When Eric Fosse and Glenn Deutsch teamed up to open Mino's Italian in Winnetka, they decided to create a restaurant they wanted to eat at. "We built this based on what we wanted," said Deutsch, a Winnetka resident. "We didn't mold this into what we thought would possibly satisfy every person. We found out a lot of people wanted that as well."

Since opening in October in a former auto repair shop, Mino's has been doing a bustling business. Families come early in the evening to share pizza and pastas. Couples and groups dominate the place after 7 p.m. The restaurant has three dining rooms and added a patio in July, with the flexible space making it popular with private events including rehearsal dinners, baby showers and office parties.