I Spy Italian
By Hannah Alley
I spy warm reds and yellows that compliment the setting horizon and contrast the blues of Lake Superior, all through a screened-in porch. Although too chilly today, the stairs lead way to the boardwalk below. I spy a breath-taking view from a seat in non-other then, Va Bene Berarducci Caffe.
Vah-Beh-Neh is Italian for “it goes well,� and Italian sure goes well with a view like this.
The inside is of stylish décor with lit candles on each table that add warmth to the appealing ambiance. I smell the famous Vecchi Porchetta and Zesty Italian Sausage under freshly made tomato sauce as the waitress serves a table with a friendly smile. Seeing this interaction had me anxious to taste the savory flavors.
“I saw my dish being made and it just built up the anticipation,� Scott Sowers said as him and his girlfriend sat to enjoy a lunch date together, “my mouth is watering thinking about what I saw behind the glass.�
The food preparation area is in the same room as where you dine, allowing you to perfectly pick out your favorite dish.
Va Bene Caffe is owned by Duluth locals, Jim and Mary Kay Berarducci, who have crafted a café inspired by a coffee bar in Venice and devoted to Italian dishes that embraces the culture in a casual, friendly atmosphere. It doesn’t hurt that the atmosphere is also pretty romantic.
“We eat here every week,� said Mary Kay Berarducci, “we love to eat by ourselves or with friends. We really serve people from all age groups. I love to be sitting, enjoying my dinner and see a family with small kids on one side of me, a couple on a date, girls on a night out and an older couple celebrating their wedding anniversary. It makes me feel great to be included in their dinner plans. Va Bene is the perfect date spot,� said Mary Kay Berarducci.
This hip Café can be a perfect start to a day, with breakfast offering popular dishes like fresh Omelet and a perfect end with a dinner option such as the pasta bar, creating your own pasta dish. Whatever the desired mood is, Va Bene seems to set it just right.
“This is my favorite spot to go,� Sower’s girlfriend, Sam Trembath said glancing at him, “Va Bene is kind of the first place we ever ate at, so it holds something a little extra special.�
Both Sowers and Trembath are sophomores at UMD and though dinner prices may be a little expensive, the couple saves by coming in before the lunch-to-dinner menu change.
“We’re still poor college students,� Sower’s said, “and its nice to still have a great night with my girl and not worry about what it costs, it’s really affordable.�
There you go, you college folks, take the one you care about to Va Bene because as Sower’s said, “if it only costs 9 dollars to make a night for my girl special, it’s definitely worth it.�
If you and your special someone are in need of a spark, suggest a date at Va Bene Beraducci’s Caffe because it is a perfect experience, in all the right ways. It is an array to your senses, generous to your wallet, and a new start to your romance ignition. For everything, “Vah Beh Neh.� Spy Away!