The culinary landscape of the Rock River Valley just got a little tastier, and perhaps a lot crispier. Bridge St. Pizza & Chicken Co. celebrated its grand opening this week, bringing a taste of the Big Apple and deep-fried perfection to the Roscoe community. The new venture is the most recent undertaking by the family team behind the popular Sophia’s Restaurant in Roscoe.
While the Rock River Valley is well-known for its “Rockford style” pizza, owner Kel Isaj saw a clear gap in the market: authentic New York-style pizza. Following inspiration from visits to New York City, Mr. Isaj was determined to bring that distinct, foldable, thin-crust style to northern Illinois.
“The Rock River Valley has a lot of great Rockford style pizza, but no New York style,” Mr. Isaj noted. To perfect the craft, the owners even traveled to Milwaukee to take piazzolo classes. The ingredients reflect this commitment to quality, starting with a simple, yet robust, three-ingredient sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes from California, salt, and a special spice blend.
The “cherry on top” of the menu is the deep-fried chicken, an unlikely but popular partner for pizza. The owners, who know their clientele well, felt that pizza and chicken are “always trendy.” The side offerings feature a simple mac and cheese that can be ordered plain or customized with drizzles of sauce like BBQ or chipotle mayo, often topped with the signature chicken. The restaurant, which opened Monday, is currently carryout only, with future plans possibly including delivery options in-house or like DoorDash, though they hope to avoid the service’s typical upcharge.
Bridge St. Pizza & Chicken Co. is a true family affair, run by brother and sister Kel Isaj and Linda Alimi, and their respective spouses, Vlora Isaj and Nick Alimi. They are hands-on, with family members involved in every part of the operation, from making the sauce and fine-tuning the ovens to assembling storage in the back room. Their day currently at both Sophia’s and Bridge St. starts a little after 7 am and concludes around 10 pm.
Mr. Isaj and Ms. Alimi have been in the restaurant business for years, originally getting their start with a breakfast diner, Farmer’s Diner, in Iowa. After a few years, they felt the urge to move to northern Illinois to be closer to friends and family and for greater opportunities…