Natalie Morris
| State Journal-Register
A longtime name in the Springfield pizza business has a new brand and location.
Pete Praia – whose family founded restaurants that have served some of the city’s favorite pies for decades under the names FRANCES’ PIZZA, JOE’S ITALIAN PIZZA and SAM’S ITALIAN PIZZA – has rebranded and relocated his restaurant PALERMO’S TAKEOUT & CATERING to 2700 W. Lawrence Ave.
The move continues the flavors of PALERMO’S SICILIAN CUCINA that Praia first opened in 2007. The restaurant’s latest location at 751 S. Durkin Drive closed in April.
“It’s the same family Sicilian recipes on the menu with the addition of flatbread pizzas and pizza grinders instead of regular pizzas,” Praia said.
Hours are 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Take-out and delivery service only. Phone: 546-3050.
Praia’s parents – Vito and Frances – opened the first Frances’ Italian Pizza House at the corner of Peoria Road and Sangamon Avenue. Vito still runs the business in Riverton. And Praia’s uncles founded Joe’s and Sam’s Italian Pizza.
New Berlin-based DANENBERGER FAMILY VINEYARDS earned the No. 1 spot on AMERICAN WINERY GUIDE.COM’S Top 10 Wineries of the Week for May 29 through June 4.
The honor marks the first time an Illinois business bested California competitors for the spot.
The web-based resource – which touts itself as the Internet’s most comprehensive, free source of information about American wineries – ranks the weekly Top 10 based on traffic garnered by winery reviews posted on its site, americanwineryguide.com.
Napa Valley needn’t worry just yet, though. More California vineyards were represented on the list than any other state.
AMERICAN HARVEST EATERY is joining with JOURNEYMAN DISTILLERY from Three Oaks Michigan for a limited-seating tasting dinner June 23.
The five-course meal features crispy duck salad, chilled corn soup, lamb belly with crispy lamb leg croquettes, house-made cavatelli and rose buttercream crepe cake. Each course is served with neat pours of the distillery’s hand-crafted, small-batch spirits.
Participants can meet the distiller from 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $80 a person. Reservations required. Phone: 546-8300.
The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon at 2200 Meadowbrook Road.
The meal includes scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, mini corn dogs, biscuits and gravy, Belgian waffles, fruit salad, pastries and drinks. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger eat free.
Proceeds go to Catholic Charities St. Clare’s Health Clinic.
CULVER’S is sponsoring a blood drive Thursday at the Central Illinois Community Blood Center at 1999 Wabash Ave.
Donors will receive a token for a free scoop of frozen custard. Donations will be taken 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 241-7550 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.
Father’s Day is a week away. The following list of local restaurants would like to give dad a break from the grill.
AMBER JACK ALEHOUSE, 3150 Chatham Road, is thinking of Dad all day long.
The breakfast special – served from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – is a half-order of biscuits and gravy with choice of Bloody Mary or coffee for $5. Lunch and dinner – served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. – feature a fried chicken dinner for $8.99 or choice of New York Strip, ribeye or bacon-wrapped fillet for $19.99.
The specials are available along with Amber Jack’s full menu.
Call 787-5222 for reservations.
AMERICAN HARVEST EATERY, 3241 Iles Ave., is serving a Father’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Choose from the steak and egg special or other selections off the a la carte menu. Call 546-8300 for reservations.
THE DUBLIN PUB, 1975 Wabash Ave., has a special menu for dad featuring breakfast specials, steaks and pizza specials.
The breakfast special includes biscuits and gravy, scramble eggs, and breakfast meats for $7.95. Other features include a pot roast meal for $11.95, a 14-ounce prime rib dinner for $17.95, a 16-ounce ribeye dinner for $19.95 and a three-topping, large pizza with a pound of wings for $25.95.
WM. VAN’S COFFEE HOUSE, 503 S. Seventh St., has a free small coffee for dad with purchase of any item.
The offer is good from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fried chicken, beer-glazed brats and barbecue chicken and pork chops represent the meat at the Father’s Day buffet served at the CAPTAIN’S TABLE at the Magnuson Grand Hotel & Conference Center.
The spread also has various side dishes, rolls and assorted desserts. Cost is $13.99 for adults, $6.99 for children ages 4 to 10. Children 3 and younger eat free. Dad gets a $2 discount off his adult ticket price.
The buffet is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 324-2100 for reservations.
The hotel is located off Interstate 55 at the Carlinville exit.
— The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings closings, renovations and relocations, as well as personnel changes and business news. Natalie Morris can be reached at 737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com.
Dining and Cooking