Fresh Take Foods Shares Owner’s Love of Food and Community

Michael Dillow finds food brings out great conversation and brings people together. He’s been working in the food service industry his entire adult life and has recently opened Fresh Take Foods, located on 810 Second St.

The take-out restaurant opened April 2, although it will celebrate a grand opening April 15. For now, it mostly serves pizza, although that will soon expand to pasta and chicken.

The establishment is true to its name in that fresh sauce is made daily and two to three batches of dough are made daily. Dillow also orders only the freshest ingredient available.

Dillow explained that the sauce is a unique, century old recipe that he inherited from his father, who inherited it in the 1990’s from an immigrant family which brought the recipe from Italy.

“I’ve been in this business since I was 16,” Dillow said. “So 16 years now. First, at my father’s pizza shop, then with my food truck that delivered food to the homeless. I like it because of the people you get to know, and it’s a way to give back to the community.”

Dillow operates the restaurant with his younger brother, Robert, and his fiance, Jennifer Miller. Although he lives in New Castle, he chose Ellwood City because of the great community.

“Ellwood still has its own newspapers and a lot of craft stores,” he said. “People appreciate things like that here.”

Dillow plans on keeping not just the ingredients fresh, but the menu as well, with ideas to constantly evolve what’s offered.

“I know a lot of places have come and gone at this location, but we’re here to stay,” he said.

For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FreshTakeFoods.