Business & Tech

Gamon Winner: The Bank Celebrates Being Named 2013 Restaurant of the Year

Chef Patrick Cassata is always ready to meet customers who recognize him from reality cooking show "Hell's Kitchen," but he knows it's the menu that keeps regulars coming back for more.

At The Bank, it’s not unusual for customers to stop in the restaurant and bar hoping to meet Head Chef Patrick Cassata. Cassata gained national notoriety as a contestant on the reality cooking show “Hell’s Kitchen.”

While, the recognition may be nice, Cassata knows that what draws his regular customers and what has earned the restaurant a great local reputation — and a Gamon Award for Wheaton’s Best Restaurant two years in a row — is the restaurant’s commitment to doing its best for the community and its customers.

The Bank recently was honored with the Gamon Award as the 2013 Wheaton Restaurant of the Year.

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“I think first of all, it’s a great award to be named Best Restaurant in Wheaton,” Cassata said. “When we were nominated of course everyone wanted to be the best.”

When the staff learned about winning the award, Cassata said, “We were all clapping and cheering.”

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He attributes much of the restaurant’s success to the initiatives The Bank has taken on.

“We pushed very hard with our menu and even with our bar selections,” he said. “We are not just standing still. We are always looking to improve, to be sustainable and work with local farmers.”

Cassata said that the movement toward supporting sustainable food production is a growing trend in the food industry.

The Bank’s menu continues to offer diners locally grown food at a reasonable price point.

Cassata said he will be fine tuning the menu, which is always done seasonally. One item that will never come off the menu is the pot roast , he said. As he is reviewing the menu, Cassata anticipates adding in more lamb.

Mike Burke, one of the  owners and The Bank’s marketing director said the restaurant, which will celebrate its 6th anniversary in October, has worked very hard to be successful and it hasn’t always been easy.

“We appreciate everything Wheaton had done in supporting us,” he said. “… We are not the most expensive restaurant, but we really try to give people good quality food at a reasonable price.” 

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