Abreanna Blose
| Reporter assisted by AI
Salamone’s Italian Restaurant in Cherry Valley is set to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants.
The national media and marketing company, which highlights local, independently owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to Salamone’s on Sept. 15, according to a community announcement.
The episode will showcase popular dishes and include an on-camera interview with owners Benny and Rosalie Salamone. It will be aired on social media channels at a later date.
A family tradition
Salamone’s opened in December 1999 in a 400-square-foot garage, selling pizza for carryout and delivery. Both Benny and Rosalie come from immigrant parents and grew up in family restaurants.
“It was fun trying to figure out which one of our family’s marinara sauce to use,” Rosalie said in the announcement. “We decided to combine the two and came up with our own signature sauce.”
The restaurant moved to its current location in 2006, offering a larger space and an expanded menu. It now features a full bar, catering, event space, daily specials and a game room.
In addition to pizza and a full menu of specialty pastas, chicken, seafood, sandwiches, calzones, appetizers, soups, salads and desserts, top-selling items that may be featured on the episode include Chicken Piccata, lasagna and Paccheri Arrabbiata.
Community involvement
Salamone’s is also involved in the community, donating to causes and participating in area events.
“In the Italian culture, food and family go hand-in-hand,” Rosalie said in the announcement. “With about 12 family members working here, and long-time employees, you really do feel like part of our family. [We] are here working every day making sure our meals give the best taste, plate presentation and quality [that] Salamone’s customers expect.”
A second location, Salamone’s North Pizzeria & Bar in Rockford, opened in 2017 and is owned by Benny’s brother Phillip and his wife Breianna.
America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15.
Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are selected based on customer reviews, menu items, social media presence and community involvement. They are found through customer nominations, internal vetting or by a restaurant applying to be featured.
Salamone’s is open daily at 103 S. Cherry St. For more information, visit salamonespizza.net.
This story was created by reporter Abreanna Blose, ablose@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Dining and Cooking