Those craving homemade Italian food no longer have to go all the way to Berwyn.
La Notte Cafe has opened its second location here in Oak Park and opened its doors a little over a week ago.
Owner Giovanni Matteo Mancini told Wednesday Journal in June that the new location at 118 N. Marion St. – formerly operated as Aripo’s Venezuelan Arepa House – would be practically the same restaurant as the Berwyn location.
Pat Liska, an investor in the new restaurant with his brother Dan Liska, said in a telephone interview that the desire for upscale dining in Oak Park has already brought substantial business to the restaurant in its first week.
“The food is made to order, so when you go in you get a fresh meal,” he said.
Liska noted that La Notte is known for cooking dishes from scratch even if they aren’t on the menu.
“If they have the ingredients, they’ll make it for you,” said Liska.
The “extensive menu” includes six to eight selections for veal, chicken and seafood, Liska said, noting that chef and owner Mancini, originally from Bari, Italy, uses recipes from his home city as well as Tuscany and Naples.
“That’s what you get is old-world Italian,” Liska said.
Mancini said earlier this year that the Berwyn location opened about 10 years ago and that the new location is just slightly smaller. The Marion Street La Notte seats about 60-65 people, compared to the original La Notte, which seats 85 and includes an outdoor deck.
Liska praised the Village of Oak Park for its quick work in approving various licenses needed to get the doors open.
“You go down there [to Village Hall] to submit applications for licenses and permits and it seems like a priority,” Liska said. “It seems like, as opposed to in the past, you go down there now and it’s a priority at Village Hall to get these things done.”
He said licensing and the buildout of the space took four months.
“We had a lot of work to do but the village worked with us,” Liska said.
The deal was brokered by local real estate firm, David King & Associates.
“Marion Street is rocking,” King said in a telephone interview. “I’m excited to have brokered the lease to bring an upscale Italian restaurant, La Notte, to downtown Oak Park,” he said. “I know they will be well received.”
CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com
