VAI's in Naperville Puts a Modern Spin on Italian Cuisine

Co-owner Anthony Vai discusses the restaurant's unique approach to traditional Italian fare.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville, Illinois, has been serving up a creative take on Italian cuisine for the past 8 years. Co-owner Anthony Vai explains how the restaurant aims to offer a more flexible and innovative spin on traditional Italian dishes, incorporating influences from Southern American and Creole cuisines. Despite competition from new restaurants in the area, VAI's has maintained a loyal customer base by focusing on quality, in-house made ingredients, and personalized service.

Why it matters

In a market saturated with traditional Italian restaurants, VAI's stands out by embracing a more modern and eclectic approach to the cuisine. This strategy has allowed the restaurant to differentiate itself and build a dedicated following in the Naperville community, even as new high-profile dining options open nearby.

The details

VAI's co-owners, which include Anthony Vai, his brother Nicolas, father Michael, and partners Scott Wegener, Sandy Georganas and Pete Georganas, wanted to offer a more flexible and creative take on Italian food. Rather than sticking to strictly traditional dishes, they incorporate influences from Southern American and Creole cuisines, featuring items like Creole-seasoned dishes and high-quality steaks. The restaurant makes nearly everything in-house, from pastas and pizza dough to sauces and gelato, in an effort to maintain quality control. While VAI's and the owners' other restaurant, Entourage, are separate entities, they do share some resources like chefs when needed.

  • VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar opened 8 years ago in 2018.
  • In 2019, the restaurant hosted a fundraiser featuring a performance by Anthony Vai's uncle, rock guitarist Steve Vai, which netted over $100,000 in proceeds for the local charity Little Friends.

The players

Anthony Vai

A 40-year-old co-owner of VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville, Illinois. He oversees the restaurant's operations, including service, staffing, and administrative duties.

Michael Vai

Anthony Vai's father, who is an investor in VAI's and provides high-level direction for the company.

Nicolas Vai

Anthony Vai's brother, who is an investor in VAI's and serves as an idea person for the business.

Scott Wegener

A co-owner of VAI's who is primarily responsible for the restaurant's menu development.

Steve Vai

Anthony Vai's uncle, who is a renowned rock guitarist. He performed at a fundraiser for the local charity Little Friends hosted by VAI's in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“We never wanted to be locked into the old school mentality of it all. We like to have a little bit more flexibility. We thought 'Italian-inspired' provided that for us, gives us an out to get a little more creative and do a little bit more 'out there' stuff that's not so traditional.”

— Anthony Vai, Co-owner (chicagotribune.com)

“If I need a fix, I get our Bolognese and I'm traditionally not a red sauce guy. It hits the spot.”

— Anthony Vai, Co-owner (chicagotribune.com)

“We make our pastas, our pizza dough, our sauces, our dressings, our gelato in house. We make almost everything here. (It's about) quality control.”

— Anthony Vai, Co-owner (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

VAI's will continue to focus on providing a unique and high-quality dining experience as new restaurants open in the Naperville area, leveraging its loyal customer base and commitment to in-house made ingredients.

The takeaway

By embracing a more flexible and creative approach to Italian cuisine, VAI's has carved out a distinct niche in the Naperville dining scene. The restaurant's dedication to quality, personalized service, and innovative menu items has allowed it to thrive even as the local market becomes more competitive.