“Tom Jones” rocks 94 West at dinner concert

“Tom Jones” rocks 94 West at dinner concert

Celebrity impersonator and Tom Jones look-a-like John Truncali rocked the audience at a dinner concert at 94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant Thursday, inspiring patrons to sing-a-long to popular tunes that also included the Temptations, Frank Sinatra and Neil Diamond.

The performance is a part of a summer series of concerts hosted by 94 West to celebrate the restaurants 10 years anniversary this year.

“We’re happy to have so many great friends and patrons who love to come to our restaurants and enjoy great steak and seafood,” said owner-operator Maria Sord.

“And nothing makes for a great dinner evening than to listen to a professional entertainer sign some of the greatest songs many of us have heard over the years.”

The Orland Park restaurant, 94 West Steak & Seafood, is located at 15410 S. 94^th Avenue. It’s open every night until 10 pm, with a special popular brunch every Sunday from 10:30 am until 3:30 am.

“People come from all over for the food and the entertainment,” Sord said proudly. “We especially love John Truncali because his repertoire of music includes some of the greatest rock, soul and blues songs. The audiences love him and so do we here at 94 West.”

Truncali’s smooth voice captures the heart and soul of the songs. Even while enjoyignt heir meals, customers were clapping along and singing the words to “My Girl” by the Temptations, Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea,” and of course an array of Tom Jones songs.

A dead ringer for Tom Jones, Truncali has worked as a performing Lead Vocalist, Band Leader, Arranger and Guitarist as well as Radio Studio Announcer and Personality, Commercial Voice-over and Jingle Artist and Actor in Chicago.

In addition to the many impressions featured in his shows, John’s own singing voice has been described as an exciting blend of Tom Jones and Engelbert. Show reviewers have named him “The Italian Tom Jones” and 
“The One Man Legends Show”.

His vocal impressions mix with comedy and humor, and his evening bill includes songs from Tom Jones, Elvis, Engelbert, 
Neil Diamond, The Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.), Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli, 
Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Barry White, Frankie Valli, Joe Cocker, and many more, interacting with The Godfather (Marlon Brando), Jackie Mason, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former President Clinton, 
Rodney Dangerfield, Sylvester Stallone just to name a few. New impressions are added daily.

You can read more on Truncali at his web site at www.JohnTruncali.com.

Sord said that Truncali’s appearance will be followed by many other entertainers and artists including the popular rock & roll band Legacy, appearing at 94 West Steak & Seafood on July 19 and 26, and August 16 and 30 on the outdoor patio next to the restaurant’s spectacular waterfall array each night beginning at 7:30 pm.

On August 8, 94 West hosts a tribute to Elvis with entertainer renown Bob West, and the Jazz Standandars Frank & Tim.

Maria’s in-laws owned the Candlelight Restaurant which was located at 55^th and Spaulding on Chicago’s Southwest Side. It was opened in 1957. The Candlelight was famous for its Green Noodles.

“I learned from my mother, Mary, and father, John, that the key to a great restaurant is to serve great tasting great quality food as if you were cooking for your own family,” said Bryan Sord. “That’s what they did and that’s what we do here at 94 West.”

Sord said that they opened 94 West as a tribute to the culinary talents of his parents, who have both since passed away.

For more information on 94 West Steak & Seafood and on its entertainment schedule, visit them online at www.94WestRestaurant.com and find them on Facebook.

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"Steady and vibrant" 94 West Steak & Seafood in Orland Park Celebrates 10 years

"Steady and vibrant" 94 West Steak & Seafood in Orland Park Celebrates 10 years

94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant celebrates 10th Anniversary

Owner says restaurant is "steady and vibrant"

  

Orland Park, Il -- Brian Sord is celebrating the 10^th Anniversary of his popular steak and seafood restaurant, 94 West, predicting the next 10 years will be even better.

Raised in a restaurant family, Sord opened 94 West Steak & Seafood in 2003 at 15410 S. 94^th Avenue in Orland Park at a time when everyone said the economy would make it a real challenge.

But Sord said he used what he learned working side-by-side with his parents, and combined it with one of the best gourmet chefs in the Midwest to create a restaurant that prides itself on serving the best tasting prime steaks and seafood anywhere.

“My parents owned the Candlelight Restaurant which was located at 55^th and Spaulding on Chicago’s Southwest Side and was opened in 1957,” recalls Sord, who notes that the Candlelight was famous for its Green Noodles.

“I learned from my mother, Mary, and father, John, that the key to a great restaurant is to serve great tasting great quality food as if you were cooking for your own family. That’s what they did and that’s what we do here at 94 West.”

Sord said that he opened 94 West as a tribute to the culinary talents of his parents, who have both since passed away.

“In addition to serving only the best, I also learned that a restaurant was not just about serving the best food. It was also about how you served the public. You respected them. You treated them like they are a part of the family. You make them feel like they are special and to me, they all are,” Sord said.

Sord said that during his nearly 50 years in the restaurant business at his parents’ side and now with his wife operating 94 West Steak & Seafood, he always took his business responsibilities seriously.

“That’s why I was so disturbed when it was wrongly reported a number of weeks back that I was having financial and mortgage problems at 94 West. It has nothing to do with 94 West. We don’t have any business or property issues there.  It was a financial issue involving another property in Will County and Marquette Bank. The bank didn’t want to renew the mortgage on that commercial property. That caused all kinds of rumors and stories about the restaurant 94 west,” said Sord, noting the issues are in the process of being worked out.

“People are asking me if I am closing my restaurants and the answer is no. We are not closing. I expect 94 West to do even better during the next 10 years.”

Sord’s restaurants have been recognized as among the very best by several regional news media.

“When people come to 94 West, they expect and they get the best quality steak and seafood anywhere. Our Sunday brunch is a phenomenal success because of the assortment of food and the quality,” Sord said of the brunch which runs every Sunday from 10 am until 3 pm.

“My wife, Maria, and I understand the concerns that might be out there but the rumors are not true. What is true is that 94 West is the best steak and seafood restaurant in Chicagoland. No one even comes close and the people who say that are our customers. We’re so grateful for their support and I promise that this next decade will be even better than the first.”

Sord says 94 West continues to host and book banquets and private parties, and he stresses bookings remain “steady and vibrant."

For more information on 94 West, visit their website at www.94WestRestaurant.com.