Citrus diner opens at former Moondance location in Westmont

WESTMONT – Jim Romas has passion for high quality food. He'll tell you it's a trait that spans generations and continents, and something that he strives to serve to patrons that visit his new Westmont diner, Citrus.

Romas' flare for food was passed down by his dad.

After immigrating from Greece by way of Canada in 1962, his father, George, opened Romas Restaurant a year later in downtown Chicago. At one point, George and his brothers owned and operated seven restaurants throughout Chicago, and the Romas children – Jim, Pete and Gus – worked their way through kitchen, cashier and wait staff positions.

For Jim, some of his fondest childhood memories remain working alongside his father, taking in the ambiance of the bustling Greek diner.

"I really liked working with my dad," Romas said. "I loved the atmosphere – watching people go in and out of the busy kitchen, seeing all the happy customers. I'll always enjoy serving people, seeing that they get the best quality food and have a great experience."

These days the restaurateur is making new memories. Now a 50-year-old Western Springs resident, Romas recently opened Citrus Diner, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant located at 844 E. Ogden Ave. in Westmont.

Citrus opened for business May 9, occupying the storefront that was previously home to the Moondance Diner. Patrons familiar with Moondance might not recognize the interior – pristine white walls accented with electric orange fixtures – but the Romas family name should strike a chord.

"We owned the Moondance for a decade, from 1997 to 2007, before selling it and moving to other business ventures," Romas said. "But we are happy to be back serving the community the highest quality food."

The menu features a variety of breakfast and lunch options – from classics like Denver omelets and cinnamon French toast, and extensive salad and sandwich options.

But Romas explains that the attention to detail sets Citrus apart from similar brunch menus.

"This is a fresh, clean approach to eating," he said. "We do not serve alcohol and we use nothing but top quality products – organic eggs, fresh squeezed juices, organic coffees and tees and gluten free options."

Still, Romas attests that the brunch has evolved beyond food. While high quality ingredients may set a restaurant apart from its competition, the weekend brunch crowd has grown exponentially in the past two decades, according to Romas. As a result, more restaurants have debuted modern, or all you can eat and drink takes on the classic menu.

The way to stay ahead of the game is to know honor you history, respect your clientele and love what you do, he said.

"We are always improving," Romas said. "You need to adapt to your customers; so I always make a point to interact with people in the restaurant, talk to them and take their suggestions very seriously. If they say they don't like something, I'll try to fix it, that's what my family has always done."

____

ABOUT Citrus Diner

Location: 844 E. Ogden Ave. in Westmont

Hours of Operation: 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

For more information, visit www.citrusdiner.com or call 630-655-1840.