Off the Beaten Path at Bella Vita

July 9, 2015

THE SCENE

“We joke that the interior of our restaurant is retro chic,” laughed Bella Vita coowner Kelly Woodard. Woodard, who runs the restaurant with co-owner Matthew Rader, said the restaurant is like an ’80s flashback, with a carpeted dining room, local landscape paintings and brass rails — and they like it that way.

“It’s a warm, comfortable setting and that’s exactly how we want our guests to feel,” Woodard said.

Two sides to the dining room allow Woodard and her staff to carefully manage their guests, such as not having to seat couples next to large parties.

“We could cram more people in, but we choose not to,” she explained. “We want everyone to have an enjoyable dining experience, whether it’s a birthday party or a quiet date night.”

THE MENU 

Bella Vita’s two-chef team presides over the food; Glenn Gerring and Ryan Houghton have been working side by side for 20 years.

“They’re like The Odd Couple,” Woodard said. “Glenn had 18 years of Italian cooking experience before we scooped him up, and he taught Ryan everything. They are both truly gifted and they keep me chubby!” Italian cuisine became Bella Vita’s focus after Woodard lived in Europe and fell in love with it. The restaurant’s menu doesn’t focus on just one region of Italy, but features selected dishes from across the country, including appetizers like cozze al vapore (mussels steamed with tomatoes, wine and capers) or carpaccio (thinly sliced raw beef with lemon, parmesan and seasonings.)

Classic Italian minestrone soup and Caesar salads set the scene for the entrees, which include a wide range of pasta dishes, such as Pollo Pesto Penne pasta with chicken and artichoke hearts; Scampi e Capellini, with sauteed prawns; and Filetto di Manzo al Gorgonzola, a hearty filet of beef with port wine and gorgonzola cheese.

“We like to continue to try new things and shake it up a bit,” Woodard said.

THE BEST

Bella Vita’s No. 1 best-selling dish, however, actually hails from Michigan rather than bella Italia. It’s their fresh walleye prepared with an Italian twist: pan-fried in a mozzarella crust and served with the chef ’s selection of sauce.

“People go crazy over it,” Woodard said. “We have guests call in advance to make sure that we have it, although we’ve never run out!” Their lasagne, she added, “will blow your mind — and your diet plan for the day,” with house-made Bolognese sauce and five Italian cheeses. For meat lovers, the hand-cut 16-ounce ribeye, topped with morel mushrooms and a red wine sauce, has proved to be a great recent addition.

“We have a well-rounded menu with something for everyone,” Woodard said.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Both Woodard and Rader were raised in Boyne City, so when the pair decided to get married and settle down, that was the only place they wanted to be.

“It’s a beautiful town full of potential and continuing to grow,” Woodard said. “And Bella Vita is off the beaten path — we don’t get foot traffic — so we know that the people coming through our door choose to be here. It’s truly a destination restaurant and there is no better compliment in our opinions.”

One of Bella Vita’s goals is to provide what Woodard calls “an Italian dining experience.”

“If we can nail that, then we did well,” she said. “And it’s not just a job for us or for our staff, who I believe are as invested in the restaurant as we are. We want everyone to feel like they are our guests at a fantastic dinner party. It’s rare that I look around the dining room and don’t see smiling faces. There are plenty of chain restaurants around where you can rush in and rush out. Bella Vita couldn’t be more opposite.”

THE SKINNY

Appetizers start at $11-$12, soups are $5/cup, and salads start at $8. Pasta entrées range from $16-$28, with other entrees up to $34.

Bella Vita is located at 02911 Boyne City Road in Boyne City. Find them online at bellavitaboyne.com or call 231-582-3341. Reservations are preferred.