'Famous Spaghetti Dinners' At American Italian Society Are Back

CREST HILL, IL — This week marks the most activity inside the American Italian Cultural Society in months. On Wednesday and Thursday, the volunteers at 1918 Donmaur Drive in Crest Hill will be hosting their spaghetti dinner. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, all meals will be carryout. Nobody will be allowed to eat inside the hall.

People can visit the club to order a spaghetti dinner from 3 to 7 p.m. both days. The price has not changed. It's still $10 for spaghetti, salad, bread and butter. Meatballs are two for $2. The Italian club also sells a quart of spaghetti sauce for $8.

Event organizers are looking forward to Wednesday and Thursday's spaghetti dinners, remarked club president Dave Margliano. On Monday, Joliet Patch's editor visited the club to interview volunteers preparing for this week's spaghetti feasts.

Since March, the club has not held any spaghetti dinners inside the hall because of the coronavirus. Festa Italiana, the club's annual summer weekend festival that draws thousands, is canceled for August because of the pandemic.

"It's been the hardest year to be the president of the lovely club, but I'm proud to do it," Margliano said.

Prior to the pandemic, the Italian club held its monthly spaghetti dinners inside the hall, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. On average, the club sells between 1,400 and 1,600 dinners at its monthly spaghetti dinners.

In years past, the spaghetti dinners were not held during the summer months of June, July and August.

This week, anticipation is building for the club's biggest two-day event in many months.

"We'll give it a shot and see how it goes," Margliano said of Wednesday and Thursday's takeout dinners. "We have to find ways to make money for our club.

"A lot of people have been asking, 'When are you going to start the spaghetti dinners?' I'm telling you, it's the best," Margliano added.

The American Italian Cultural Society is prepared to serve at least 1,600 spaghetti dinners both days this week, remarked Toni Van Gampler, kitchen manager at the club.

Van Gampler said she was recently approached by someone while shopping at Menards, inquiring when the Italian club was bringing back its spaghetti dinners.

"Everybody's been asking about the spaghetti dinners," she told Joliet Patch on Monday.

The American Italian Cultural Society isn't bashful when it comes to talking about the quality of its $10 spaghetti dinners.

"Come see what all the talk is about... rated best spaghetti dinner in town!" its website boasts.

Visitors are asked to enter through the rear of the building. The club will not be accepting orders over the phone.