About

Food has always been a passion for many families. The Rotman family is no different. Starting with trips to the south side of Chicago with his father Sid (affectionately known as Big Grandpa to my brother Brandon and I), my Dad, Mike, garnered a passion for food. He passed that on to my brother and I, as we spent countless hours watching Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Marathons on Fridays and Saturdays were a hit in the house. Traditions around going to baseball games were created. We took road trips around the country to different restaurants, enjoying eachother's company.

Combined with his knack for customer service, something gained over his time at Municipal Tire & Wheel Co., Mike's dream was to open up a restaurant known for its quality eats and customer service. Development for the idea started with the name Sid's Place, a way to honor the family patriarch that had passed away in 2004 from Pancreatic Cancer. It morphed into a family idea, and Rot's Hots was born.

Mike passed away in 2017, also from pancreatic cancer. His notebooks were filled with ideas, menu items, and business plans. The restaurant was put on the back burner.

But, our family turned a negative into a positive, initially celebrating what would have been Mike's 50th birthday with a pop-up Rot's Hots fundraiser in 2018. Something to celebrate Mike, while putting his dream into action. Every year, we put on a pop-up restaurant, welcoming friends, family, and strangers to eat good food, enjoy good company, and raise money for a good cause.

My passion for food has never wavered, and my dream was always to run a restaurant with my Dad. While he's no longer with us, his dream is being realized. Rot's Hots aims to serve up old-school favorites, of course with a smile (and the occasional dry sense of humor). We'll also be continuing the fight against pancreatic cancer by donating all tips to continued research.

We love sharing our passion with others and look forward to sharing it with all of you!

-Ashton & Family