Rosati’s Pizza and Pub expands, embraces growing popularity

Due to a recent addition, things just became roomier with a new outdoor patio at neighborhood favorite Rosati’s Pizza and Pub in Temecula.

Rosati's Pizza and Pub opens a new patio. (Stephanie D. Schulte/SWRNN)

Since the pizza ovens fired up in Sept. of 2011, the packed house sometimes meant long waits for people looking to chow down on Chicago-style fare and sip icy-cold draft beers.

“The weekends are pretty busy and people would be waiting for a seat in the dining room,” owner Steve Sillin said. “With the new patio, there is room for 40 more people.”

Sillin, who is a real estate developer, was feeling the tight squeeze of the faltering economy when he and his wife gave up pizza after moving to Temecula from Chicago several years ago.

“We couldn’t find a good pizza, especially a true Chicago deep dish pizza,” he explained.  “I had an idea and called the Rosati family.”

Shortly after that fateful call, the Rosati’s crew flew out to Temecula to scope out the area and decide whether or not the region was a good fit.

The green light was lit and the Sillins went to work creating their Chicago masterpiece.

The majority of Rosati’s locations are take-out only, with the Temecula outpost being one of only three pizza and pub style restaurants in the nation.

The menu is diverse and features appetizers, different styles of pizzas, pasta dishes and yes, fried chicken and cheeseburgers.

The bar serves local wines and features ten beers on tap, including several mircro-brews.

“My husband and I come here specifically for the amazing mushroom burger,”  loyal patron Heidi Porecca said. “I learned they use high-quality beef which is important to me. My husband loves the spaghetti and hot wings too.”

The new patio features three large flat screen televisions and misters to keep diners cool in warmer weather.

“We plan to install heaters in to keep people warm when it cools down,” Sillin said in between deliveries.

With a steady stream of hungry and thirsty customers and a fierce focus to bring a great experience to all who walk through the doors, the Sillins are excited to bring their Chicago roots to Temecula.

Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN.  She can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.