STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Pedro Canelo is closing Il Sogno after dinner service on Sunday, June 28, ending a 15-year run, and the typically shy, 45-year veteran of the restaurant industry has a heartfelt message for his Annadale customers.
“I didn’t want to make a big announcement because people might try to change my mind,” Canelo said. “I’m in a great place. My lease was up, and my dream was fulfilled. Now I can rest and enjoy the fruits of my work—and my wife’s work.”
Pedro Canelo has spent decades in the restaurant business, a career rooted in a deep love of food and hospitality.Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri
This week also brought a milestone closer to home: his grandson’s graduation. On a glorious June morning, Canelo took it all in—savoring a moment that marked the next generation’s accomplishments.
“I don’t want to miss any more family events because I have to be at the restaurant,” he added. “It’s almost like my dreams have shifted, and now I’m focusing inward.”
He said he will miss his loyal customers.
Tableside service—including the practiced flair of filleting fish like Dover sole before guests—defined the experience at Il Sogno.Pamela SilvestriLove for the restaurant business
After decades working for others, Pedro Canelo realized his restaurant dream with Il Sogno. The name, Italian for “the dream,” reflects his journey.
Canelo built his career in kitchens from Brooklyn’s Marco Polo to Felidia with the Bastianich family, and on Staten Island at Angelina’s, Panarea and Filippo’s. At Il Sogno, those influences come together in a menu rooted in Italian tradition with a modern, value-driven approach.
Stacked fried eggplant with molten burrata and a drizzle of olive oil reflects decades in the restaurant business—an amalgam of the chefs and kitchens that shaped Canelo’s career.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Beyond signature dishes like eggplant with caciocavallo cheese—a nod to his time at Filippo’s—the restaurant is known for its prix-fixe offerings, from Sunday Sauce to all-you-can-eat pasta and a family-style dinner for four. At its Annadale location, in the former home of Angelina’s, Il Sogno has evolved while honoring its roots, supported by longtime staff and a loyal following. Last year, it also expanded its hours and introduced discounted packages to make its high-end dining more accessible.
Flashback to 2011: Canelo has had many employees who became trusted colleagues and close friends. He said he’s grateful for their contributions to the restaurant. (Advance/SILive.com | Carol Ann Benanti)Staff-ShotReflecting on the past
During the pandemic, Canelo nearly lost his dream. The fine-dining restaurant—known for its steaks, wine list and weekend energy—was forced to close indoor dining as the area shifted into an Orange Zone (a COVID-19 restriction zone), leaving him to rely on a tent, curbside pickup and delivery to survive.
A Peru native who came to the United States 45 years ago, he built Il Sogno through “sweat, blood and tears,” only to face mounting pressure as rent, utilities and payroll bills piled up with no clear end to restrictions in sight.
Pedro Canello says ‘welcome to his guests at Il Sogno in Annadale on Sept. 30, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
In a letter to then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Canelo questioned the fairness of shutdowns that left restaurants closed while nearby regions and other sectors remained open.
Still, he pressed on—setting tables with linens, polishing silverware and holding the line for his staff and customers. “I truly am trying my very best to stay afloat,” he said. “But I don’t know how long I can hold on.”
The tent at Il Sogno in Annadale. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
Now, those days are behind him.
“I was blessed all these years with diners who became family,” Canelo said this week. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
And, he added, “You may still see me around—an old man needs hobbies.”
Canelo said the final days have been bittersweet and asked that the Advance/SILive.com share his gratitude with supporters.
“This restaurant has been much more than a business to my family and me and we’re incredibly grateful.”
After decades in New York’s restaurant scene, Pedro Canello opens his own kitchen with a menu full of memories and flavor. Il Sogno blends Italian tradition with modern flair, offering value-driven specials and heartfelt hospitality.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Many people have asked why he chose to close rather than sell. “The truth is, this restaurant was my dream, and I don’t think anyone else could continue it the way I envisioned,” he said. “I’d rather end it on my own terms.”
The dream was his—and so was the ending.
Il Sogno can be found at 26 Jefferson Blvd. in Annadale. The restaurant can be reached at 718-356-7800, ilsognonyc.com.
