The Chicago area’s beloved rosebud is coming to Boca Raton.
Mia Rosebud, the Rosebud chain’s 11th location and its first outside of Illinois, an Italian restaurant and steakhouse, is scheduled to open in mid-February on Palmetto Park Road.
The Rosebud Chain is owned and operated by one man, not a corporation, partners, or investors. Rosebud is the passionate creation of legendary Chicago restaurateur Alex Dana.
When she opened her original restaurant in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood in 1976, Dana named the restaurant after her mother and said it was originally called “Bocciola della Rose.” . It means “rosebud” in Italian, but so many people couldn’t pronounce the name and it was hard to even find restaurants, so they thought, “We might as well simplify this,” and the name I changed it to rosebud and he laughed.
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Dana said his parents were a big influence on him and that one of his mother’s greatest joys was seeing customers happy. “Seeing her customers smile made her happy.”
Dana, who has been in the restaurant business for more than half a century, said her passion for the restaurant business stems from her belief in the power of great food and great service. “Restaurants make people feel good,” he said, adding, “They make us feel good.”
With passion in her voice, Dana likens preparing for the dinner rush to a performance. Once the guests are seated, he says, “You better grab a bottle of wine now, it’s showtime.”
Menu highlights of Italian restaurant “Mia Rosebud”
The 10 Rosebud restaurants in the Chicago area have long been synonymous with classic Italian cuisine and hearty fare, and new family member Mia Rosebud continues that tradition. The restaurant has a strong commitment to culinary excellence, serving authentic family recipes dating back centuries.
Dana said she believes in using only the best ingredients. “Getting the recipe right requires quality. Save yourself the trouble.”
In addition to the right ingredients, Dana also believes that staying true to herself is a factor in her success. “We stuck to the recipes we were best at.”
Classic dishes served at Mia Rosebud include rigatoni alla vodka, crispy chicken, and arrabbiata fusilli.
The new Boca Raton store features an open kitchen design with 7,700 square feet of indoor space. Includes a main dining area, space for private events, indoor and outdoor bars, and a patio area for outdoor dining.
They’re not kidding when they boast on their website that they’re “loved by celebrities, world leaders, and politicians.”
Dana can woo one A-list celebrity after another who has dined at the original Rosebud in Chicago’s Little Italy.
Chicago’s original Rosebud Italian restaurant attracted celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Tom Hanks
Among them are names such as Frank Sinatra, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Tom Selleck, James Woods, Bono, James Gandolfini, and Rupert Murdoch.
Dana said she is good friends with Tony Bennett and has some of Tony’s paintings that he gave her.
Dana said he hired Mia Rosebud’s staff and brought in a training crew from Chicago to work with the Boca Raton recruits. He said the new employees are “good people who want to be in this industry,” adding: “We love giving someone a future in this industry.”
After opening, it will be dinner only for the first 30 days, then lunch and Sunday brunch will be added.
Mia Rosebud Restaurant in Boca Raton
where: 150 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton
time: Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m.Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 11pm
information: rosebudrestaurant.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist with The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Please contact eritz@pbpost.com. Please support our journalism. Subscribe now.