Assorted housemade, handcrafted pappardelle, spaghetti, ravioli, and tortellini pasta on a marble surface.

About Us

RPM is a group of restaurants from celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic and siblings R.J., Jerrod and Molly Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. The RPM brand focuses on sourcing the highest quality ingredients and providing guests with exceptional service for a dining experience unlike any other. RPM Italian, RPM Steak and RPM Seafood are located in the River North neighborhood of downtown Chicago, with other locations of RPM Italian in Washington, D.C.’s Mount Vernon district and Las Vegas in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. In addition to RPM Restaurants, Pizzeria Portofino and RPM Events on also on the Chicago Riverfront.

Our Purveyors

Molino Paolo Mariani Flour

Our team makes over a dozen different pasta dishes daily using Molino Paolo Mariani’s exceptional flour, which is imported from Italy and prized for its optimal hydration properties. Our handmade pastas are all made using a variety of artisanal pasta tools such as bronze dies, gnocchi boards, pasta wheels, and groove cutters.

Giachi Primolio Olive Oil

Nestled in the picturesque hills of Mercatale Val di Pesa, within the celebrated Chianti Classico region of Florence, lies the Giachi family farm. Their award-winning olive oil is crafted from a skillful blend of hand-picked Frantoio, Moraiolo, Leccino, Maurino, and Pendolino olives, harvested during the first ten days of November to ensure peak ripeness and flavor.

Gaja

Nestled in the breathtaking Piedmont region of northwestern Italy lies Gaja Winery, a world-renowned producer of exquisite Italian wines. Established in 1859, the winery is celebrated for its visionary approach to winemaking, harmoniously blending time-honored techniques with state-of-the-art methods. Gaja’s mastery of the Nebbiolo grape is particularly notable, showcased in their legendary Barbaresco and Barolo wines, revered globally as benchmarks of Italian winemaking excellence.

Acetaia San Giacomo Balsamic

Andrea Bezzecchi is an award-winning family producer of balsamic vinegar in Reggio Emilia, Italy, who preserves tradition and original techniques of producing aged balsamic vinegar. San Giacomo represents passion, culture, and rigorous production methods. The balsamic vinegar is made from cooked grape must and aged in traditional wooden barrels resulting in a product that is well balanced with a harmonious blend of sweet and sour.

WasteNot Compost

Starting in late 2023, Chicagoland RPM Restaurants initiated a comprehensive composting program, partnering with local Chicago-based company WasteNot Compost. The program includes glass, cardboard, and all food waste, contributing to Lettuce Entertain You’s commitment to a more sustainable future. In addition to composting nearly all waste coming from the restaurants, RPM Restaurants has also switched to offering glass-only bottles so that they can all be recycled. Inspired by Managing Partner, Kelly Clancy, the initiative aims to expand composting to more Lettuce restaurants nationwide, aligning with a broader environmental mission of the company.

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WasteNot Compost at RPM Restaurants in Chicago

IFSCC Gold Partners

We are proud to be Gold Partners in the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition’s We Compost Recognition Program. This designation indicates that we leverage a hauler service to keep 100% of our organics & food scraps out of landfills.

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Our Team

Bob Broskey

Executive Chef Partner

Bob Broskey, the Executive Chef Partner of RPM Restaurants, hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his culinary journey stems from a family of adept cooks. After refining his skills in Chicago at Michelin-starred establishments like Ria and L2O, Broskey ventured back to Pittsburgh to contribute to the success of Notion. Returning to Chicago, he played a crucial role at Intro, earning accolades like Zagat's "30 Under 30." Joining RPM Seafood in 2019, Broskey's passion for seafood propelled him to be made Partner in the restaurants, overseeing chef teams nationwide across various RPM concepts, including RPM Italian, RPM Steak, RPM Seafood, and more.

Christopher Gawronski

Executive Chef

Christopher Gawronski, Executive Chef at RPM Italian & RPM Steak, blends modern culinary approaches with traditional flair, offering a contemporary menu designed for shared enjoyment. Originally from West Bloomfield, MI, Gawronski's culinary journey began during his travels in Spain, evolving from a passion into a full-time pursuit. After honing his skills in Los Angeles, he transitioned to Chicago, making notable contributions to establishments like Henri and Gage Hospitality Group. Since 2021, he has led the kitchen, first at RPM Italian and now at RPM Steak as well, showcasing his expertise. Beyond the kitchen, Gawronski enjoys pottery, golf, and family time with his wife and two daughters.

Richard Hanauer

Partner

Richard Hanauer serves as the operational Partner for RPM Restaurants and Pizzeria Portofino, steering the wine programs. His wine journey started at the family table and led to studying Hospitality at Syracuse University. Hanauer began as a sommelier at 160Blue and fine wine expert for Levy Restaurants, eventually becoming Tru Restaurant's youngest sommelier at 25. After a tenure at L2O with a Michelin star, he joined RPM Italian in 2014 and later opened RPM Steak and RPM Italian in Washington, DC. He played a pivotal role in the success of Bar Ramone, Pizzeria Portofino, RPM Events, RPM Seafood, and RPM Italian Las Vegas. Hanauer's accolades include Wine Spectator's "Best of" Awards, a "Sommelier of the Year" title, and being named one of Wine Enthusiast magazine's 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in 2019. Currently residing in Chicago, Hanauer takes pride in his talented sommelier team and contributes to Lettuce's newest wine-forward concept, The Oakville Grill.

Our Partners

Bill & Giuliana Rancic

Celebrity power couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic – who are television personalities, New York Times best-selling authors, entrepreneurs, executive producers and marketing experts – have added restaurateurs to their long list of accomplishments as partners in the RPM brand. Dynamic and highly sought after as speakers, the duo travel around the world focusing on topics that continue to inspire and motivate audiences of all sizes.

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R.J., Jerrod & Molly Melman

With more than a dozen restaurants to their names, the Melman siblings are responsible for some of downtown Chicago's most sought-after spots. Their foray into LEYE partnership began with Hub 51 and has since grown to include Bub City, Three Dots and a Dash, RPM Italian, RPM Steak, Ramen-san, il Porcellino, Bub City & Joe's Live Rosemont, Sushi-san, Pizzeria Portofino, RPM Events, and RPM Seafood. They have also expanded concepts to Washington, D.C., L.A. and Las Vegas and are driving forces behind the nation's premier BBQ and country music festival, Windy City Smokeout.