Photos: Russo's Italian Deli Opens On Plainfield Road
CREST HILL, IL — The new Russo's Italian Deli hopes to flourish as a sit-down restaurant with a nice outdoor patio overlooking Plainfield Road, but for now, Russo's is happy to accommodate takeout and delivery orders.
Monday marked the first day of business for the new Joliet-area locally owned restaurant operated by Sara Russo.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Russo's Italian Deli is keeping its dining area off-limits to customers. But the coronavirus didn't stop Russo from achieving her dream, opening her first local restaurant here in Crest Hill at 2424 Plainfield Road.
"I didn't want to hold back just because of the coronavirus," Russo said. "I wanted my own Italian deli and coronavirus wasn't going to stop me."
Russo's is right next to the Speedway gas station along the busy Route 30 corridor.
During her first day open, several people were ordering from her sandwiches and panini. The Parma and Diavolo were the two most popular selections by mid-afternoon, she said.
"It's been a little busy," Sara Russo told Joliet Patch's editor.
Other customers were stopping to try the Italian beef.
"Our Italian beef is homemade. My dad makes that and the gravy," Russo said. "Most of the stuff is homemade."
In recent years, the restaurant property now occupied by Russo's was Tacos Giselle.
However, when the site became available this summer, Russo thought the location on Plainfield Road was ideal for her.
"There's no Italian delis around here," she remarked Monday.
Russo wants people to know that she has several veggie sandwiches available and lots of Italian desserts. Russo's desserts include cannoli, homemade tiramisu, Italian cookies and cornetti, which is available in chocolate and custard.
The Pasta Al Sugo, a pasta with sauce, is $10.99 and comes with a side salad and bread.
"The veggie sandwiches ... they're so good," she said. "We grill our zucchini and we make roasted red peppers."
Russo's has a rack of Italian groceries as well as a cooler filled with the homemade Italian desserts such as tiramisu.
There are soups, salads and appetizers on the menu including hot or mild homemade sausage, homemade fresh mozzarella, bruschetta, arancini and focaccia (only on weekends).
For its first week of business, Russo's will be open daily for carryout and delivery orders from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. People can also order through DoorDash, the restaurant owner said.
Russo's is available to do catering for families over the holidays including Christmas and New Year's Eve, she said.
"We do have catering," she emphasized.
Among the highlights on the catering menu, there's a lasagna platter for $75, sandwich trays ranging from $60 to $70, cannoli platters ranging from $40 to $55 and a Tiramisu tray for $40.
For carryout orders, the phone number for Russo's Italian Deli is 815-782-8376.
To check out the full menu, head to the website for Russo's Italian Deli here.
This article originally appeared on the Joliet Patch
