Introduction to Adelmo’s Ristorante
Adelmo’s Ristorante is expected to serve its last supper at its current Dallas location, at Inwood Road and Lovers Lane, in late December 2025. The 36-year-old family-owned restaurant is looking for a new location to move the restaurant. Owner Adelmo Banchetti told The Dallas Morning News his rent was expected to nearly double if he were to keep the Italian restaurant at Dallas’ Inwood Village. Banchetti said he feels loyal to the families his restaurant has served for 36 years, first at Cole Avenue and Knox Street for more than a quarter-century, and then at Inwood Road and Lovers Lane for a decade.
The Reason for the Move
“We don’t want to leave our customers,” Banchetti said. “They don’t want to leave us.” The decision to move comes after the rent increase, which would have been a significant burden for the restaurant. Banchetti is determined to find a new location that will allow him to continue serving his customers with the same level of quality and service they have come to expect.
About Adelmo Banchetti
Adelmo Banchetti opened Adelmo’s Ristorante in Dallas in 1989. He has a lovable catchphrase: “telegraph, telephone, tell Adelmo.”
David Woo / The Dallas Morning News
Banchetti, who was born and raised in Florence, Italy, is a natural host. Decades ago, he worked on cruise ships overseas with fellow Italian restaurateur Alberto Lombardi, who now owns Dallas restaurants Toulouse, Taverna, Bistro 31 and many others. Banchetti was assistant maître d’ at The Mansion and maître d’at the Pyramid Room at the Fairmont. He opened his own restaurant after what he describes as a “misunderstanding”: staffers were asked to learn a new computer system at the Fairmont, and Banchetti thought he heard his manager say she wouldn’t help them learn it — though she’d said the opposite.
The History of Adelmo’s Ristorante
“I said, ‘I can be my own boss so no one can tell me what to do,’” Banchetti recalls. So he got a lease near Knox Street and opened a bistro with his name on it. Over nearly 40 years, the recipes for Adelmo’s osso buco and lasagna have remained the same, the owner said. The old-school service and warm family atmosphere are still intact, too. “But the habits of the people have changed a little bit,” Banchetti said. So has his attitude toward dishes that seem like Americanized versions of the Italian food he grew up eating.
Menu Items
Like garlic bread. “I said, ‘Why would I have to put on the table something that stinks like garlic bread?’” he said. “But now I say, ‘You want it? [Will] you pay for it? You get it.’” Customers also requested meatballs (“a great dish, but an immigrant dish”) and fettuccine alfredo (“a disgrace”). He added both, plus gluten-free pasta. The fettuccine alfredo, specifically, “sells like crazy,” he said. Diners rarely say “no” to dessert: cannoli, tiramisu, flourless chocolate cake and crème brûlée. Customers celebrating a birthday or an anniversary are treated to bread pudding with brandy caramel sauce.
The Search for a New Location
The Banchettis haven’t found a new place to move Adelmo’s yet. They’re looking in University Park, Highland Park and near Love Field. “We are blessed in many ways,” Banchetti said as he considers his last few months near Devonshire in Dallas. “The only thing is, we hope to find a place not too far, not too big, where we can be active in making people happy.” Adelmo’s Ristorante is at 5450 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas. Closed Mondays. The restaurant is expected to remain open at its current location until late December 2025.
Conclusion
Adelmo’s Ristorante has been a staple in the Dallas community for 36 years, serving up delicious Italian cuisine and providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for its customers. While the news of the restaurant’s move may be sad for some, it’s also an opportunity for the Banchettis to find a new location and continue serving their customers with the same level of quality and service they have come to expect.
FAQs
Q: Why is Adelmo’s Ristorante moving?
A: The restaurant is moving because the rent at its current location is expected to nearly double.
Q: Where is Adelmo’s Ristorante looking to move?
A: The restaurant is looking to move to a new location in University Park, Highland Park, or near Love Field.
Q: What will happen to the current location of Adelmo’s Ristorante?
A: The current location will close in late December 2025.
Q: Will the menu change at the new location?
A: There has been no announcement about changes to the menu, but the restaurant has added new dishes over the years to accommodate customer requests.
Q: Can I still dine at Adelmo’s Ristorante before it moves?
A: Yes, the restaurant will remain open at its current location until late December 2025.
