[Scroll to the end for the update – pictures of the food we ate at the opening.]
I’ve been driving slowly by this restaurant for several months, waiting to see when it was open. This morning, on my way to the Royal Film Festival, I drove carelessly by and only barely caught a glimpse of a new sign in the window. The street is one way, so I made a trip around the block to get a better look.
“We will be opening Saturday March 17th @ 4 p.m.,” read the handwritten sign.
As I made another round, I drove slowly toward the storefront, and there were two men standing below the big sign that says “Italy in Town”, one man with the key in the door. Shy person that I am [not], I yelled out from my car window while stopped in the middle of the street, “Are y’all finally opening?!”
And now you know the answer to that question. I parked my car and walked to meet these two gentlemen and ask a few more questions. Their names are Stefan and Chico. They are the co-owners. It was taking so long to open the doors to the public because the property previously did not have some needed equipment for cooking on the premises. Some very expensive equipment. So they renovated as they could, and here they finally are, opening several months later.
If you have been creeping by in the same way I have, then you know that there has been a yellow paper in the window from the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), stating that they had applied for a license to serve beer and wine. They already have that permit intact and will be serving this evening. If you know the history of alcohol in Saline County, then it might occur to you that this is the first time in about 80 years since a restaurant has served alcohol in downtown Benton. That’s big.
Not only that, but this particular restaurant will be open for supper. I’ve included a picture of the front of the building as well as a picture of the owners and a menu for your convenience.
They will be open 4 – 8 or later on Monday through Sunday and they are playing with the idea of buffet Lunch on Sundays. Find them at 120 N. Market Street, Benton, Arkansas. Welcome to Benton, Italy in Town.
[Eight hours later…]
We had to give it a try on their first night open, so here are the wonderful dishes we were served.