Papa Damiani Pizza moves to northwest Indiana

Lou Damiani shows off the sign from the original location.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Papa Damiani Pizza, a fixture in Dolton from 1957 until its closing in April, reopened a few weeks ago inside the North Woods restaurant at 8101 Wicker Ave. in St. John, Ind. For more information, visit http://www.northwoodsdining.com/ or check out their page on Facebook.

Bench Warmers closes in Lansing
Bench Warmers Sports Pub closed suddenly over the weekend at its longtime home at 3325 Ridge Road in Lansing. The location had been operated by a member of the same family since it opened as the Lansing Tap and Ridge Room in 1947.

Lansing Tap was renamed Bench Warmers in 1984 when Bill and Cheryl Last took over operations from his father. Cheryl’s son Tim Geeve took over the establishment a few years ago.

Bench Warmers reopened a few years ago after a fire almost destroyed the business.

Chinese restaurant changes name
Tan Chinese Kitchen at 312 N. LaGrange Road in Frankfort has reopened as Ocean Chinese restaurant. The phone number is 815-464-8896.

Grand opening celebration at Orland Wine
Orland Park Wine and Spirits is celebrating its grand opening this weekend at 8600 W. 159th St. in Orland Park with wine tastings, seminars and visits from Chicago sports legends. New owners took over the store back in February.

Former Chicago Bear Dan Hampton will be on hand from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday while former Blackhawks goalie Tony Esposito will be there from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, I’d call 708-460-4300. There is a website at http://www.orlandparkwineandspirits.com/ but it hasn’t been updated since July.

New name for Mokena restaurant

Golden Oak Restaurant and Waffle House in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

New owners recently acquired the former Kingsberry restaurant at 19845 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena and have renamed it Golden Oak Restaurant and Waffle House. It is still a breakfast and lunch place open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 708-478-4430.

New eats in Evergreen Park
The culinary offerings in Evergreen Park expanded this week.

Cavatappi, a brick-oven pizzeria and wine bar, opened for business on Monday at 3020 W. 95th St. in the former Mulchrone’s. For more information, call 708-576-3055.

And Taco Fresco, a Mexican carryout restaurant, opened recently at 3342 W. 95th St.

Vision group moves to Orland Park
Kirschner Vision Group recently moved its second office from Oak Forest to new digs at 7026 W. 159th St. in Orland Park. The main office remains in Homewood. For more information, visit its website at http://www.visionsource-kirschnervision.com/.

MMA academy opens in Mokena
Mandori Jiu Jitsu has opened at 10112 W. 191st St. in Mokena. The martial arts academy specializes in Brazilian jiu jitsu. For more information, call 708-478-3310.

Food 4 Less breaks ground in Chicago Heights
The long-awaited Food 4 Less grocery store in Chicago Heights moved a step closer this week when ground was broken on Monday to remodel the former Dominick’s Finer Foods at U.S. 30 and Western Avenue. The new store is part of Kroger Foods discount division, which now has stores in Oak Forest, Dolton, Alsip, Burbank, Joliet, Crest Hill, Hammond, Ind., and Chicago. The new store is expected to be ready by February.

Catching up
Michael Flamburis in March opened a Greek restaurant called It’s Greek To Me at 13119 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park with plans to open an adjoining breakfast-lunch restaurant called Country Cottage Café a few weeks later. Those plans changed and the adjoining restaurant has since opened under the name Little Greek Cottage. The cottage like most breakfast-lunch places is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. with It’s Greek to Me open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 708-923-1400.

Scrementi's to replace Chef Paul's at Angelino's sports bar in Mokena

Scrementi's restaurant is replacing Chef Paul's at Angelino's sports bar in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Angelino’s sports bar, 9301 W. 191st St. in Mokena, has been going without a restaurant partner since Chef Paul’s steakhouse closed in May, but that is about to change.

The space formerly used by Chef Paul’s is being remodeled for Scrementi’s, an Italian restaurant based in Steger. It will be the second location for Scrementi’s. A mid-September opening is planned.

Although no decision has been made, the new Scrementi’s is expected to offer most if not all of the items offered at the Steger location, 3760 Chicago Road.

In the meantime, Angelino’s downstairs bar is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.

For more information, call Scrementi’s at 708-755-7200 or visit its website http://www.scrementis.com/. Angelino’s has no website, but its phone number is 708-478-0301.

Chef Paul’s moved a couple of years ago into Angelino’s from its original storefront location at 88th Avenue and 191st Street in an attempt to cut costs and stay in business.

Firestone, Fat Ricky’s updates
The Firestore auto center at 191st Street and LaGrange Road in Mokena is now open.

Fat Ricky’s Original Old World Pizza opened a few weeks ago at 16255 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park in the former Al’s Beef location. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 708-460-1010 or visit its website at http://www.fatrickys.com/.

New owners for Yana’s Cafe
The Bronshtein family of Frankfort recently took over ownership of Yana’s Café, 8005 W. 183rd St. in Tinley Park. The restaurant has a new menu and has added a cookie corner for children of customers to create cookies that are then baked in the kitchen. Hours are daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 708-444-7800.