Westchester Lanes and Lounge has been a Chesterton staple for about 50 years servicing those with an appetite for recreation. But now owners Tony and Evelyn Ello are expanding the business to satisfy lunch and dinner appetites.

The Ellos have revamped their snack menu to include gourmet burgers and hot dogs, specialty sandwiches, chocolaty desserts and its new claim to fame – the Double Decker Pizza.

The bar area now has family dining available daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and soon will include a breakfast menu.

But for now, patrons can dig into sliced breaded mushrooms, bone-in or boneless chicken wings, all-beef Vienna hot dogs with golden French fries, and there is the Jalapeño Burger for those who enjoy a little kick.

The Ellos call their new dining room “Rivals ‘Whining’ & Dining” and have been open for business for a little more than a month. There will be an official Grand Opening celebration after the new year once more menu items have been added.

“We are developing something that is unbelievably good,” said Tony Ello. He recommends the Double Decker Pizza made from scratch while Evelyn, his wife, says the Rivals Cheeseburger with fresh veggies and onion straws is her favorite.

You don’t have to bowl three strikes to get a turkey. You can just order one off the menu. As a seasonal item through New Year’s Day, the Holiday Turkey Sandwich on ciabatta bread will get you into the spirit with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and warm gravy as its toppings with sweet potato fries served with it.

“It’s much different than the typical food you see at a bowling alley,” said Evelyn Ello.

The new dining area was something the owners decided to pursue as bars like it had to adapt to the statewide smoking ban which took effect last summer. The Ellos, who have owned Westchester Lanes for the past six years, said they wanted Westchester Lanes to have a broader appeal for families and are planning to add on to their game room later next year.

“We’ll have more for the kids to do,” said Tony Ello.

They also want to play a bigger part in building the community by encouraging local non-profit organizations to partner with them on fundraising opportunities.

One collaboration has already been arranged with ArcelorMittal steel mill in Burns Harbor to benefit the Steelworkers for Kids charity. Tony Ello said for each meal delivered to the mill, the business donates a percentage of the sale to the Steelworkers For Kids.

Meal deliveries are free for most areas in Westchester Township, Evelyn Ello said. A small fee will apply to locations farther away but the business will deliver to even the Valparaiso and Portage areas.

Orders for delivery can be called in at (219)-921-0599. Catering is available. A complete menu can be found at Westchester Lanes’ Facebook page.

The dining room will occasionally feature live entertainment and Karaoke will continue on Saturday nights, Evelyn Ello said. The room will become restricted to ages 21 and over on Friday and Saturday nights after 8:30 p.m.

The Ellos encourage input from patrons as they continue to grow their business.

Westchester Lanes and Lounge is located at 124 N. 8th Street.

Posted 11/21/2012