Accardi had always wanted his own restaurant, since it afforded him the opportunity to do things for himself.
He was featured on the hit show Hell’s Kitchen, which was a cool experience for Accardi. “I had a good time out there. It was my first time in Los Angeles, so there was a lot to see and a lot to do,” he said. “I met a lot of cool people while I was out there, and we stayed friends over the years. I was disappointed that I lost but I represented myself well, and it gave me some exposure and it helped me put my restaurant together.”
It was also a cool experience for Accardi to be on television and he learned how things operated on that end. “I learned how to answer questions the way they were supposed to be answered on television, and it definitely made it easier when I was on Restaurant Startup,” he said.
His plans for the future are to eventually open more restaurants. “I need to focus on my current restaurant for a while, and eventually I would like to open a steakhouse, or a market and a bistro someday,” he said.
When asked about how the name of his restaurant came about, Accardi revealed that 55 is the day he graduated from culinary school. “I graduated on May 5, 2000, and named it after my graduation date,” he said.
There are a few specials coming up at Room 55 for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. “I will be making corn beef and cabbage dinner, and I’ll have a really nice boneless saddle of lamb for Easter,” he said.
The most popular dishes on his menu include his hanger steak and duck. “I have great hanger steak,” he said.
Room 55 is available for the booking of private parties in the daytime and evenings. To learn more about Accardi’s restaurant, visit its official Facebook page.