Because no amazing restaurant is complete without an amazing story behind it. Meet Chef Sal Galluzzo. Sal was born in 1978 and is the youngest of 4 siblings. Sal’s parents Mike and Maria are Italian immigrants that came to America for a better life. Mike worked hard in the restaurant business and eventually established himself at Sam’s on Harlem. Sal was eager to learn the business so he began helping his Dad out at the restaurant at the young age of 10. Sal would bus tables and vacuum for some of the servers’ tips. This is where he learned the value of a dollar and that hard work really does pay off. Mike continued to follow his dream of opening another restaurant and that’s when Sam’s on Riverside débuted in 1993. All of the children were involved in the day-to-day operations at the restaurant and this is where Sal learned that cooking was to be his passion. After graduating from Cooking Hospitality Institute of Chicago with his culinary degree, Sal became the Executive Chef at Sam’s Ristorante and Pizzeria on Riverside. Sal has lived in the Rockford area his entire life and met his wife Brigit in 2005. They were married in May of 2007 and have 2 wonderful children, Ava and Gianni. Sal continued to work at Sam’s Ristorante for over 20 years developing his passion for cooking and working with some wonderful chefs who taught him numerous cooking styles and techniques, which would eventually lead him to his dream of one day owning his own restaurant. Today that dream has finally become a reality with Sal’s Kitchen now at Sam’s on Harlem. We hope you enjoy the casual atmosphere and amazing food that Chef Sal is so passionate about because he truly feels that “the good ole’ days are still to come”.