A couple from Washington is bringing Italian dishes to Ravenna, Nebraska, where the only thing Italian was the town’s name and some street names — Milan, Sicily and Verona avenues and Genoa street. Haydn and Edi Hilling purchased The R-Bar & Grill in Ravenna in September with Haydn’s sister and brother-in-law Karen and Rob Hancock of Grand Island.

Since closing on the purchase of the bar and grill in October, the Hillings have introduced Italian-American specials, such as Italian meatball subs, chicken cacciatore sandwiches and baked rigatoni. They continue to serve bar favorites, such as grilled hamburgers and fried foods, to community members whose ancestors, according to Ravenna Historical Society President Marty Russell, were primarily from Bohemia and Germany.