Omicron variant,” Joe Dellacroce, said of the restaurant’s beginning. “It was the toughest six to eight months for our partners and staff.”
GP Italiano is one of 16 dining establishments participating in the event that has become a tradition in La Grange.
“This is Restaurant Week’s 12th year and residents and visitors look forward to the many diverse food options in La Grange,” Nancy Cummings, Executive Director of the La Grange Business Association said in a recent interview. “It’s a 10-day food festival that provides a taste of what La Grange has to offer.”
A list of participating restaurants can be found at lagrangeevents.com, including descriptions and prices of what each establishment will offer in the way of special deals.
Dellacroce, a Westchester native and graduate of Nazareth Academy, and his wife Emily are the operating partners of GP Italiano.
He related how they put a bid on the open space shortly after getting married, saying “instead of buying a house, we bought a restaurant.”
Dellacroce stressed that ingredients — including bread and pasta — were all made in-house. They decided to feature a variation of tortellini as one of two of GP Italiano’s specials for the week.
“It’s one of our better selling pastas,” he said. “We’re trying a little out-of-the-box thinking.”
Milk Stop Cafe, 700 W. Burlington Ave., the spot that has become a mainstay of the West End of La Grange, will take a different approach to its offering for Restaurant Week.
“We wanted to let people experience the whole restaurant, the whole menu,” Chris Spagnola, who owns Milk Stop Cafe with his wife, Mary, said.
Spagnola said they decided to include the entire regular menu for the week, offering a three-course meal “for a little bit lower cost. There’s a wide range to choose from.”
Spagnola echoed Dellacroce’s comments about the challenges involved in operating during the pandemic.
“We did a lot of carryout,” he said. “Thank God we had a loyal following.”
Other restaurants participating in Restaurant Week include well-known establishments like Palmer Place, 56. S. La Grange Rd, Antonino’s, 701 W. Hillgrove Ave., and Kama Bistro, 9 S. La Grange Rd.
But a fair share of relatively new places will participate, including The Elm, 23 W. Harris Ave., Fourteensixteen, 14 Calendar Ave., and Milk Money Brewing, 75 S. La Grange Rd.
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Cummings noted that there would be a new feature to Restaurant Week.
“Participating stores will offer discounts to customers with receipts from participating restaurants,” she said.
Among them will be Olivaceto, 77 S. La Grange Rd., Cold Stone Creamery, 76 S. La Grange Rd., and Chad’s Cheesecake, 15 W. Harris Ave.
Restaurant Week will also bring back the Sip and Support, the promotion began last year where visitors can take advantage of the talents of local mixologists, buying a specialty drink and having part of the proceeds going toward a local nonprofit.
Cummings said that while the pandemic had presented serious challenges to La Grange’s restaurant scene, it was still thriving.
Chris Spagnola agreed.
“We’re opening a new feature for a private party space and gourmet sandwiches,” he said, “and we’re naming it Milk Stop West, because it’s one door West of us.”
Dellacroce was also upbeat about the future of GP Italiano.
“Ever since November business has been picking up,” he said. “We’re making strides. After surviving the pandemic, we can survive anything.”
The 2023 La Grange Restaurant Week runs from Feb. 24 to March 1.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.