Oh, how I love great Italian food. When a person thinks of great Italian food, though, the tiny town of North Salem, Indiana, probably doesn't jump to mind. One visit to Perillo's Pizzeria in the northwestern corner of Hendricks County, Indiana, however, will change the way you think.
I visit North Salem -- a town of about 500 people -- pretty regularly for lunch or dinner, and I've learned a few things about Perillo's Pizzeria from my experience and talking with the owners.
Authentic Italian
Damiano Perillo owns the restaurant with his mother-in-law and brother-in-law, and they all work there. Damiano's wife helps during busy times, too, and Damiano has incorporated some of his mother's recipes from Sicily into his menu.
As soon as Damiano starts talking, his accent gives away his ancestry: Sicily, Italy, where he graduated from culinary school in Palermo, before coming to the U.S. in 1999.
Outdoor Dining
When the weather is nice, Perillo's offers outdoor seating on a quaint brick patio, which is quite popular with customers. I eat there on a regular basis with coworkers when we're working at nearby McCloud Nature Park, and we like to eat outdoors.
With North Salem being such a quiet town, the outdoor dining experience remains very peaceful and relaxing.
Garden-Fresh Ingredients
Damiano insists on using fresh, high-quality ingredients to prepare his dishes, so the family owns its own farm and grows its own vegetables for use at Perillo's. For ingredients that he and his family don't grow themselves, Damiano makes every effort to support Indiana farmers through his food purchases.
Everything is sliced, chopped and otherwise prepared fresh every morning, and all meals are cooked to order. That quality promise results in a bit of a wait for your meal, but that wait is worth it to Damiano, who detests fast food.
A Doctor's Office?
The building that houses Perillo's Pizzeria used to be the office of Dr. Oscar H. Wiseheart, who practiced medicine there for more than 60 years, beginning in 1898. Damiano told me that when he and his family renovated the building in 2011, they found old medicine bottles and other historical pieces from Dr. Wiseheart's practice.
Damiano said the building was also used as a feed store and a saloon in the past. It was an apartment when the family bought the building.
No Credit Cards
Credit cards aren't an option at Perillo's. Damiano would rather give that extra money he's not spending on credit card fees to his employees.
If you don't typically carry cash, a branch of North Salem State Bank a block north of Perillo's offers 24-hour access to an ATM. Checks are also accepted.
Amazing Food
I usually order a sausage roll calzone when I'm at Perillo's, and it is massive. It's an entire Italian sausage wrapped in pizza sauce, bell pepper, onion, and a truckload of cheese, all of which is encased in dough and baked to a golden brown before getting topped with melted butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
They also offer two different styles of pizza -- New York style and Sicilian deep dish, which is unique to Perillo's, as well as pastas, subs, salads and much more.
Customer Appreciation
I asked Damiano if there's anything in particular he would like readers to know, and without hesitation, he said that he loves his customers. He enjoys talking with customers and has learned that some of his regular patrons travel up to 75 miles each way to eat there.
What's not to love about Perillo's Pizzeria in North Salem? Make a point to visit this Hendricks County hidden gem and experience fresh authentic Italian cuisine, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere with a family focus.
Perillo's Pizzeria
- Location
- (765) 676-4171
- Perillo's Pizzeria on Facebook
- Closed on Tuesdays
- Open for lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Open for dinner on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m.
- Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Cash and checks only; no credit cards accepted
