Writer / Matt Keating
When your walk into La Trattoria Italian Restaurant, 201 N. Madison Street, Greenwood, IN 46142, it’s a lot like walking into your second home.
The popular south side restaurant is well known for its family atmosphere and delicious food. The owners make you feel right at home.
We recently sat down for an interview with the friendly and welcoming owners, Tom and Rene’ Trotter. Their sons, Nathan and Nick, were busy preparing for another busy Saturday night crowd at La Trattoria. We had the following questions for them:
Was this is residential house before you opened the restaurant?
Rene’ Trotter: “It was a house when we opened in 2000, and we have had the restaurant here ever since. There was a fire on April 20, 2007, but we were reopened very quickly by Nov. 7, 2007.”
La Trattoria has a homey, relaxed feeling as soon as you walk in. Why is that?
Tom: “We are family owned and operated. Our oldest son, Nathan, is the head chef. Our other son, Nick, worked beside him for years, and is now on the floor serving. My wife and I are always here, and the customers like that they see our faces and know us by name.”
Have you had a lot of growth over the years?
Tom: “La Trattoria has grown tremendously. The growth we have gone through over the years has been unbelievable. We offer a wide variety of steaks, pastas, fish, manicotti, lasagna, pizzas, vegetables, and a full alcohol bar. We stress variety.”
Rene’: “We have a full cocktail bar and offer an extensive wine list.”
Tom: “People have told us these are the best filets they have ever had. We have been compared to the better steakhouses downtown.”
What hours are you open?
Tom: “We are open from 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; and 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. We are closed Sundays and Mondays.”
Do you have a lot of the same customers return?
Tom: “Yes. We have most of the same customer base. We have become friends with most of our customers because they come in our restaurant so frequently. Most of our customer base comes from all around us. We get people from as far away as Noblesville, Shelbyville, Bloomington, and Columbus.”
What did you do before you owned La Trattoria?
Tom: “I always wanted to own a restaurant. I was a boss at Pro Source Trucking for several years. Rene’ was an underwriter. We were ready for a second career. My parents owned a LaTrattorua in Bargersville. They opened four years ahead of us. We opened an Italian restaurant, but added the steaks. We opened the same restaurant in Greenwood, and then later incorporated the steaks, which is the entree we are best known for.”
What separates you from other restaurants?
Rene’: “We are family owned and operated. All of our dishes are made to order.”
Tom: “We are consistent with our food preparation, presentation and quality. We are first come, first serve. Other than groups of eight or larger, reservations are recommended.”
Do you enjoy working together?
Rene: “We love every minute of what we do. We feel very fortunate as a family to do what we do. We have recruit incorporated closing one week a year as a family to get away from the business.”
