BELLEVUE, Neb. (KMTV) — It's not quite lunchtime at Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, but things are cooking.
Manager Tim Holedee gave 3 News Now anchor Serese Cole a special taste of what he's loved to do with his dad since he was a teenager.
"When I was 15, I got my first job and I fell in love with it," he said. "I started working my way from the dishwasher to the cook—up, up, up! When I turned 20, I said it's time for us to do our own, so that's what we did," said Holedee.
The family left New Jersey and started Luigi’s six years ago.
"People thought I was crazy. Why would I open an Italian restaurant in Old Towne Bellevue? We believed in it. We believed in our product. If you have the product, people will come,” said Holedee.
Their product is authentic Italian food.
"Our seafood is really good, our veal is fresh, homemade lasagna, pasta, bread. Our menu is huge,” said Holedee.
For him, their food is a part of their story.
“It tells where you're from and where you grew up and I just want to share that," said Holedee.
In this family kitchen, they make everything from scratch, including the pasta noodles and your food is made to order.
Holedee said he learned from the best.
His dad is from south Italy and lived on the east coast so all their recipes are family recipes, and they're still creating.
“When I’m cooking for myself is also the way I come up with new specials, you know. I create stuff and I’m like, 'That really tasted good,'” said Holedee.
Food and family. That's what it's all about at Luigi’s—giving customers a taste of Italy with every bowl.
Luigi's is open every day for lunch and dinner. They also cater.
You can find Luigi's Italian Restaurant in Old Towne Bellevue at 101 W Mission.
See the full menu here.
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