Dave’s Italian Kitchen, a 44-year-old Evanston establishment, closed its doors permanently Monday night.

The restaurant, located on 1635 Chicago Ave., officially announced its closing on social media at 8 p.m. but could not be reached for comment. Ald. Judy Fiske (1st), expressed her surprise about the restaurant closing during City Council on Monday night and said the restaurant will be missed by all of Evanston.

“There’s nothing else like it in Evanston. Nothing. It was the family; it was the restaurant for everyone,” Fiske told the Daily. “It will be a severe loss to the community.”

Earlier at the Council meeting, Dave and Ellen Glatt of Dave’s Italian Kitchen received keys to the city. While neither of the recipients were able to attend, Kevin Brown, Evanston’s Youth and Young Adult Program manager, accepted the award on their behalf.

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl presented the key to the Glatts for the program Dave Glatt created in coordination with the city’s Youth and Young Adult Program to serve at-risk Evanston families. Since Fall 2012 she said, Dave’s served one at-risk Evanston family a free meal each day. Tisdahl said the program had been crucial in the Youth and Young Adult Program’s outreach efforts and in creating positive family connections. She called giving the key a “bittersweet announcement.”

“He wanted to give at-risk families hope and love, and there was no better way than to provide one local family everyday with a free meal,” Tisdahl said. “Dave is modest and wanted no recognition for his program, but his effort is so extraordinary it should be shared with the community.”

Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) also expressed both his sadness and gratitude to the workers and owners at the restaurant.

“I hope and trust Dave that this is not your last restaurant and maybe you’ll come back in some shape or form,” Braithwaite said. “I’d love to find you a home in the 2nd Ward in the event that you are interested: That’s a personal invitation.”

Fiske said she had eaten at Dave’s once a week for as long as she could remember, and knew the business well. Dave Glatt was in the kitchen himself every night, she said, and had an incredibly loyal following.

She said Dave’s was a restaurant enjoyed by everyone who lived in Evanston, and “defined so many people” in the city.

“If you were sitting in one of the booths and read the wine bottles, the comments on the wine bottles, you know that every significant life event that has happened in Evanston at one time or another has happened at Dave’s,” Fiske said. “I just want to thank (Dave) for all of the good memories and fun times that everyone had at Dave’s Italian Kitchen, and say he will be sorely missed.”

Rishika Dugyala contributed reporting.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the restaurant’s address. The restaurant was located at 1635 Chicago Avenue. The Daily regrets the error. 

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