Stunning Joliet Restaurant Announcement At New Hollywood Casino

(The following edited press release is from Jessica Gallen of Laughlin Constable Public Relations.)

JOLIET — PENN Entertainment issued a press release on Wednesday announcing that it has partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to open upscale restaurants at its new land-based Hollywood Casino sites in Aurora and Joliet. The new dining experiences will bring De Laurentiis’ signature fusion of classic Italian cuisine and modern California influence to the Chicagoland region for the first time.

De Laurentiis owns and operates two restaurants in Las Vegas, and a third restaurant in Scottsdale, Ariz. She has authored 11 cookbooks, including her most recent release “Super Italian: More Than 110 Indulgent Recipes Using Italy’s Healthiest Foods.”

“I am thrilled to partner with PENN Entertainment to bring fresh restaurant concepts to their exciting new Chicagoland properties,” De Laurentiis announced. “The two spaces are complementary but ultimately offer different aesthetics. Joliet’s Sorellina, meaning ‘little sister’ in Italian, will be light, young and casual. Aurora’s Sorella, meaning ‘sister’ in Italian, is more formal and refined. Both focus on using high-quality Italian ingredients to create a truly unforgettable culinary experience.”

Sorellina by Giada will debut at the future Hollywood Casino Joliet, currently being constructed at the Rock Run Collection development and expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025 (pending regulatory approvals). Sorella by Giada will open its doors at the future Hollywood Casino Aurora which is expected to open in the first half of 2026. Each restaurant will have its own unique menu of pizza, pastas and more, with shared features including:

• Approximately 170 seats available for dining, including private rooms, with outdoor seating available in Aurora.
• Contemporary bar design featuring a comprehensive wine selection, including personal favorites of De Laurentiis.
• Modern, fresh design elements, including warm wood tones and authentic Italian tiles to create a high-end, yet comfortable experience.

“Giada is a world class chef, author, and restauranteur, and we’re excited to collaborate with her to bring an amazing dining offering to the new Hollywood Casino Joliet,” said Ruben Warren, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino Joliet. “Sorellina is the type of elevated experience that is foundational to making our new property a regional entertainment destination.”

About Hollywood Casino Joliet

The new Hollywood Casino Joliet, expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025 is located within Rock Run Collection, a new super-regional commercial and residential development adjacent to the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange in Joliet.

The best-in-class facility will feature approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, including high limit slots and table games, a baccarat room, a retail sportsbook, high quality bars and restaurants including Sorellina by Giada, an approximately 10,000 square foot event center with meeting areas, and approximately 1,330 parking spaces. PENN estimates its construction of the Joliet facility will support 450 construction jobs and 615 permanent jobs at the new facility, growing PENN’s current team in Joliet by 200 team members.