Comments on: Bella Ciao Restaurant to Close

By: dmeg

dmeg — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:42:11 +0000

I’ve known Chef Brandon for years…this restaurant is YEARS in the making. I am so happy that he will finally get a chance to showcase his amazing talents.

By: Katie L.

Katie L. — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:34:15 +0000

I hope that the Grange will be wildly successful, but I am going to miss the Bella Ciao. I have several good friends who worked at the Ciao in the late 1990s. Carlos, who moved away many years ago, shared the following when informed that it will close this month:
“A real classic place is closing up. I spent a long time working at Bella Ciao and have the best memories of my time there. I started as a dishwasher and worked my way up to a runner there (didn’t make it to waiter but it was a good life lesson for me that you can’t just expect opportunities to be handed to you). I truly felt like a family member there and I don’t think I could have had a better job to help me through so much of college. I’m sad I can’t stop in one last time before it closes but if you live in Ann Arbor and have the chance you should go.”

By: Kim Bayer

Kim Bayer — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:54:59 +0000

I second Rena’s comment. The Bella Ciao was a great Ann Arbor landmark, but I’m expecting that the new Grange Kitchen will be another. It’s great to see Chef Johns’ commitment to the community benefits of farm-to-restaurant eating. All the best!

By: Peter Laipson

Peter Laipson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:38:01 +0000

As a former waiter at Bella Ciao, I’m sad to hear that the restaurant is closing. Jim is as kind an employer as he is gregarious a host, and I still remember with affection the ‘family meals’ the staff enjoyed before service each evening. I wish all the best to Grange Kitchen, but I’ll miss saying hello at ‘the Ciao’ on visits back to Ann Arbor.

By: Rena

Rena — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:43:50 +0000

What appeared to be another sad headline is actually great story. One delicious landmark AA restaurant transitions into what will certainly be another! Best of luck to the both families. Can’t wait to taste that local flavor, Brandon!

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:11:52 +0000

I wish the new venture success, but I will very much miss the warm welcome from James, his going around to every table to talk with the patrons, and, of course, the the top-notch food and wine. I regret not going there more often. I remember a particularly amusing evening when the candles on a cake celebrating the birthday of a certain former City Council member set off the smoke detector upstairs!

Glad that James will still be in town.

By: Shannon Brines

Shannon Brines — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:52:28 +0000

Kudos to the Johns & team. Sounds awesome! Can’t wait for it to open and to work with them!