Sophia brings big city slice to Roscoe: Bridge St. Pizza & Chicken Co. opens

The culinary landscape of the Rock River Valley just got a little tastier, and perhaps a lot crispier. Bridge St. Pizza & Chicken Co. celebrated its grand opening this week, bringing a taste of the Big Apple and deep-fried perfection to the Roscoe community. The new venture is the most recent undertaking by the family team behind the popular Sophia's Restaurant in Roscoe.

While the Rock River Valley is well-known for its "Rockford style" pizza, owner Kel Isaj saw a clear gap in the market: authentic New York-style pizza. Following inspiration from visits to New York City, Mr. Isaj was determined to bring that distinct, foldable, thin-crust style to northern Illinois.

“The Rock River Valley has a lot of great Rockford style pizza, but no New York style,” Mr. Isaj noted. To perfect the craft, the owners even traveled to Milwaukee to take piazzolo classes. The ingredients reflect this commitment to quality, starting with a simple, yet robust, three-ingredient sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes from California, salt, and a special spice blend.

The "cherry on top" of the menu is the deep-fried chicken, an unlikely but popular partner for pizza. The owners, who know their clientele well, felt that pizza and chicken are "always trendy." The side offerings feature a simple mac and cheese that can be ordered plain or customized with drizzles of sauce like BBQ or chipotle mayo, often topped with the signature chicken. The restaurant, which opened Monday, is currently carryout only, with future plans possibly including delivery options in-house or like DoorDash, though they hope to avoid the service's typical upcharge.

Bridge St. Pizza & Chicken Co. is a true family affair, run by brother and sister Kel Isaj and Linda Alimi, and their respective spouses, Vlora Isaj and Nick Alimi. They are hands-on, with family members involved in every part of the operation, from making the sauce and fine-tuning the ovens to assembling storage in the back room. Their day currently at both Sophia’s and Bridge St. starts a little after 7 am and concludes around 10 pm.

Mr. Isaj and Ms. Alimi have been in the restaurant business for years, originally getting their start with a breakfast diner, Farmer's Diner, in Iowa. After a few years, they felt the urge to move to northern Illinois to be closer to friends and family and for greater opportunities.

The family’s footprint across Northern Illinois has grown over time. They bought Sophia's in Roscoe seven years ago from its former owner and they currently own and operate Cindy's on 34 in Mendota for the past five years. They also owned Grubsteakers in Rochelle (known for being hit by a tornado before they bought it) until recently selling it to a family member.

Though Mr. Isaj has a degree in management from Edgewood College and worked briefly in human resources, he found his calling in the kitchen and the community.

"I could easily get a good job," he said, noting he has been approached to manage finance departments in Chicago and Madison. "But I want to be here. We put our hearts into it. I don't do it just for the money. I do it because I like it and I love it here." He also credits his parents, who pushed him to succeed and build a strong work ethic. The building of the new restaurant was a significant undertaking, taking a year and two months to complete. Mr. Isaj also stressed that working with the village of Roscoe was a positive experience, saying, "Especially Janel (Reidinger, Village of Roscoe’s permitting & licensing assistant). She's been very awesome," regarding the permitting process. The ink on this page does not convey just how earnest and sincere Kel was in expressing that.

For the owners, Bridge St. is not just another business—it's an anchor in their family's base. With children in local schools, the family is dedicated to the community, viewing their customers like family.

"Two years down the road, [we hope to] get established. We’ll be here a long time. This is our family base," Mr. Isaj asserted. He noted that the nature of pizza means longer hours, but the family is ready for the commitment.

The owners are clearly in it for the long haul, stressing that everything they do is "top notch" and focusing on a quality product over rapid, widespread expansion.

You can visit their new location, or check their Facebook page for updates on the latest specials: Bridge St. Pizza & Chicken Co. They are open every day of the week: Monday-Friday from 4 - 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Note: Mr. Isaj did provide the author a small pizza to sample. It featured sausage, veggies, and two slices of plain cheese (as that is the true test of a pizza. There's nothing to hide behind).

The review: Good undercarriage. A small bit of flop (like it was reported, this is not Rockford style). Veggies brought a bright flavor. The dough had a good crumb, some crunch, and great chew.

The picky 20-month old ate his piece happily and reached for more of daddy's slice.