Capri Ristorante Owner Apologizes For Loud Music

BURR RIDGE, IL – The owner of Burr Ridge’s popular Capri Ristorante apologized to a neighbor Sunday for a loud wedding in a tent outside his eatery.

Resident Jennifer Fox, who lives in a condo near the restaurant, complained to the police about the noise. The village issued a citation. Meanwhile, Patch obtained a video that featured noise from the party.

The noise from County Line Square, where Capri is, was an issue recently as the Village Board considered the restaurant’s request for a lounge in the same shopping center. County Wine Merchant is another establishment in the center that has attracted noise complaints from Fox and others.

Two weeks ago, the village approved Capri’s proposed lounge, Are We Live. Capri owner Filippo “Gigi” Rovito said the lounge’s music would be piped in, not live.

On Saturday night, Fox emailed her concerns about the noise to a number of village officials and Patch. Word must have gotten to Rovito about her emails because he apologized in an email to her the next day. He also gave her his cell phone number if there are other issues.

“Please accept my sincere apologies for last night,” Rovito said to Fox.

He said the event was a wedding in a tent and included a DJ.

“This was not a Capri event,” Rovito said. “The couple had to cancel their wedding last year due to Covid. It was originally to take place at our banquet facility, which we have recently closed. This couple had to change their plans twice.”

Rovito said the restaurant had the back part of the tent closed and thought that would combat the noise.

“Once the police came, we closed the side,” he said. “The wedding ended at 11:30 p.m., which was a reasonable hour for a Saturday night. We have no more weddings scheduled through the duration of the tent being up.”

Fox said she appreciated Rovito’s effort and sincere tone.

"I hope you can fully appreciate that I didn’t move across the street from a circus tent, event venue or a nightclub,” Fox said. "I moved across the street from a mature, sophisticated Italian restaurant in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city of Chicago. This was not unintentional, so my expectation 9 years ago was that it would emit a mature, sophisticated vibe. It was that way for the better part of the first 5 years. But several years ago you started leaving the tent up after (Bo Jackson’s) event for longer and longer, and when that happened, the rules apparently changed.

Fox said Rovito’s business, compared to hers and many others, appears to have done relatively well in spite of the pandemic. The village's decision to allow the tent to remain through the summer, she said, was outrageous. But she said Rovito clearly has “friends in high places."

"As I mentioned to Mayor (Gary) Grasso in earlier emails, some communication of an event to the residents facing your restaurant would convey that you recognize the infringement on our peace," Fox said. "A little preemptive effort on your part would go a long way."

She said she has talked to plenty of other neighbors who face the restaurant and that they are equally concerned. But she said they are afraid to come forward publicly.

"Again, thank you for taking the time to reach out, explain the situation and extend an apology. It is much appreciated,” Fox said.