Some things may have changed since
The Onion Roll opened up 70 years ago, but we haven’t messed with the things that work:
• Hand-crafted, authentic deli food
• Recipes passed down over generations
• Personal, friendly service
• Charming, old-school atmosphere
• A dining experience for the whole family
Oak Park’s go-to spot since 1954.
The Onion Roll is a neighborhood deli known for doing the classics right—bagels baked fresh daily, hot corned beef, smoked lox, and matzo ball soup that hits just right. Located in downtown Oak Park, it’s the kind of place you come back to, whether you’re grabbing breakfast or meeting a friend for lunch.
We are proud to have been a part of our customers’ lives for generations.
Nothing makes us happier than hearing that someone visited The Onion Roll as a child and now brings their grandchildren to the very same place.
Whether it’s a regular who’s been coming here their whole life or a visitor getting to enjoy our food for the first time, we treasure every customer who becomes a part of our family for a day or decades.
Meet the owners.
The Onion Roll owners, Igor Russo and Ryan Rosenthal are the third set of owners of this storied restaurant. They were loyal customers for years and then jumped at the chance to own the place in 2004. Since then, they’ve retained the traditions and recipes while continuing to find new ways to delight customers.
Most recently, they decided that it was about time for The Onion Roll to make their own bagels. The bagel is a critical part of a good New York-style Jewish bakery. So, it just makes sense to bring that piece in-house and ensure that all shmears and sandwiches are served with a truly authentic bagel.
There are more exciting plans for the future of The Onion Roll, but rest assured that the place will never stray far from its sturdy roots.
Meet the team.
Armando Pacheco is our talented head chef who has been cooking up The Onion Roll’s delicious classics for over 30 years. He has truly mastered all of our tried-and-true recipes and even knows the specific orders of many of our regular customers. He calls it their “usual”.
Mariana Vats is our head bagel bakery and pastry chef. Before joining The Onion Roll, Mariana studied and was a professor at a Culinary College, who turned students into pastry chefs in Urkraine. As our head of bakery opertion, Mariana brings her skills to The Onion Roll and to share her delicious recipes with our guests.