Authentic Italian food was Mama Nancy's destiny from the time she was born. As a child, Nancy's beloved father, Alfonso, ran two popular food stands in their hometown of Naples, Italy. Weekends were filled with kitchen smells and old world flavors as family and friends gathered round the Longobardi dining room table to enjoy braciole, arancini and each other's company. Like her mother, Rosa was im
mersed in the family business at an early age and she grew up with the same passion for food. With her aunts as mentors, Rosa learned restaurant operations from the ground up...bussing tables, expediting meals, serving customers, working in the kitchen, studying oenology and experimenting with food recipes. Her 'sogno' was to open her own restaurant with help from her mother in the kitchen. Rosa and Nancy started with a small space in Palatine, built their reputation and a loyal following then moved the business to Wheaton in 2009 to take over the historic 2nd floor space at 100 N Hale. A few years later, Rosa’s cousin Alfonso joined Aunt Nancy in the kitchen as Executive Chef overseeing food preparation. Rosa’s dream is evolving along with her renovated dining room, new rooftop deck and stylized menu delivering classic Italian cuisine with a modern twist. Please let them know if they can do anything to make your dining experience more memorable.
