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22ndCenturyMedia.com holiday guide<br />
22nd century media | November 21, 2<strong>01</strong>8 | 21<br />
Traverso’s humble<br />
from its beginnings<br />
In 1962, with full-time<br />
jobs and small children at<br />
home, John and George<br />
Traverso purchased “Ken<br />
and Dick’s” tavern in<br />
Roseland on Chicago’s<br />
Southeast side.<br />
The opening of that<br />
restaurant, their first fullservice<br />
venture, in 1968,<br />
brought the addition of<br />
“Mama T,” the boy’s mother.<br />
Widowed in 1949 with<br />
four children, Lena worked<br />
in various area Roseland<br />
kitchens, displaying the<br />
skills she learned as a child<br />
in her parents’ hotel in Cesuna,<br />
Italy.<br />
Following six years of<br />
success in Mount Greenwood,<br />
John and George<br />
ventured west, opening<br />
their first self-named restaurant,<br />
Traverso’s, on<br />
Harlem Avenue in Orland<br />
Park. The new restaurant<br />
was met with critical acclaim<br />
and long lines, and<br />
WeekNight Specials<br />
Monday - 1/2 Price<br />
Pasta Night<br />
Spaghetti, mostaccioli,<br />
angel hair, linguini,<br />
shells or baked mostaccioli.<br />
Includes soup or<br />
salad<br />
Tuesday - Family Pizza<br />
Night<br />
40 percent off all pizzas<br />
(excludes parties of 10<br />
or more)<br />
with Mama T running the<br />
kitchen and 21-year-old<br />
Paul Gabriel managing<br />
the large staff, Traverso’s<br />
flourished.<br />
Within a year, the brothers<br />
sold their other two<br />
establishments to concentrate<br />
their efforts in Orland<br />
Park. In fact, by popular<br />
demand, John and George<br />
expanded the restaurant by<br />
Wednesday - Discount<br />
Meal Night<br />
Lasagna, Soup or Salad<br />
$11.95<br />
Full Slab BBQ Ribs<br />
$17.95<br />
Kids Under 10 eat free,<br />
one child per adult (kids<br />
menu only)<br />
Thursday - Winner Winner,<br />
Chicken Dinner!<br />
All Chicken Dinners<br />
$11.95, Includes Soup<br />
or Salad<br />
100 seats, to 300, in 1975,<br />
just one year after their<br />
opening.<br />
Still a strong presence<br />
in Chicago’s south suburbs,<br />
Traverso’s in Orland<br />
Park celebrated 30<br />
years in 2004. And despite<br />
the passing of Mama T<br />
in 1999 — at age 86 —<br />
George, John and manager<br />
Paul continue to oversee a<br />
family tradition more than<br />
40 years in the making.<br />
Where they are today<br />
Dine inside in Traverso’s<br />
traditional Italian dining<br />
room or bar during the<br />
winter months and head<br />
out back to the outdoor<br />
patio and bar during the<br />
warmer months.<br />
Traverso’s patio is one<br />
of the few places you are<br />
permitted to smoke. Have<br />
a cocktail or two and partake<br />
in some entertaining<br />
Karaoke on at 7:30 p.m.<br />
Wednesdays and at 8:30<br />
p.m. Saturdays.<br />
Submitted by Traverso’s<br />
Restaurant, 156<strong>01</strong> S. Harlem<br />
Ave., Orland Park. For more<br />
information, visit traver<br />
sospizza.com or call (708)<br />
532-2220.<br />
PIZZA • COCKTAIL LOUNGE • CASUAL DINING<br />
It’s ourfeeling that thereare twoplacesto<br />
dine whereyou canberelaxed and<br />
comfortableinaninformalatmosphere<br />
—Yourhomeand ours<br />
Welcometoours.<br />
Make your HolidayReservationsnow!<br />
Over 44 years and still bringing<br />
you the very best Italian Cuisine.<br />
Get YourHolidayGift Certificates Now!<br />
ReceiveaFree<br />
$10 GiftCertificate<br />
with every<br />
$50Gift Certificate Purchased<br />
Thank you to all of our<br />
loyalcustomers foryou support!<br />
TheTraversoFamily<br />
156<strong>01</strong> South HarlemAvenue |OrlandPark<br />
708.532.2220<br />
Open dailyat4pm, SundaysatNoon