Dino's Backstage and Celebrity Room Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting

On Friday, September 30, at 1 p.m., there was a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Dino's Backstage and Celebrity Room in Keswick Village, Glenside, PA., planned by the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

Remarks were made by State Representative Madeleine Dean and Abington Township officials. Entertainment set the stage for the event and Michael Kelly-Cataldi and Paula Johns, both regular performers at Dino's Backstage, sang standards accompanied by The Tom Adams Trio.

Located at 287 N Keswick Ave. in Glenside, there are four dining options at Dino's - outdoors, in the dining room, at the bar and in the luxurious Celebrity Room.

Owners Dino Kelly-Cataldi and Michael Richard Kelly-Cataldi have brought the sophisticated scene of the supper clubs of the 40's and 50's to Glenside. They combine wonderful entertainment, outstanding food, impeccable service and magnificent décor in a building designed by the legendary Horace Trumbauer and a space created by the highly acclaimEd Stokes Architecture. In fact, they just received the honor of being #1 restaurant for Best Ambiance from OpenTable.com.

State Representative Madeleine Dean congratulated the Kelly-Cataldis and said, "I care deeply about bringing back downtown and Dino's Backstage is a sterling example of this. The style, look, food, ambiance and music are phenomenal and their commitment to Keswick Village has revitalized our town." Bob Dean of Elkins Park added, "Dino's Backstage is the greatest things to come since the trolley!" And, reflecting on the addition of this restaurant, he said, "One good restaurant begets another. That's great for our town."

Several people shared remarks at the ceremony and are included in the photos on the link above. They were:

· Larry Matteo, Abington Township Director of Planning & Zoning

· Tara Wehmeyer, Abington Township Assistant Manager

· Russ Koerwer, Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce President and Chairman of the Board

Every inch of Dino's Backstage has been well-planned to make the experience uniquely entertaining, with and without live music. For example, on the walls of the dining room, there are large black and white photographic images of friends and family that take guests back to the era of the Latin Casino and Palumbo's, the glamourous era when guests dressed for the occasion. In The Celebrity Room, the movie idols of the 40's and 50's, from Cary Grant to Lana Turner, decorate the walls. The beautifully appointed black and white color scheme includes zebra carpeting, a large stage with a white-curtain backdrop and a black grand piano. Even the menus were designed with the guest in mind as the dimmed lighting in the room does not affect reading the menus, as they glow, lit from the inside.

The management, or as Michael and Dino say, the cast, is an all-star line-up. Executive Chef Scott Howlett worked for the Ritz-Carlton, a number of restaurants up and down the east coast and brings great knowledge as the former owner of his own restaurant for over six years. The general manager is none other than Thomas J. Finnegan who oversaw the finest establishments in Philadelphia - Le Bec Fin, Lacroix at The Rittenhouse, R2L and, more recently, Butcher and Singer.

Michael Kelly-Cataldi shared how thrilled he and Dino are about the opening and the reception they have had in the summer. He said, "We are overwhelmed by the response to Dino's. While we opened quietly in the summer, we couldn't get over how crowded we were and how our guests love it here, whether they are people in their 20's and 30's or those who remember the glamour days of the 1950's. When we created Dino's, we wanted the decor to nourish your eyes, while the food nourishes your soul. I also knew that my first choice is always to dine at a restaurant with live music and that's what we did. Great service is so important and then there's that intangible asset -- energy -- that you feel the moment you walk into the restaurant. We wanted it all and I'm proud that we've accomplished it all."

And, when it comes to the location, it's ideal. Michael and Dino know the area very well. In 2011, they opened the successful women's accessories, gifts & home décor shop, Kelly-Cataldi HOME, which is located across the street at 280 N. Keswick Avenue in the Keswick Village. And, they are both so committed to the community. Michael serves as co-president of the board of The Keswick Village Business Association.

For more information, visit www.dinosbackstage.com or call (215) 884-2000.

Pictured: GM Thomas J. Finnegan, Michael Richard Kelly-Cataldi, Executive Chef Scott Howlett, Dino Kelly-Cataldi and Manager Joseph Mitsch. Photo by Derrick Chambers.

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