At Villa Verone, it's all about the classics
Pietro Verone, proprietor of Villa Verone restaurants in Elgin, Sycamore and Geneva, has weathered difficult times and witnessed many changes during his long food service career.
But when it comes to consumer expectations, he says there's always one constant: Diners continue to expect quality even as they keep an eye on low prices.
“That's especially true in the current economy, when everyone is going through the same rough times,” the restaurateur says. “We do whatever possible to keep up the quality of our ingredients and maintain menu prices.”
Weekend salsa nights, for example, attract customers who are more interested in dancing and having a few drinks. A deejay oversees dance music from 9:30 p.m. to the wee hours.
That, Verone notes, helps the restaurant side. So does having local opera singers perform live on Sundays.
Early on, Verone, who came to the United States from Italy as a teen, learned his way around the kitchen, perfecting many of his mother's recipes.
“At Villa Verone, the concept is 100 percent Italian traditional fare. If you're looking for the nouveau stuff — I don't have that,” Verone says. “The menu is a mix of northern and southern Italian cuisine, including pesto and the red sauces from my native Naples.”
Lunch entrees range in price from $4.95 to $10.95, with the average being $8.95. Some of the most-requested items are cavatelli casarecci, homemade dumplings with chicken and mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce; penne zio tatonno arrabbiata, pasta with pancetta ham and sliced Italian sausage in a spicy tomato sauce; and tilapia oreganata, tilapia in a roasted garlic, oregano and lemon cream sauce.
Most of the dinners are in the $14 to $17 range. Again, the emphasis is on old-school fare — from fettuccine Alfredo to chicken Parmesan.
Menus are the same at all locations and include a $70 fixed-price dinner for two that includes a shared appetizer, two entries, a single dessert and a bottle of wine.
At the four-year-old Elgin location, the most recent to open, chefs Camillo Lucas and George Corona typically offer two daily specials for lunch and three at dinner. A more extensive revision to the menu usually occurs in the spring and late fall.
Diners in Elgin break bread in the 70-seat main dining room and have access to a private banquet space that accommodates up to 50. The decor strives for a homey, “Old World” atmosphere.
The bar stocks numerous Italian wines as well as a wide selection from California and Argentina, and bartenders are well-versed on the latest mojito and martini cocktails.
“I've always had the same approach,” Verone says. “When you come in, it's like entering my house. We make you feel comfortable. You're not just a table to us but become part of the family.
“My business has been all about repeat trade. Everyone knows the customer's name. In choosing staff, I make sure they have a warm personality that accentuates smiles.
“When diners leave, the experience they take with them is not just about the food but the total package.”
Villa Verone
13 Douglas Ave., Elgin, (847) 742-0263; 416 Hamilton St., Geneva, (630) 232-2201; and 219 W. State St., Sycamore, (815) 895-9400. See <a href="http://www.villaverone.net" target="_blank">villaverone.net</a>.
<B>Hours:</B> Open for lunch at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday; dinner 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday