When you think of Fine Dining in SecondLife, one name stands
out among residents young and old: Bella
Bistro Romantic Dining. Situated on the shore of The Blake Sea, Bella is
arguably the longest-running restaurant on the grid. Seeped in Old World charm, Bella is
well-known for, among other things, its excellent wait staff. From the Head Chef to the Sommelier, the staff
are like a family. The Hostess has been there for ten years, as has her
husband, the Head of Security. The average time their waiters have been there
is 8 years. When you arrive, you select
your table, either in the cozy dining room or on the patio watching a Blake
Sea sunset. Simply place your order, and
your meal will arrive within moments, without ever seeing your discrete waiter
deliver your meal.
You won’t leave Bella
hungry either. You can eat for 20
minutes and your plate looks just as full as when it was first delivered. And
when you finally do decide you have eaten enough; your waiter will whisk away
the plates between courses with equal discretion and alacrity and you won’t
even see them do it. I was fortunate the
other night, prior to the Friday evening rush, to be able to catch up with
Clause Millar, Bella’s owner, and his General Manager, Silky Soulstar. They shared with me the fascinating story of
Bella’s and how it came to be one of the premier restaurants on the grid.
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB).
So tell me, Mr. Millar what
inspired you to build Bella’s?
Clause Millar (CM): Bella
was built in 2009 by Sword Hammerer in partnership with Lucyangel Vacano to fit
the need for a romantic restaurant with a preeminent style and character. After changing hands to Luciano Lionheart,
the Bistro was remodeled closer to its current rendition. However, the grounds
and building were upgraded again by designer and builder Catta Grizot in 2017
upon commission by Bella's now sole-owner, Claude Millar.
Silky Soulstar (SS): The inspiration of the build is a Tuscan, European style because that instills the imagery of exquisite dining and also the grace that accompanies romance.
JB: And what kind of
“atmosphere” can we expect to find at Bella?
CM: Bella is situated
prominently on the Blake Sea. Having a coastal atmosphere, along with rolling
terrain goes along with a "Tuscan meets California" atmosphere. It's casual, but
at the same time refined, and fits with a variety of elegant scenarios. So, while the mood is very peaceful, you can
really feel an energy in your soul.
JB: You do have a
very lovely location here, right on the Blake Sea. I have heard customers describe how they
discovered Bella while out sailing. Have
you considered putting in a boat dock to cater to the seafaring crowd?
CM: Yes. We're very proud of our place along the Blake
Sea. We have plans to expand our front terrace by moving the dance stage to the
waterfront. In this way, we hope to welcome upscale yacht and watercraft to the
venue.
SS: Something about
water also puts people at ease, and they can enjoy the venue even if they don't
have a boat.
JB: I understand you
have your own winery? Tell me about that,
please?
CM: We grow our own
grapes for production at the restaurant; carefully choosing the right blends
for the wines we serve our patrons. The
rolling terrain, and the location on the sea, as well as the PERFECT SL weather
we enjoy every day, makes for an exquisite wine, barrel after barrel from our
proprietary old vine Nero d'Avola and Teroldego hybrid. Try it and you won’t go
back to any other SL blend. That's our promise.
JB: Where can we find
a copy of your events Calendar?
SS: The calendar of
events is posted via sign-age on the pavilion stage. Currently, DJ Harti is performing every day
from 4PM to 5PM SLT. Every Sunday and
every Wednesday from Noon to 2PM SLT we have our Blues Party as well. Sunday, February 7th we will have a powerful tribute to Billy Joel from 2-3PM SLT.
JB: Have people ever
booked Bella for private events? Wine
Tastings? Wedding Receptions? Anniversary Dinners and the likes?
SS: Yes of course! We also love to host the actual wedding
ceremony itself! The location on the sea and the romantic setting is perfect
for a variety of occasions.
JB: I see you have an
entertainment pavilion. What do you use
that for?
CM: Live
entertainment for our patrons is provided on a programmed basis at Bella. We
have Artist-in-Residence Elten Jonas, and also DJ Harti who also helps
celebrate music by Blues artists and other legendary performers. Both are exclusively performing at Bella.
JB: Do you have a
staff that helps you run the restaurant, plan events, etc?
CM: Depending on the event we have staff to help serve our patrons. Routine occasions are typically self-service so that we can offer our patrons maximum flexibility. Wonderfully scripted
rezzers provide a variety of menu items and beverages on demand. However,
absolutely, on occasion, we love to host and provide exclusive, and genuinely
warm service.
JB: I understand you
underwent renovations in the recent past.
What plans do you have and what can we expect from Bella in the future?
CM: Bella has been in
place since 2009, making it the longest-running restaurant venue in Second
Life. We plan to always remain classic
and to keep the same look we have had since we arrived on the SL social scene
almost a dozen years ago. Renovations
are done on an as-needed basis to upgrade to the latest standards that Second
Life has to offer. Maintaining a
superior build is the commitment we have to provide the ultimate class of venue
that our patrons are looking for.
JB: Is there anything
else you would like to share with our readers?
CM: Our back room is
a perfect locale for wine tasting, and an excellent setting to learn more about
wine in general. And we also have Valentine’s Day coming up soon, so consider
that a perfect opportunity to visit Bella too!
SS: Yes. And be sure to join the Bella VIPs group to
stay up to date on everything.
So there you have it, folks.
Whether you are looking for a setting for that romantic evening when you
plan to pop the question to that special someone, or simply looking for a site
for your next business luncheon, be sure and check out the original Bella
Bistro Romantic Dining.
Be there. Aloha!
JB
SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Swallow%20Tail/128/203/23
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