Gene & Georgetti Could Come to Suburbs

A second Gene & Georgetti steakhouse is a possibility to replace a stalwart in north suburban Rosemont, according to the Daily Herald.

Founded in 1941, Gene & Georgetti is Chicago's oldest steakhouse, with a wood-paneled decor and waiters dressed in white butcher's jackets. That old-school atmosphere could fit very well in Rosemont, where the Rosewood at Higgins and River Roads is set to shutter in January.

The Rosewood's space is owned by the city of Rosemont. Gene & Georgetti owner Tony Durpetti told the Herald they're interested. "We've been approached a few times, but we've always turned them down," Durpetti said to the paper. "This one interested us."

A glut of pricey steakhouses used to entertain clients already exists near O'Hare International Airport, as Harry Caray's, Morton's and Gibson's have had nearby suburban outposts for years. Durpetti couldn't be reached yet for additional details. Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens, in the Daily Herald, warned that Gene & Georgetti isn't a done deal, however.

The Rosewood opened in 1990, and it earned a recommendation from the Michelin Guide, touting the "broad-shouldered businessmen and frequent flyers" who frequented the police and lading the peppercorn and horseradish crusts for their steaks. Owner Jim Mandas has opted to close the restaurant and retire.

—Ashok Selvam