When mama says “mangia,” everyone better “mangia.”

At Bella Roma Restaurante at 226 N. Fourth St., mama’s influence spreads throughout the kitchen, including breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Co-owner Randy Dauti uses all his late mother’s recipes to offer a wide variety of Italian foods for Chillicotheans to sample.

“I grew up in a family that was cooking every day,” said Dauti. “We were a poor family with 10 kids. I had three brothers and six sisters. Three died and seven lived.

“I was a farm kid. It was a hard working life. I worked in the cornfields. We shared life together and grew up with no power. We did homework by candles. We washed clothes in the evening and put them back to wear the next day.

“My mom and dad worked hard to raise the family. But we survived. We all made it. Now we’re all married and have good families.”

Dauti lost his parents two years ago. His father came from Macedonia in the north of Greece, and his mother was a full-blooded Sicilian.

Dauti grew up in Macedonia, but eventually landed in Anchorage, Alaska, where he spent 23 years.

During that time, he owned about seven restaurants in Anchorage.

After moving to Baraboo, Wis., he opened Mama Mia restaurant, which he started from scratch.
That restaurant is still doing a good business, Dauti said.

With 27 years of restaurant experience under his belt, Dauti eventually opened another Italian restaurant in Rockford.

Randy met his business partner, Kenny Adami, through his first cousin, Jimmy.
Adami, who has been in the restaurant business for close to 30 years, wanted Dauti to join him in a new restaurant.

“He wanted to do something different,” said Dauti.

The two chose Chillicothe to offer their talents.

Dauti and his wife, Dijana, and 23-year-old son, Tony, recently moved to Chillicothe, where Tony is assisting his father in the business venture.

Adami and his wife, Vaide, have two sons and live in the LaSalle-Peru area, where Adami operates the Twin Cities Family Restaurant.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner served
Dauti said some of his best sellers include veal marcella, scampi casa, pasta alfredos, marinara dishes, all the flambes, lots of baked pasta, steak, seafood and more.

Bella Roma opened Oct. 1 and is open 6 a.m.-1 a.m. seven days a week.

Breakfast is served from 6-11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and dinner from 4-10 p.m. The bar remains open until 1 a.m.

Carryouts are available by calling 274-8700, or fax 274-3250.

Also available are charbroiled burgers, various chicken dishes, gyros, hot and cold subs, calzones and strombolis, veal and pork, pizzas, appetizers, salads and desserts.

All dinners come with a choice of soup or salad and bread.

Now all Bella Roma Restaurante awaits is customers.

“We came here to give Chillicothe good service and good food,” said Dauti. “I hope everybody gives us a chance.”