Meat, Money & Mayhem: The Steakhouse That Couldn’t Pay for Its Steaks
Vendors say Ronald Onesti’s restaurant bounced checks like rubber—and they’ve got the bank records to prove it.
Based on Circuit Court of Cook County case: R. Whittingham & Sons Corp. v. Ronald J. Onesti and O Ventures, Inc., Case No. 20125001532
At Onesti’s Italian Steakhouse, the meat was sizzling, the wine was flowing—and the checks, apparently, were bouncing.
That’s the story according to R. Whittingham & Sons, a meat supplier who sued Ronald Onesti and his company O Ventures Inc. for over $5,000 in unpaid invoices, plus treble damages and attorneys' fees under Illinois fraud statutes.
In court filings from 2012, the plaintiff alleged not only non-payment but a calculated scheme involving bad checks, returned bank notices, and deceptive practices meant to avoid accountability.
“The Meat Was Delivered. The Money Never Came.”
Whittingham Meats claimed it sold and delivered nearly $3,726 worth of meat to Onesti’s steakhouse in St. Charles, IL. The delivery was made without issue—and without protest from Onesti or his staff.
But when it came time to pay? Two separate checks—$1,615.66 and $634.00—were returned marked “NSF”: not sufficient funds.
And that wasn’t all. The plaintiff attached to the complaint a Statement of Account, copies of the bounced checks, and bank notices from First Midwest Bank confirming the account had been debited for the returns.
Legal Meat Hooks: Treble Damages & Deceptive Practices
The lawsuit didn’t just allege breach of contract—it invoked Illinois statutes 810 ILCS 5/3-806 and 720 ILCS 5/17-1a, which govern:
Penalties for issuing bad checks
Civil liability for deceptive business practices
Under these laws, Whittingham demanded:
Treble damages ($5,117.70 × 3 = $15,353.10)
Attorney’s fees
Court costs
According to their attorney’s certified demand letter sent in March 2011, if Onesti did not pay within 30 days, the case would proceed. It did.
A Pattern Emerges?
Onesti and his company eventually defaulted, leading to a court judgment. While the docket doesn't specify if full damages were paid, the complaint adds to a growing ledger of business disputes involving the entertainment entrepreneur.
Onesti’s steakhouse isn’t the only entity to draw legal fire. His other companies have faced suits from equipment rental firms, event performers, employees, and former lenders—many alleging similar financial misconduct.
Checks, Lies & Videotape?
Adding an extra layer of intrigue, court documents suggest that Onesti signed or authorized the checks knowing there weren’t sufficient funds in the account—an allegation that, if proven, points to intentional fraud rather than a mere bookkeeping error.
While the Italian Steakhouse no longer operates under the same name, its legacy appears to linger in clerk dockets and unpaid bills.
📑 Court Records Cited:
Cook County Circuit Court, Case No. 20125001532
Complaint and attached exhibits: Bounced checks, NSF notices, certified demand
Statutory claims under 810 ILCS 5/3-806 and 720 ILCS 5/17-1a