Complaint Against Burr Ridge Restaurant Unfounded: State

BURR RIDGE, IL — A complaint that Burr Ridge's Capri Ristorante violated the governor's pandemic regulations is unfounded, a state agency determined earlier this month.

On Dec. 7, the Illinois Liquor Commission received a complaint that Capri was offering indoor dining and its employees were going maskless in violation of regulations. The complaint was about how the restaurant appeared on the night of Dec. 4.

The state's report contradicts a report from the Burr Ridge Police Department. On Dec. 4, police were called about possible social distancing violations at Capri.

In a report, an officer said he found a "large number" of people inside the restaurant, where people were observing "partial social distancing."

A state liquor inspector visited the restaurant about noon Dec. 9. The inspector said that during the entire visit, employees were wearing masks, as were customers entering the building. Tables were spaced at the required distance from each other, the inspector said.

Guests were seated in the restaurant's outdoor tent in front of the restaurant, which is allowed under the governor's order, but no indoor dining was observed, the report said.

According to the report, the restaurant's manager, Antonella Rovito, assured the inspector that the restaurant was not allowing indoor dining.

The inspector's report concluded the complaint was unfounded.

Rovito and her husband, Filippo "Gigi" Rovito, couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

In November, Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso warned Capri Ristorante in a sharply worded, hand-delivered letter to follow social distancing requirements. He also personally inspected the restaurant after the Dec. 4 complaint. Other than a table that was 2 inches closer than the required 6 feet under social distancing rules, the mayor said he found no other violations. His investigation was covered in a Patch story.

Gigi Rovito donated $5,000 to Grasso's 2018 campaign for attorney general. The campaign later returned the money, Grasso said.