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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders Is A Hit In St. CharlesBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
They just may tell you the team's secret weapon for those brisk runs around the bases and high-flying homers is a "grinder." The Toals, owners of Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders on Bass Pro Drive in St. Charles, cater to the Cardinal's locker room. Occasionally, they say, they even cater to the opposing teams. "The business has been very successful. We bake our own bread, and it's in the oven by 7 a.m.," said Julie Toal. "Our signature item is our bread. Our bread is just what makes us, plus the quality of our food, higher quality meat and vegetables." Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders got its start in the St. Louis area when Josh Toal's mother opened the area first franchise in 1999 on Lemay Ferry road in South County. When Julie and her husband, Josh, graduated from college a few years ago, they bought a franchise and opened the Olive and Mason Road Bellacino's. The Toals then decided to spread to the North, and opened a third Bellacino's in St. Charles two years ago. "They've all been going strong ever since they opened," Julie Toal said. ""We don't compete against each other at all. We all have ownership." Toal said it's the high-end meats, 100 percent mozzarella cheese, generous portion sizes and overall quality that bring customers back again and again. "We always tell people that once they try our product they will be back," Julie Toal said. "We do a lot of corporate catering, and it never fails. We get them back. We pride ourselves on good customer service and a timely manner of delivery, but overall, it really is a good product that customers appreciate." The grinder, a sub sandwich of sorts, gleaned its name on the East Coast about the time World War II was in high gear. WWII Italian immigrants setup sandwich shops close to the shipyards. Their freshly baked Italian rolls were filled with generous amounts of meats and cheeses, and were then baked and garnished with lettuce and tomato. These super-sized sandwiches were a favorite of the hard working men who ground rivets off the warships. The friendly shop owners referred to the men as grinders and the ever-popular sandwiches came to be known as grinders. Grinders are more than enough for a meal with a half sandwich measuring nine inches and a whole sandwich measuring 18 inches (($5.69 and $10.39). The Chicago Steak grinder, with its thinly sliced rib eye steak smothered with mushrooms, onions, cheese and Bellacino's own garlic spread is their top seller, Julie Toal said. The second most popular is the House Specialty, an Italian combo featuring ham, sausage, salami, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo. Pizza dough is made from scratch daily, and transforms traditional Sicilian Squares with a garlic based thick crust into a feast to match no other. Cheese pizza sells at $4.49 for small and $12.49 for large, but there are plenty of "extras" to zest the flavor even further. Specialty pizzas like Bellacino's Pride features pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, black olives and mozzarella cheese. The Chicken Alfredo features a white, creamy Alfredo sauce, marinated broiled chicken breast, onions and cheese. Pizzas come in 8-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch sizes and range in price from $5.79 for an 8-inch veggie pizza to $17.89 for a 16-inch Alfredo pizza. Salads, a light food fare and favorites like Nachos Supreme fill the menu. There is dining in the delightfully decorated restaurant with cozy Tiffany-style lighting, and the experience is enhanced by the fabulous aroma of baking bread. If low carb is your thing, Bellacino's can accommodate with half and whole grinders in a low-carb wrap. Business has been so strong, the Toals say they're thinking of opening another restaurant in O'Fallon or Wentzville. Until then, delivery options are open. "We'll go anywhere," Julie Toal said. "We cater to hospitals, churches and schools. All we ask is a $50 minimum purchase, but there is a $10 delivery charge." Then there are the Cardinals to feed - and next week they'll be feeding their fans. "We'll be at the Cardinal's Opening Day Rally across the street from the new Busch Stadium, near the KTRS radio station," Julie Toal said. "We both really have a lot of fun with the business, we wouldn't change a thing." Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders is located at 1455 Bas Pro Dr. in St. Charles (near the Bass Pro Shop off Hwy. 70 and Fifth St.) Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 636-925-2953 to place an order, or fax your order to 636-925-3149. |
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If
you have ever wondered where the St. Louis Cardinals get their energy
to run the bases and hit the long balls, you may want to talk to Julie
and Josh Toal.