Running his Italian restaurant just off the Woodstock Square is more than just business to Terry Pirro.
Never mind that each dish served at Pirro’s Restaurante has his personal approval or that he mingles with his guests. It’s having a business in his hometown blocks from his house that makes it so personal to Pirro. It’s a place where familiar faces come to dine regularly and where his wife, daughters and father help make it a true family affair.
In business 14 years, Pirro’s first operated on Route 47 in the old Jake’s Pizza restaurant. When Joey T’s moved off the square to McHenry, Pirro seized the opportunity to relocate to a larger space — with its warm brick walls and tin ceiling — and transformed his take-out pizza business into a full-scale Italian restaurant at 228 Main St.
“It’s just kind of evolved this way,” Pirro said. “We went from having hot dogs on our menu to fillets.”
The first thing Pirro did was sandblast and clean the tin ceiling, exposing its intricate pattern that draws customers’ eyes up when they walk in the door. “Some guy came in and offered me $100,000 for the ceiling,’’ he said.
But nothing in his restaurant but the food is for sale.
Despite being hit hard by the economy and having to cut his staff from 50 to 27 employees, Pirro wouldn’t dream of uprooting and moving business closer to Chicago — a move he knows would be more lucrative.
“My drive is five or six blocks,’’ he said. “This is home. It’s more than just about money.’’
A Family Affair
It’s no mistake that Pirro’s food and service are known in the county. Daughters Brianna and Chanay work as a server and bartender, respectively, and Pirro’s wife Mary takes care of business in the banquet room upstairs. The staff has been with the restaurant for 14 years and Pirro’s 84-year-old father Mike stays by his side, helping things to run smoothly.
“He comes in here every day,’’ said Pirro, handing his dad a set of keys. “He’s supposed to be retired. He delivers all the catering orders every day.’’
Even his 5-year-old granddaughter Annabella has her place in the family business.
“She comes in here and taste tests the gelatos every day,’’ Pirro said. He even named Bella’s — which was located just at the corner of Main Street down from his restaurant — after her. Pirro bought Bella’s — known for its fresh gelato and sorbetto that Pirro makes himself — just as the economy began to slow down.
“That was one thing I always wanted to do,’’ he said of opening a gelato store, which he closed recently. “Unfortunately, that was right when the recession hit. I had all the equipment, so we just moved it.’’
Now the glass case of gelato and sorbetto sits inside the entrance of Pirro’s, with Pirro making a variety of fresh flavors — from jalapeño chocolate to bananas foster — each week.
“We actually make the base for gelato,’’ he said. “You taste the difference — the flavor is intense.’’
A Woodstock Tradition
Pirros’ pizza is just the beginning of what his restaurant is known for. It took years to evolve into the establishment it is today, Pirro said. “I just got exposed to a lot of really great restaurants all over the place,’’ he said of coming up with his menu. “I know what good food is. We just started experimenting a little.’’
Lasagna is the restaurant’s most popular pasta dish, and other favorites include Ossobuco Alle Verdure (braised veal shank) and Red Pepper Tilapia.
A selection of gourmet pizzas is still popular for both dining in and carryout. “It has to do with ingredients,’’ Pirro said. “It’s all fresh — we even make our own bread.’’
Executive Chef David Grahm’s staff of cooks and pizza-makers has helped the restaurant win awards, Pirro said. “But you have to keep working on it,’’ he said.
The elegant 200-person-capacity banquet hall is booked with rehearsal dinners on Friday nights, Pirro said. But the weddings have tapered off.
“To an extent, some people put off getting married,’’ he said. “People don’t have the funds to do a great big wedding anymore.’’
Pirro is confident that his business will continue to be a local mainstay. “On the weekdays it’s all the regulars that come in,’’ he said. “On weekends it’s all the people from out of town."
The restaurant is open Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and is closed Monday.
>> For more, call 815 337-9100 or visit www.pirrosrestaurante.com.
