Juliet’s Tavern energizes classic Italian dining in downtown Joliet

When the building located at 205 Chicago St. in downtown Joliet became available, Carmen Rossi and Erick Starke, owners of Juliet’s Tavern, came running. They opened Juliet’s in October 2014 with a dream of revitalizing the downtown scene. As Will County natives, they have strong personal interests in the area.

Juliet’s Tavern is a breath of fresh air for downtown Joliet, offering authentic Italian dishes in an historic building, mixed with the modern amenity of a multi-screen sports bar. It’s like having two restaurants in one.

“The cool thing is how the restaurant is set up,” said managing partner Erick Starke. “We have French doors separating the two [dining] rooms. Once you leave the bar, you’re transported into an old-school Italian dining room.”

If you're hosting a special event, the restaurant's second floor is a must-see, with two 19^th-century inspired library sitting areas and an expansive banquet room, complete with its own private bar. Walk outside on the wrap-around balcony, to experience additional space for receptions and cocktails.

“We have a wedding reception booked for the entire second floor this spring for 130 people,” Starke said. “We’ve also had rehearsal dinners, showers and business-after-hour events.”

The dishes at Juliet’s Tavern are made fresh by a kitchen team led by head chef Thomas Murtaugh, who comes with an impressive resume, having worked at restaurants in the Trump Tower in Chicago, Medina Country Club and the Bolingbrook Golf Club. His American twist on the Italian classics give diners a unique experience, like the customer-favorite strawberry cheesecake cannoli.

Starke and Rossi said they are proud to be a part of the downtown Joliet community, and are excited about the area’s revitalization future. Juliet’s Tavern is located at 205 Chicago St., Joliet, and can be reached at (815)630-5654 and www.JulietsTavern.com.