Building the Valley: New Kensington couple offer elevated dining experiences at Jillian’s Restaurant

Philip Call works in the kitchen at Jillian’s Restaurant in New Kensington on Friday, July 28.

Philip Call works at icing a chocolate cake at Jillian’s Restaurant in New Kensington on Friday, July 28.

Philip Call and Jillian Ludwiczak own Jillian’s Restaurant in New Kensington. Engaged to be married in April, the couple met at what was previously Stella’s Restaurant in the city’s Parnassus neighborhood.

New awnings adorn Jillian’s Restaurant in New Kensington. Philip Call and Jillian Ludwiczak originally ran their restaurant as Call for Catering at Stella’s until buying the liquor license from building owner Stacey Mazzotta.

Jillian’s Restaurant is on Freeport Street in New Kensington’s Parnassus neighborhood.

Stacey Mazzotta, who had owned Stella’s Restaurant, is working to reopen Stella’s Beer Barn by transferring a distributor license to New Kensington from Greensburg. The shop closed when she sold the restaurant liquor license to Philip Call and Jillian Ludwiczak to use for Jillian’s Restaurant.