Updated Nov. 20, 2012 – 3:50 p.m.
Fiorenza Ristorante owner Bill Pierson has lots to be grateful for this first year of his Italian ristorante at 7404 Madison St. He’s giving back by opening the restaurant to the community this Thanksgiving.
Pierson will serve a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings at the restaurant to anyone “without a place to go or family to be with this Thanksgiving,” he said.
“We want to offer it as something nice for people who might not have any place to go. The staff is working voluntarily between noon and 3 p.m.,” Pierson said. “Even the piano player from the weekends will come in and perform Christmas music.” The restaurant seats 130, he noted.
Even though chef Fiorenza Tasinato is a specialist in Italian cuisine, the meal will be “Traditional American,” Pierson said.
“She won’t force them to eat anything Italian on Thanksgiving,” Pierson joked. The menu will consist of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans.
“There might be a little garlic in the gravy, but that’s it,” Pierson said.
Diners will get to see the new restaurant, which features a classical Italian interior and exterior, an outdoor patio with fountains in the front. Fiorenza won a PRIDE award from the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce this year.
