08-25-05
Buona Sera Italian Restaurant

A Spark of Italian Romance

Chef Raffaele Virgillo must be a hopeless Italian romantic. Why else would he turn a small charming neighborhood home into a wonderfully romantic little Italian restaurant? When you pull up to Buona Sera, it feels like you are being welcomed to an old friend’s home. And that’s just the way Raffaele likes it. Inside is all the trappings of Italian romance. An intimate, low-ceiling bar, grapevines above the windows with twinkling white lights, and scenes of the Italian countryside adorn the walls.

And just like the cooks of the southern Italian countryside he originates from, Chef Raffaele uses only the freshest ingredients in his recipes. Otherwise, what is the point? Herbs and Italian cooking are inseparable. In that vein, why don’t we explore the menu at Buona Sera?

Despite the insistence of Chef Raffaele that his restaurant is an Italian steakhouse, I perceived the menu as a broad and wonderful assortment of Southern Italian cooking. Take, for instance, the appetizers. Calamari, Bruschetta, and Caprese among others. All within ten dollars. Then you have the house specialties. Veal or Chicken Marsala, Veal, Chicken or Steak Cacciatore, and veal or Chicken Saltimbocca. All for under twenty dollars. Are your taste buds jumping yet? There’s also a nice selection from the grill including Rack of Lamb for $21.99. And Italy is a seacoast country so there’s a nice selection of seafood. Take for instance, the traditional Shrimp Scampi for $15.99 or for a surprise, the Fresh Norwegian Salmon Fillet, also $15.99. And it wouldn’t be an Italian restaurant without twelve different pasta dishes ranging between $12 and $20 dollars.

Buona Sera is located at 11949 West River Rd. in Champlin. Their hours are Tuesday thru Sunday from 5pm until 9pm. They are closed Mondays. Buona Sera can be reached at (763) 421-1814 for further information. Reservations are recommended.

Story by Bob McClain

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