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20 | August 15, 2019 | the mokena messenger life & arts mokenamessenger.com 2019 GUIDE LOOK INSIDE TO FIND REALTORS AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO HELP FIND YOUR PERFECT HOME. Last Call Before Fall, but that’s not all 22nd Century Media’s Ladies Night Out wraps summer schedule, but Ghouls Night Out set for Oct. 3 2019 GUIDE 22ndcenturymedia.com The Mokena Messenger | The New Lenox Patriot | The Frankfort Station Ads will appear digitally in the marketplace on each newspaper’s website and as a printed glossy book! APPEARING SEPTEMBER 19 TH Space Deadline: AUGUST 23 RD Ad Approval Deadline: AUGUST 28 TH Call 708-326-9170 to place your ad! Ghouls Night Out PRESENTED BY 22ND CENTURY MEDIA AND COLLEEN MCLAUGHLIN, THE MCLAUGHLIN TEAM, COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL Midlothian resident Joannetta Moore (left) picks up popcorn from LaVerne Hall, of Fabulously Sweet Creations Thursday, Aug. 8, during the Ladies Night Out - Last Call Before Fall event by 22nd Century Media, held at Georgios Banquets.. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media 6–9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, Konow’s Corn Maze, 16849 S. Cedar Road, Homer Glen • 50+ vendors • Costume Contest • Free tote bag to first 200 attendees, courtesy of Artistic Med Spa • Free wine glass to first 200 attendees, courtesy of Fox's Pizza • Paint a mini wooden sign with DIY Sign Party $5 • Cash Bar And more to come! Adults 21+ Only! Tickets ON SALE NOW!$ 5 SPONSORS Get your tickets today! 22ndCenturyMedia.com/ghouls Artisan soaps from Gracie Pie Apothecary were on sale at Ladies Night Out - Last Call Before Fall.
mokenamessenger.com dining out the mokena messenger | August 15, 2019 | 21 The Dish Gatto’s offers delicious Italian fare, familial comforts Abhinanda Datta Assistant Editor For those looking to take a break from their routine, there is a quaint eatery in Orland Park that not only boasts delectable fare but also affable staff members who work to ensure diners are treated like family. Gatto’s Italian Restaurant and Bar located at 8801 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park was born out of brothers Frank and Chuck Gatto’s love for food and an appreciation of their rich Italian heritage. “Growing up, we both worked for restaurants in Little Italy, and in 2000 we decided to give our own place a try,” Frank said. “We are 100 percent Italian, and our families are great cooks. We borrowed all the recipes from them and started this journey.” The first Gatto’s opened in Tinley Park and, after winning hearts in a few southwest suburban neighborhoods, heard about an opportunity in Orland Park in 2014. “This town has a diverse population, and I think every town like this needs a place like ours — a place where you can come in with your family or your date and enjoy reasonably priced food with a good atmosphere and great service.” Frank said. “It is a place where you can really feel comfortable.” With oodles of charm and a decor reminiscent of a restaurant tucked away in a corner of a winding street in Italy, Gatto’s may not be the only place in the area serving this cuisine, but it is unique. “We created this concept that we like to call comfort food,” Frank said. “It is basically all the food you love eating at home, really simple items from pastas to chicken Parmesan, with fresh ingredients and made to order.” The menu has more than 70 items from salads to desserts, and an array of appetizers and entrees in between. According to Frank, guests usually like to begin with Gatto’s Garbage Salad ($8.25), a dish that creates visual, culinary chaos on the plate with a host of vegetables such as romaine lettuce, roasted red peppers and onions, along with ham, and blue and Fontinella cheeses, topped with an Italian vinaigrette. Next on the list is the fried calamari (10.95) — breaded squid rings and tentacles, served with a zesty cocktail sauce and lemons. “This is my favorite dish, too,” manager Denise Sexton said. “It is the best fried calamari I have eaten anywhere.” Choosing an entree can be confounding, but Gatto himself has a clear winner: a pasta that harks back to his childhood days. “I love the Portofino [$21.95], because that is what my brother and I enjoyed the most,” he said. “It is basically a hearty concoction of fresh shrimps, mussels, clams, calamari, on a bed of pasta, with a thin marinara sauce.” Although there are plenty of desserts from which to choose, the tiramisu ($5.95) is the perfect dish to cap off the meal. It has the right blend of bitter espresso, balanced by the sweetness of the rich co- Gatto’s Italian Restaurant and Bar 8801 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park Hours • 4-10 p.m. Monday- Thursday • 4-11 p.m. Friday- Sunday For more information ... Phone: (708) 349- 8700 Web: gattosrestaurant. com coa and whipped cream, enclosed within a scrumptious, smooth texture. Made from scratch and fully customizable, special items are offered each day, and Gatto’s will even prepare items that are not on the menu. “We can make any dish you want,” Sexton said. “You can choose the kind of pasta or the kind of sauce and even a whole dish like the chicken Milanese ($17.50) that was offered as one of the daily specials.” The restaurant also has a rooftop bar with a view. And every Wednesday, Gatto’s hosts a Cruise Night — a classic car show for the family. There are no additional costs for participating, but goodies such as T-shirts are sold at the venue, the proceeds from which are donated to a local charity. “We always try to do something that impacts the community in a positive way,” Frank said. “This year, we are donating to a local veterans organization.” Frank’s great-grandparents were immigrants from Bari, Italy, and every Sunday Frank would drive to their house to savor a The angel hair broccoli aglio ($11.75) is easy on the palate, with flavors of olive oil and garlic. Photos by Abhinanda Datta/22ndCentury Media The eggplant Parmesan ($15.25), served over a bed of pasta and covered in marinara sauce, is a popular vegetarian dish. day with his big family. “We did not have a lot back then, except each other and food,” he said. “And it was some of the best foods you could ever imagine.” With an inherent regard for familial bonds, Frank made sure his restaurant had a very clear motto: “You arrive as friends and leave as family.” Despite the challenges, he said he feels fortunate “to do something I love.” And while the food is important, offering a friendly service is what truly drives him. “This business is tough, and you spend long hours away from your loved ones,” Frank said. “But we wouldn’t change a thing,” “Our staff is trained to interact with the guests, because everyone wants to be treated nicely. We consider our customers as family and want to give them a place in this town that they can call home.”
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