Gaetano's Batavia restaurant opens
Editor's note: The wrong first name was given for an owner of Gaetano's. It is Wendy Di Benedetto.
Fans of chef Gaetano Di Benedetto's cooking no longer have to drive to his Forest Park restaurant to get a taste.
Tuesday, he opened Gaetano's Batavia, at 15 E. Wilson St.
It is on the northwest corner of Wilson and River streets, in the space formerly occupied by a coffee-and-wine bar and, before that, a coffeehouse.
It will be open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Gaetano's received a $25,000 grant and a $75,000 loan from the city to renovate the space for full-service restaurant use.
Gaetano and Wendy DiBenedetto live in Batavia. They own Table 27, which owns both restaurants.
The Forest Park location has received 27 of 28 possible points on the food it serves in the Zagat Survey.
Gaetano Di Benedetto is a native of Sicily, and was executive chef at restaurants in Italy, France, England and in the United States before settling in Illinois in 2002.
Gaetano's Batavia
Where: 15 E. Wilson St.
Phone: (630) 406-3009
Hours: 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Website: <a href="http://gaetanosbatavia.com/batavia/">gaetanosbatavia.com/batavia/</a>
Cuisine: Italian-inspired