When Southland diners reminisce, one of the names that could come up is Carlo Lorenzetti's Restaurant, but some may not realize the longtime establishment is still serving.

Called Carlo's by some and Lorenzetti's by others, the restaurant is owned by the family of the late Carlo Lorenzetti, who opened the place in 1986.

“Chicago Heights really does appreciate good food,” said Carla Lorenzetti, manager of Carlo Lorenzetti's Restaurant and daughter of the establishment's namesake.

“We have a nice symbiotic relationship with the city, with the workers and employees. As the area changed through the years, we adapted with them. We were able to add more buffets and try to at least fill the need of the guests that were local and put some value meals out there for them.”

Dinner items start at $5.95 for appetizers; $8.95 for sandwiches; $12.95 for pasta; $14.95 for chicken; $17.95 for seafood; $18.95 for steaks, ribs and chops; and $20.95 for veal.

Lunch items start at $7.95 for sandwiches, $10.95 for steak and chops, $11.95 for pasta, $12.95 for chicken, $16.95 for seafood and $18.95 for veal.

“We have prime-grade, center-cut, bone-in steaks that we've called our Carlo's special that is just out of this world, topped with your choice of fresh garlic butter or Roquefort and melted and cooked to your liking. It's phenomenal and one of our top-selling steaks,” said Lorenzetti, of Manhattan.

“Rigatoni al forno is the signature dish at Carlo's. That's a nice sauteed ham, peas and mushrooms in Parmesan Alfredo sauce topped with rigatoni and baked with mozzarella.”

Other popular dishes include homemade lasagna, minestrone, an award-winning oysters Rockefeller, pizza, Italian roasted chicken, baked stuffed shrimp and veal entrees. Slow-cooked prime rib is available Fridays to Sundays.

“We hope to provide a wonderful dining experience with delicious, fresh ingredients and home-cooked meals as well as fresh-cut steaks and an all-around great experience like you're coming to your family's,” said Lorenzetti.

The Lorenzetti family, which includes brothers Carlo Jr. and Jim, also owns Gourmet Pizza by Carlo, Ltd., in Flossmoor and Livio's Restaurant & Bar, named for their grandfather, in St. John, Ind.

“We did whatever it took to help dad out. He loved what he did and boy did it show. We all grew up with it,” said Lorenzetti, who went from working through summers while in high school and working the kitchen line to now handling many bookings at the restaurant.

“There's a lot of great people through the years that have been with my father that we're like family. We just treat our clients like they're part of the family. We have a lot of repeat business, and that is actually the key to us.”

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.