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• Buttitta’s moves in to Jillian’s space

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Move over all you Italian-style chain restaurants. Some real home-cookin’ is coming to Champaign. John and Vicky Buttitta, former owners of Dom’s Patio Villa, will be opening their new restaurant, Buttitta’s, sometime in December of 2009. However, the remodeling process may delay the opening to a later date.

As a result of a family decision, the couple closed the family-owned Dom’s in 2007, which was located on Locust Street in Champaign. They decided to move their new restaurant to a more central location on Neil Street in Champaign in the building where Jillian’s used to be. Similar to a Dave and Buster’s, Jillian’s combined dining and entertainment, including billiards, arcade games, a sports bar and food. After being open for 15 years, Jillian’s closed in 2008. The decision to open Buttitta’s in the old Jillian’s building was largely because of the site’s square footage. John explains, “It’s a great building. It had a lot of room for us to be creative. Jillian’s was such a huge open space that it just afforded us the room for what we wanted.” This includes a bar, lounge, separate dining room, and three kitchens — wood-fired pizza oven included.

Right now, the building is in the process of being remodeled to match the homey Italian atmosphere which the Buttittas wish to bring to their new restaurant. The Buttitta family has been in the restaurant business since the 1940s when John’s father opened up shop. John Buttitta has literally grown up working at and running Dom’s for 40 years.

Some of the more seasoned restaurant goers who are familiar with Dom’s, may ask what makes Buttitta’s different. John and Vicky described Dom’s as Sicilian style, with a very casual, homey, family atmosphere. When asked what they want Buttitta’s to be like, Vicky says, “We want it to feel the same. We want the people who have supported us forever to come and continue to feel comfortable here.” Buttitta’s aims to be suitable for any occasion, as John explains, “You can come in after mowing your lawn, or you can come have a dressy evening. We really want people to feel comfortable.”

And comfort is definitely what patrons will find at Buttitta’s. Perhaps the most appealing (and impressive) aspect about the food is that, like at Dom’s, everything will be homemade and prepared by the owners themselves. The menu will include many traditional items from Dom’s, but will also be expanded to include fresh seafood and steaks. Although John will still prepare much of the food, he adds that they will also be “hiring a chef for the expanded menu and to add some new life.”

Despite the fact that construction may delay the opening of Buttitta’s, area residents can look forward to what John and Vicky want to bring to them. “It’s excellent food, excellent service. When people walk in, we want them to feel like they’re stepping into Italy. With a little pizzazz,” John says.

CU dwellers and U of I students alike should get their bibs and forks ready for this dining experience. Although Buttitta’s may not be the most modern, avant-garde restaurant in town, it will offer something that many restaurants cannot — good, homemade food from scratch. Some people may not be able to tell the difference between a store-bought-mass-produced-freezer-section meatball and one that was made from fresh ingredients in a home kitchen. But for those who can, the difference is enormous. These days, being able to eat real family food at a restaurant like Buttitta’s is greatly appreciated.