Besta One News
St. Petersburg Times
Published May 18, 2007
by Logan Neill ~ Times Staff Writer
Besta One Italian Grille is casual, yet elegant.
Italian Grace in a Strip Mall
Specialty pastas and salads, gourmet pizzas, a casually elegant vibe: that's Besta One.
The key to our love of Italian cooking is not always just the food. Yes, we find comfort in the mellowness of a hearty tomato sauce. We get a warm vibe from biting into fresh, homemade garlic bread. But there's something about the atmosphere of an Italian establishment that can be as delicious as the cuisine.
Walk into Besta One Italian Grille, between Sears and Circuit City in the Coastal Way Shopping Plaza on Cortez Boulevard, and you'll be immediately struck by the hospitality that comes from a business where serving wonderful food seems more a calling than a vocation.
Thanks to Leslie and Jeff Jackson, the little hangout for late-night teens and occasional shoppers from Sears next door has been rescued. In the three years they've owned it, the restaurant has evolved into a first-rate bistro that offers a level of elegance and culinary sophistication beyond what you might expect, especially if you knew the place before the Jacksons took over.
No plastic checkered tablecloths and chianti-bottle candles here. Rather, tables are linen-clad and sport shiny stemware. Prompt and knowledgabe servers complete an atmosphere that is casual and comfortable. Though the Jacksons admit they know their way around the kitchen, they prefer to turn the show over to true culinary talent. They hired long time Hernando County chef Antonio Velasquez to let loose his Le Cordon Bleu credentials on the traditional flavors of Italy and the Mediterrean.
Velesquez knows that there's more to Italian cooking than tomatoes, oregano and garlic (not that there's anything wrong with those) and isn't afraid to give even traditional recipes a respectful nudge here and there.
With more than a dozen specialties on the menu, pasta lovers will have a field day. Worth checking out are the Chicken Francese ($14.95) and Rigontini and Shrimp Alla Vodka ($15.95), both of which show what innovative culinary talent can do with quality fresh meat and seafood.
On a lighter note, Besta One has a masterful salad selection that is uncommon in our neck of the woods.
If you're only in the mood for pizza, that's okay. Besta One is still one of the bright spots in the county for handmade pies.
Pizza chef Glenn Flammia proudly reels off recipes for two dozen or more gourmet pizzas, and probably that many more combinations of customer favorites. A favorite with seafood lovers is the Shrimp Scampi Pizza ($16.95 and $18.95), a thick-crust pie with shrimp and garlic cooked in a buttery lemon and white wine sauce and generously topped with mozzarella.
Located in an area that is just beginning to feel the sway of incoming restaurant chains, Besta One has the kind of spirit and love of food that makes you want to cheer for it's survival. At least it's the place newcommers should want to emulate.
Logan Neill is a Staff Writer for the St. Petersburg Times
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RepeatRewardsRepeatRewardsRepeatRewardsRepeatRewards
We want to RECOGNIZE & REWARD you!
Enroll Today for a
FREE Membership
to the
Besta One Italian Grille VIP CLUB
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& Start Earning Points Today!
Every Tuesday is DOUBLE POINTS DAY!
Every Sunday is TRIPLE POINTS DAY!
Join Besta One's VIP Club
& start earning points on all your purchases at
Besta One Italian Grille.
There is no catch!
Receive Award Certificates for the points you earn!
Visit us again & redeem your certificates
when dining at Besta One Italian Grille.
You are an inportant part of our every day business & we want to say "thank you" by giving something back to you. In addition to Award Certificates, we'll keep you informed about upcoming events & special offers. The information you give us is for our exclusive use only & will not be sold or rented to any other company or organization.
It's So Simple.
Here's How it Works.
To begin earning your award certificates, just fill out the member profile. Every time you use your membership card at Besta One Italian Grille, we will automatically track your purchases & assign points to your account.
For every $300 you spend at our restaurant, you'll receive a $15 Award Certificate to redeem on your next visit. Thiere is no limit! Go ahead, reward yourself!
The more you spend, the more you earn!
View your personal Membership activity at www.myrepeatrewards.com
So, don't delay, start enjoying the many
Membership Benefits by Enrolling Online today!
The Rules!
1.) To earn points, you must present your Besta One VIP Card each time you make a purchase.
2.) If you forget your card, save your receipt & present it next time you visit.
3.) Besta One VIP Club Members must keep their personal information file up to date by by reporting any changes in name, address, etc. to our restaurant.
4.) Your Besta One VIP Club card is not a charge card.
5.) Members of Besta One VIP Club will be awarded one point for each dollar spent on the purchase of regularly priced menu items, tax not included.
6.) Besta One VIP Club cards have no cash value.
7.) Certificates will be mailed to you & will expire 45 days after date of issue.
8.) There will be no cash refund & no points when redeeming Besta One VIP Club Certificates.
9.) Members earn points when they purchase restaurant Gift Certificates or Gift Cards, however, points are not issued when the Gift Certificate or Gift Card is redeemed.
10.) Besta One VIP Club Cards & Certificates are nontransferable. Lost or stolen or additional cards will be issued for $5.00 each. Lost or stolen Certificates will not be replaced.
11.) Earned points will be carried over annually. You never lose a point in Besta One VIP Club points.
12.) Restaurant employees, corporations & institutional accounts are not eligible for memberships.
13.) Besta One VIP Club will not sell or rent or share your name, address or any other personal information, with or to any other company or organization.
14.) Besta One Italian Grille reserves the right to cancel Besta One VIP Club at any time.
15.) Besta One Italian Grille, at it's sole discretion, can select the menu items included in this program, without notice to members.
16.) Visit Repeat Rewards website at: www.myrepeatrewards.com to view current point balance, recent purchases, certificates issued & redeemed.
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Besta One Italian Grille!
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Lunch Menu Appetizers Salads Between the Bread
Entrees Pizza & Calzones New England Style Fried Seafood
Kid's Corner Desserts Drinks Beer & Wine Catering
Specials Gift Cards Return to Main Menu