Italian restaurant chain that drew Tony Bennett, other celebrities, opening in Boca Raton

Eddie Ritz, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·4 min read
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Beloved in the Chicago area, Rosebud is coming to Boca Raton.

The 10th in the Rosebud chain, and the first outside of Illinois, the Italian restaurant and steakhouse, Mia Rosebud, is slated to open in mid-February along Palmetto Park Road.

The Rosebud chain is owned and operated by one man rather than a corporation, partners or investors. Rosebud is the passionate creation of legendary Chicago restaurateur Alex Dana.

Opening the original in the Little Italy area of Chicago in 1976, Dana said that he named the restaurant after his mother and that originally it was called "Bocciola della Rose." That means "Rosebud" in Italian, but he laughed and said that too many people were having trouble pronouncing the name, or even finding the restaurant, so he thought "we better simplify this" and changed it to Rosebud.

Opening in mid-February in Boca Raton, Mia Rosebud will feature Italian cuisine, like this beef short rib and polenta, as well as prime steaks.
Opening in mid-February in Boca Raton, Mia Rosebud will feature Italian cuisine, like this beef short rib and polenta, as well as prime steaks.

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Dana said his parents were huge influences on him and that one of his mother's greatest joys was to see satisfied customers. "When she saw a customer with a smile on their face she was happy."

In the restaurant business for over half a century, Dana said his passion for it is believing in the power of a great meal and excellent service. "He said "Restaurants make people feel better," he said, then added: "make us feel better."

With fire in his voice, Dana compared getting ready for the dinner rush to a performance — when those customers sit down "you better be spot on with a bottle of wine, it's show time."

Menu highlights at Italian restaurant, Mia Rosebud

The pappardelle at Rosebud features their original handmade square noodles in a rich tomato basil sauce.
The pappardelle at Rosebud features their original handmade square noodles in a rich tomato basil sauce.

The nine Rosebud restaurants in the Chicago area have long been synonymous with classic Italian cuisine and generous portions and the new member of the family, Mia Rosebud will carry on that tradition. Featuring dishes with authentic, century-old family recipes, the restaurants are steadfast in their commitment to culinary excellence.

Dana said they believe in using only the very best ingredients. "Don't skip a beat, you need quality to make a recipe right."

In addition to the right ingredients, Dana also attributes their success to staying true to themselves. "We stuck to what we do best... our recipes."

Some of these classic dishes that will be available at Mia Rosebud will include the rigatoni alla vodka, crispy brick chicken and the arrabbiata fusilli.

The new Boca Raton location will feature an open-kitchen design with 7,700 square feet of indoor space. It will include the main dining area, a space for private events, an indoor and an outdoor bar and a patio area for alfresco dining.

On their website they boast they are "beloved by celebrities, global leaders and politicians" and they are not kidding.

Dana can rattle off one A-list celebrity after another that has eaten at the original Rosebud in Little Italy in Chicago.

Original Rosebud Italian restaurant in Chicago drew in celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Tom Hanks and more

The new Mia Rosebud, slated to open mid-February off of Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton, will feature many classic Italian dishes.
The new Mia Rosebud, slated to open mid-February off of Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton, will feature many classic Italian dishes.

Among those names, Frank Sinatra, Joe Pesci, Robert Deniro, Tom Hanks, Tom Selleck, James Woods, Bono, James Gandolfini, Rupert Murdoch and many more.

Dana said he was good friends with Tony Bennett and even has a few paintings by Tony that he'd given to Dana.

Dana said that they have hired the staff for Mia Rosebud and have brought down a training crew from Chicago to work with the new employees in Boca Raton. The new hires, he said, are "good people, that want to get into the industry" and added "I love giving someone a future in this industry."

When they open, they will be dinner only for the first 30 days before adding lunches and then Sunday brunch.

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Mia Rosebud restaurant in Boca Raton

Where: 150 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton

Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Information: rosebudrestaurants.com

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Italian restaurant with celebrity following coming to Boca Raton