I have been around the restaurant industry long enough to know that when an owner can easily name the number of people who work for him, you have found a quality and caring place.
"Seventeen," answered Biba's co-owner John Cunningham when I asked that question. "We don't have a lot of turnover. From a customer's standpoint, it's great, because you get to see the same faces every time you come in." There is certainly something to be said for a server that knows your drink order before you ask. "I even find myself coming in on my days off and eating with customers," John laughed.
BiBa's Italian Restaurant is a family-oriented place. There s a full kid's menu with dishes like baked ziti, ravioli, chicken fingers and fettuccine Alfredo. And what kid - or adult - doesn't love pizza? BiBa's offers a mouth watering stuffed pie, a large Sicilian-shaped covered pizza stuffed with various meats, cheeses, and red sauce. Similarly, the stromboli is stuffed with ham, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, provolone, and mozzarella cheeses.
While families wait for their food, children are offered hunks of dough to mold into whatever shape they like. "If they want, we'll cook it for them," said John.
Of course, the casual restaurant offers plenty to entice grown-ups too. "WE have beautiful veal," John told me. "We filet it, trim it, and tenderize it right here." Also for grown-ups, there is a full bar.
"People call us Cheers," John said. "We have lots of regulars. People know each other, and that's what we want." He glanced up at the front door in time to see a black SUV pull into the parking lot. "In fact, this lady coming in right now is one of them. I lost a bet to her on the Alabama game last week and now I owe her M&M's."
The woman took a seat at the bar and John, pretending to be exasperated, tugged a bag of peanut M&M's from the wall and slid them to her. "Oh, how can I ever take these from you?!" she joked. The two then bantered back and forth about their days while John cracked open a fresh bottle of white wine and poured her a glass without being prompted. I am a small-town girl and I relish having relationships with my servers and bartenders.
And while Norm and Cliff are endearing in their own right, I must admit, I'd trade their company for on of Biba's Italian stuffed pies any day.