Bread & Butter restaurant opens in Itasca

The philosophy of the new Bread & Butter Restaurant in Itasca is "getting back to basics."

The owners of the establishment at 933 W. Irving Park Road are using more than 40 years experience in the restaurant business to create an image and menu that accommodates customer's changing lifestyles, said co-owner Vicky Homatas-Goudis.

She operates the restaurant with her husband, Angelo Goudis, and father Steve Homatas. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"We've taken the old classics, made them healthier and updated things," Homatas-Goudis said.

One of the best sellers on the menu is the vegetable club panini. "We've taken the staple foods people love like soups, salads, seafood, pasta and steaks and invigorated them with freshness and other healthy upgrades that people know they need," she said.

For breakfast, the frittatas, especially the one made with feta cheese and potato, is going over well, she said.

The casual dining eatery that serves beer and wine seats about 150 people. A popular attraction for customers in a hurry is the Grab & Go counter. Customers often pick up sandwiches or wraps for later in the day, the entrepreneur said.

Before launching the new business, Steve Homatas owned and operated The Empress Banquets in Addison for 40 years. He retired about five years ago.

His daughter said her dad couldn't stay away from the restaurant business; and the trio launched the new venture.

Homatas-Goudis, who grew up in Addison, worked for her father as an event planner for many years.

"I grew up in the food industry," she said. "This is something we love doing."

Starting a new business at a time when people are cautious with their spending is risky.

"It's going surprisingly well," Homatas-Goudis said. She believes the prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. The lobster ravioli goes for $14.95 while the chicken Cobb salad is $8.95.

The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call (630) 250-1000.

A new look: After 15 years, WhirlyBall Lombard, 800 E. Roosevelt Road, has undergone a facelift and is again open for business.

The business now has an expanded kitchen and bar, additional party facilities and 17 flat-screen HDTVs.

"We can now accommodate even bigger and more elaborate gatherings," said WhirlyBall Marketing Manager John Krol.

Kim Mikus' column runs Tuesday through Friday. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4567.