Frankie's Ristorante - Tinley Park
On April 17, 2019 Frankie’s Ristorante of Tinley Park celebrated its 11th anniversary as the South Suburbs’ preferred spot for authentic Italian cuisine. Recently named the 2019 Diner’s Choice by Open Table for another consecutive year, Frankie’s Ristorante was started by the Santoro family in 2008 and is the upscale sister-restaurant to long-time Oak Lawn favorite Frankie’s Beef & Pasta established in 1988.
After immigrating to the Chicago from Italy in 1969, Vince Santoro delivered for an Italian bread company and Nina Santoro waitressed in local restaurants. After many years in the industry, they decided to take a risk and open their own restaurant in 1988, Frankie’s Beef & Pasta in Oak Lawn. As the years passed, Frankie’s Beef & Pasta became a success due to its high quality and tasty homemade meals, and gained much popularity with their famous beef, meatball and marinated chicken sandwiches. Customers’ requests for large orders intended for special events motivated their next venture – Frankie’s Catering – just a few years later. Not willing to stop there, the next step for the Santoro family was to continue pleasing Chicagoland taste buds using their own family recipes and collaborating with Executive Chef Gaetano Calandrini from Lazio, Italy; that adventure was a casual, yet fine dining experience… Frankie’s Ristorante.
Celebrating the Future
Almost eleven years later, Frankie’s Ristorante has found success with its Old World décor, authentic cuisine and impeccable service. The restaurant has grown to accommodate private dining for up to 80 people, as well as a full service off site catering option. Vince, Nina and their children Frankie and Angela enjoy serving the loyal clientele who have supported them throughout these past thirty years, as well as the new individuals they meet daily. At Frankie’s Ristorante, you will always find a Santoro, or two, or more mixing and mingling with their guests because the family believes food and celebration go hand in hand.
