Fred Bernardi came to Toluca from Italy in 1907 with son Nildo, whose nickname was Mona. Fred opened a grocery store, while Mona played saxophone and clarinet for a traveling band called Mona’s Harmony Kings. As Prohibition ended in 1933, Mona Bernardi opened a Main Street bar that became Mona’s Italian Food, with the menu staples being 10-cent spaghetti plates and 15-cent chicken dinners. In 1934, Leno Capponi opened Capponi’s just down the street. The two businesses competed for patrons for 30 years until 1965, when Mona Bernardi bought out Capponi. The story behind the transaction involves a legendary card game bet.
Not long after the merger of the operations in 1965, Mona’s son Jerry Bernardi came up with the idea of making, freezing, shipping, and selling tortellini and other pastas. While Mona was not a fan of the idea, Jerry got his way and Bernardi Foods opened in 1971 in Toluca. The 30,000 square foot facility soon became the largest employer in town. The plant has been sold twice since, but still retains 300 employees and remains one of the region’s biggest employers.
Obviously, Mona’s and Capponi’s are known for their vast array of delicious Italian food, which includes pasta, lasagna, tortellini, mostaccioli, ravioli, and various sauces. But the two businesses share nearly twin menus and offer many other great choices, including Mona’s fried chicken. Steaks, burgers, ribs, pork tenderloins, seafood, and various appetizers and desserts are also featured. And don’t forget the salad, bread, and Bernardi’s Infused Dipping Oil, which are absolute staples of an Italian eatery.
Each business employs just under 50 people, and Mona’s can seat up to 300, while Capponi’s has a capacity of 240. Mona’s has more of a brighter look of a supper club, while Capponi’s has more of an intimate and dimmer atmosphere. And while the menus are close to identical, there are a few unique options at each restaurant.
A third generation of the Bernardi family now runs Mona’s and Capponi’s, and the business has expanded operations to three more locations in Washington (Bernardi’s), Pontiac (Bernardi’s II), and Dunlap (Bernardi’s Pub). Bernardi’s also offers a variety of catering options.
For generations of local residents and visitors, Toluca is known for these two restaurants. Located 30 miles northeast of Peoria, Toluca got its start as a railroad stop in 1887. The population exploded to 3,500 and then 6,000 by 1907. Italian immigrants flocked to the area to work in the coal mines, with the mines once employing 770 workers and producing 379,000 tons of coal. By 1924, the coal mines became unprofitable and shut down. The population shrank and has leveled off at just under 1,500.
Americans celebrate National Italian American month every October. The heritage month is celebrated in October to coincide with Columbus Day, the national holiday observed on the second Monday of the month. Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the United States, making up the nation’s seventh-largest ethnic group.
“Mona’s and Capponi’s in Toluca fit the perfect definition for a destination restaurant in downstate Illinois,” stated Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora). “Plan your trip accordingly, as these are can’t-miss experiences that should be on many bucket lists. Small town businesses that are passed down from generation to generation are the lifeblood of Illinois communities.”