Stefani's closed

No reason given on the sign. Just that it closed as of yesterday. (West Fullerton location).

It always seemed busy when I passed it. Stopped going years ago due to the inconsistency. But when it was good, it was very, very good.

Anyone know what happened?

I heard that a developer made them an offer they couldn't refuse. Business at the restaurant was never the issue.

Too bad. This was Stefani's version of RJ Grunts (but better), a neighborhood original left to the locals but forgotten by the PR machine. I thought that it easily had the best food, esp. pasta, of the Stefani empire. Nice bar, and really great patio, too.

My main concern is, what will become of Mario, the big, booming Milanese waiter with the mustache? My single favorite server in Chicago. He put up with, even encouraged, my extremely poor attempts at Italian over the years and let me order off the menu. There's a couple of other really good career servers there, including the guy who is a dead ringer for Harvey Keitel.

Scratch one off the Old School list.

JeffB wrote:Too bad. This was Stefani's version of RJ Grunts (but better), a neighborhood original left to the locals but forgotten by the PR machine. I thought that it easily had the best food, esp. pasta, of the Stefani empire. Nice bar, and really great patio, too.

My main concern is, what will become of Mario, the big, booming Milanese waiter with the mustache? My single favorite server in Chicago. He put up with, even encouraged, my extremely poor attempts at Italian over the years and let me order off the menu. There's a couple of other really good career servers there, including the guy who is a dead ringer for Harvey Keitel.

Scratch one off the Old School list.

Yeah. That Harvy Keitel guy has been my waiter there for years. I'm embarrased to say that I forgot his name. I heard the same thing about the RE offer. That land has long ago become worth much more than the restaurant could ever generate. Phil Stefani owned most of that block as well as the vacant lot used as the parking lot. They used to make all of the pasta for the entire chain in the storefront on the corner of Fullerton and Janssen next to the restaurant. That's quitre a bit of high priced Real Estate. Most of the locals are glad to see them go, however. My brother in law lives around the corner and has boycotted the place for years because they refused to support any of the neighborhood activities (either financially or with the donation of anyting for their block party, etc.) I, for one, am sorry to see the place go.

This is the second great Stefani's place to close in the last year, the first being my other favorite, Lino's. Alex, another great career waiter, dissapeared along with that restaurant.

Tis true. Stefani got a very attractive offer for the real estate. He will still be involved with a number of ventures including his work with the city Parks and Navy Pier.

Old school will be missed. But, you can't blame the guy for cashing in.