RPM Italian

What RPM Italian does

RPM Italian is part of RPM Restaurants, a privately held multi-concept dining group co-owned by celebrity couple Giuliana & Bill Rancic and siblings R.J., Jerrod and Molly Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE), one of Chicago's most established restaurant operators with 50+ establishments. The group operates four restaurant concepts — RPM Italian (Chicago, Las Vegas at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, and Washington DC), RPM Steak (Chicago River North), RPM Seafood (Chicago riverfront, opened January 2020), and RPM Events (a 6,000+ sq ft private event venue in Chicago with capacity for up to 600 guests) — plus RPM Catering for off-premise service. The portfolio generates revenue through dine-in restaurant sales, private events and weddings ($95/person sharing menus up to $240-$380/person wedding packages), off-premise catering, third-party delivery via UberEats/DoorDash, and retail merchandise (RPM Steak Salt, candles, prosecco, gift boxes) sold through an e-commerce shop on Cashstar.

The company's value proposition rests on multi-decade direct sourcing relationships with heritage Italian artisan producers (Devodier Prosciutto di Parma, Caseificio Castellazzo Parmigiano Reggiano, Acetaia San Giacomo balsamic), tableside service presentations (Steak Tartare, Tomahawk, Dover Sole), and a curated wine/beverage program led by named specialists. Technology stack is intentionally light — no proprietary systems — relying instead on OpenTable for reservations, major delivery platforms for off-premise, and Cashstar for gift card fulfillment. Marketing is event-driven and celebrity-driven across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, email, and a content blog. Pricing spans $35 lunch prix fixe (Las Vegas), $8 happy hour cocktails, $95-$135 corporate event menus, and tiered bar packages at $23-$38/person/hour. The group is privately held, privately funded (no venture capital identified), and operationally integrated with LEYE for infrastructure, marketing, and talent.

RPM Italian was founded in 2015 (per company history), operates with 11-50 disclosed employees, and serves affluent diners seeking upscale Italian cuisine, private event hosts (weddings, corporate functions), and off-premise catering clients across three U.S. metropolitan markets.

Name

RPM Italian

Legal name

RPM Restaurants

Website

https://rpmrestaurants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RPM Italian is a privately held upscale Italian restaurant concept operating across Chicago, Las Vegas (Forum Shops at Caesars Palace), and Washington DC, part of RPM Restaurants co-owned by Giuliana & Bill Rancic and the Melman siblings of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. It serves affluent diners, private event hosts, and catering clients with housemade pastas, premium Italian imports, tableside service, and an extensive wine program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Upscale Italian Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (72232)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)

Keywords

• Italian fine dining
• Italian restaurant
• Private events venue
• Off-premise catering
• Premium steakhouse

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant Sales: Traditional dine-in service at RPM Italian locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Washington DC. Revenue generated from food and beverage sales during regular restaurant hours.
2. Private Events & Catering: RPM Events venue and off-premise catering services for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings. Revenue from event venue rental and customized menu packages.
3. Merchandise & Retail: Sale of branded merchandise including RPM Steak Salt, candles, chocolate bon bons, gift boxes, and Giuliana Prosecco through the RPM shop and as gifts.
4. Third-Party Delivery: Partnership with UberEats and DoorDash for delivery and takeout services, generating transaction-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RPM Italian operates upscale Italian restaurants offering modern Italian cuisine featuring housemade pastas, premium imported Italian ingredients, tableside service, and curated wine programs. The group runs four restaurant concepts (RPM Italian, RPM Steak, RPM Seafood, RPM Events) across Chicago, Las Vegas, and Washington DC, supplemented by off-premise catering, sommelier tasting experiences, and branded retail merchandise.

Product overview

RPM Italian operates as a group of restaurants from celebrity couple Giuliana & Bill Rancic and siblings R.J., Jerrod and Molly Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. The portfolio includes four distinct dining concepts: RPM Italian (Italian cuisine in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Washington DC), RPM Steak (premium steakhouse in Chicago), RPM Seafood (seafood restaurant on Chicago riverfront), and RPM Events (private event venue in Chicago). Supporting services include RPM Catering for off-premise events, the Sommelier Tasting Experience for curated wine dinners, and retail products including RPM Steak Salt, candles, and gift boxes available through the online shop. The group is known for sourcing premium Italian artisan ingredients, tableside service presentations, and extensive wine programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WasteNot CompostminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Sustainability partnership for composting programs at Chicagoland RPM locations including RPM Seafood, RPM Steak, RPM Italian, and Pizzeria Portofino. Initiative started in 2023 as part of RPM's environmental commitment.
• Lettuce Entertain You EnterprisescoreOthersParent restaurant group and operating partner for RPM Restaurants. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is one of Chicago's most prominent restaurant groups, operating 50+ establishments and providing operational infrastructure, marketing support, and industry expertise to the RPM brand.
• DoorDashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery platform partnership offering carry-out and delivery service for RPM Italian Chicago and DC locations, and RPM Seafood.
• UberEatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery platform partnership offering carry-out and delivery service for RPM Italian Chicago and DC locations, and RPM Seafood.
• OpenTableminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant reservation platform partnership for managing bookings across all RPM Italian locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Washington DC.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Capital Grille: Upscale steakhouse concept operating in major US markets with strong wine program and private dining. Direct competitor to RPM Steak with overlapping customer base of business diners and special-occasion guests.
• Eddie V's Prime Seafood: Fine-dining steakhouse and seafood chain with lounge, tableside service, and curated wine program. Closely comparable to RPM Seafood and RPM Steak in service model and premium positioning.
• Hillstone Restaurant Group: Operates upscale-casual and fine-dining concepts (e.g., Hillstone, Houston's, R+D Kitchen) with strong hospitality culture, tableside service, and event programs. Comparable to RPM in service-first full-service dining model.
• Major Food Group (Carbone, Sadelle's, The Grill): Operates Carbone and other high-end Italian and American fine-dining restaurants in major US cities. Directly comparable to RPM in target customer (affluent diners, special occasions), celebrity/chef-driven brand model, and premium Italian cuisine positioning.
• Ocean Prime: Upscale seafood and steak restaurant with private dining rooms and a focus on special occasions/business events. Overlaps with RPM Events, RPM Steak, and RPM Seafood on occasion-based dining and event revenue.
• Del Frisco's Restaurant Group: Premium steakhouse chain with similar tableside service and wine program orientation. Comparable to RPM Steak and the broader RPM portfolio in price point, dining experience, and event/private dining focus.
• Mastro's Restaurants: Collection of upscale steakhouses and seafood restaurants with live entertainment, premium cocktails, and a loyalty-driven affluent clientele. Comparable to RPM Steak and RPM Seafood in price point and experiential dining.

Broad incumbents

• Maggiano's Little Italy: Italian-American full-service chain with banquet and event capabilities. Comparable to RPM Italian on cuisine category, event/catering offerings, and family/special-occasion dining, though at a lower price point.
• Union Square Hospitality Group: Danny Meyer's multi-concept restaurant group operating Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Maialino. Comparable to RPM/Lettuce Entertain You as a multi-brand fine-dining group with strong event/catering businesses and a celebrity-anchored brand identity.
• Eataly: Italian marketplace-restaurant-retail hybrid offering sit-down Italian dining, casual counters, and Italian retail products. Comparable to RPM on Italian sourcing narrative, premium ingredients, and adjacent retail merchandise strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RPMItalianChi
• Instagraminstagram.com/rpmitalian
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rpm-italian

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RPM Italian