Juliet's Back: 'It's Kind Of Like Opening A New Restaurant'

JOLIET, IL —For almost four months, motorists passing Juliet's restaurant in downtown Joliet saw an empty building with the lights turned off. Now, the lights are on. Juliet's is back.

This marks Juliet's first week of business since the new coronavirus outbreak impacted sit-down restaurants and bars across Illinois and many states.

Juliet's has a big dining area and a large sports bar. On Tuesday, Juliet's made its comeback. Juliet's is now open six days a week, just like in years past.

"Yesterday was our grand reopening," remarked Drake Rossi, one of the owners. During the coronavirus shutdown, Juliet's did interior remodeling, installing new hardwood floors.

"We replaced the flooring, and we've been cleaning like crazy," Rossi told Joliet Patch's editor on Wednesday afternoon. "Sanitation's been key especially with the pandemic you want people to feel safe."

Juliet's made minor changes to its menu, Rossi said.

"We still have quite a few menu options," he stressed.

During the lunch hour, burgers and sandwiches are popular items. Dinner favorites include Gamberetti Piccanti, which is served on roasted potatoes, for $18.

There's also the blackened salmon with garlicky spinach, risotto and tomato caper finish for $22. The chicken parmesan served with spaghetti marinara is $18. Pollo alla contadina, served with roast potatoes, is $18 and pork chop suffocato is $22.

Veal and steak options are available on weekends only, the new menu indicated.

Juliet's is closed Mondays and open from 11 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and open until 1 a.m on weekends.

"We're fully open for events at 50 percent capacity," Rossi told Patch. "Everything is about getting back to some bit of normalcy."

Juliet's draws many of its regular customers from Joliet, Plainfield, New Lenox and Shorewood.

Juliet's remained closed to the public from March 17 and reopened July 7. The owner said that Juliet's will be unveiling "new specials on the weekends" and "summer cocktails" in the days ahead.

"It's kind of like opening a new restaurant," Rossi remarked Wednesday. "We want people to enjoy the atmosphere and get back to a little normalcy here in Illinois."

Juliet's is not the only downtown restaurant in Joliet to reopen this week.

On Wednesday, CUT 158 Chophouse opened at 4 p.m. CUT 158 also remained closed since mid-March because of the pandemic.