Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net.
Back in my youth, Chicago was known for its great supper clubs. Places like the Edgewater Beach Hotel and the London House were destinations for senior proms. These were restaurants that offered entertainment as a package deal, usually with a cover charge depending upon the quality and cost of the performers. Recently, my wife Judy and I were joined by Tony Villella of N.30 for an evening that brought back memories of those supper club days as we trekked to Bloomingdale to dine and be entertained at Tony Spavone’s Ristorante.
We arrived early (5:30), which afforded us with an opportunity to meet the owner and chat with him. We learned that Tony came to the U.S. when he was 13 years old from Naples, Italy, with not a bit of English speaking skills. He found himself in Queen of All Saints School in Chicago, where the nuns did their best to teach him a new language and at the same time help him be assimilated into the classroom activities. He told us about another boy in his class that spoke mainly German with a bit of both English and Italian who was a big help until the teacher moved the boy to a different seat because they were disrupting the class with their constant chatter. Tony later entered Mather H.S. but never finished. He was then working full time in his family’s restaurant business. Soon, he was cooking and learning how to sing from the many musicians that sang in their restaurant. From that date on, he knew this would be his life, and 29 years ago he opened Spavone’s.
Every night is entertainment night at the restaurant with Tony singing for his customers, walking around from table to table to talk to his guests, even bringing bread to the tables. You can see the excitement in his eyes as he is in his own world of doing what he loves and does best: feeding and entertaining people. Dining at Spavone’s brought back memories of visits to Italy for Judy and me because music and dining are the custom at many of their restaurants. Tony’s voice is very much the Italian tenor telling a story as he sings many Italian and American songs made famous by the greats like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. But tonight was very special because of a one-night appearance by The Drifters, a popular rhythm & blues group from the 50’s. Only one of the original members of the group still remains, but the new members proved to be great replacements.
The crowd really got into their renditions of classic songs from that era such as their big hit “Under the Boardwalk.” The other songs that had people dancing in the spaces between tables were “Love Train,” “My Girl,” “On Broadway,” “A Rose in Spanish Harlem,” “Stand by Me,” and a great rendition of “Who’s Makin’ Love to Your Old Lady…” that had the audience joining in on the chorus. I spoke to the leader of the group after their performance, and they are hoping to be booked into Drendel Hall in the near future. If that happens, don’t miss them.
So, you already know I’ve cooked and consumed a few Italian meals in my 74 years, and you want the skinny on the food here. First, when you enter the restaurant, the lobby is loaded with many photos of local and national celebs who have visited the place. Moving on, we had reservations and were seated immediately. Our server Amanda greeted us with menus and asked for our drink orders. She did a very efficient job of attending to our needs the entire evening, including during the show. Soon, the drinks and hot butter/garlic rolls arrived. We also ordered their crusty Italian bread, which you need to ask for, as it is not standard. Dinners come with soup or salad, and we ordered three different soups, all of which were excellent. The minestrone, escarole with beans and sausage, and pasta e fagioli were authentically prepared.
We also sampled two appetizers: broiled calamari and baked clams, both very good. For entrees, Judy had the veal piccante with a side order of potatoes Vesuvio. Normally, she doesn’t finish the entire dish, but she said the veal was very thin and delicious, so she consumed all on her plate. Our guest, Tony V., had chicken with Italian sausage, red and green peppers, mushrooms, and potatoes. He loved it and had plenty to enjoy another day. I ordered the Neapolitan combination consisting of baked manicotti, braciole, and veal scaloppini, all very good and too much to finish. Our dishes ranged from $23.00 to $25.00, but there are many others less expensive. For dessert, Judy and I split a Tiramisu, which was very light and was the perfect finish for a delicious dinner.
I’m not going to use the normal rating system for this review because Spavone’s is unique in offering a combination of dining and entertainment. Briefly, very good food and service, with the addition of the old supper club atmosphere, plus Tony’s singing. We were there for hours, but the time passed quickly. This is a fun place for a group event, but not for intimate conversation, as once it hits show time, the place jumps! The drive is about an hour, but I think it’s worth it.
Spavone’s Ristorante – 266 W Lake St, Bloomingdale, IL 60108, 630-529-3154. Reservations strongly suggested. tonyspavonesristorante.com.
