Although Rick & Diane’s in Antrim, Fiddleheads Cafe in Hancock and Del Rossi’s Trattoria in Dublin make different kinds of food, but the restaurants have plenty in common.

Bill O’Mahony, one of the owners of Del Rossi’s, an Italian restaurant, said it takes “a lot more skills than just cooking.”

O’Mahony also noted the long hours.

“When we first opened, I worked a lot of crazy hours, every weekend I was in the kitchen, but I’ve been able to cut back to about 60 hours each week,” he said.

Fiddleheads co-owner Samantha Rule not only owns a restaurant, but also lives above it.

“There’s no privacy,” she said.

Personal tastes influence how they run their businesses. Angela Robinson of the pizzeria Rick & Diane’s stated her love of baking as a youth while working at her father, Rick Davis’, former business Bowling Acres.

“We are currently renovating Rick & Diane’s to add more room for baked goods,” stated Robinson.

Rule said of Fiddleheads, “We have a lot of background in farming and we are big fans of using local produce.”

Whether it be a family business that they took over or a new restaurant they just bought, the owners have a lot of passion for their line of work.

“We want to support Dad.” Robinson stated as she explained her support of her father’s business since he’ll be handing it over to her and her husband, Tim Robinson.

The restaurants also contribute to their communities, whether it is Del Rossi’s live music or Rick & Diane’s devotion to the Home & Harvest Festival in Antrim each year.

“Rick & Diane’s has always been generous in supporting schools, veterans, firefighters and policemen.” stated Angela Robinson.

Samantha Rule described her love for the community at Fiddleheads by saying, “Fiddleheads is a gathering place for people” and “it’s a passion project that pays off in the long run.”