Frequently, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.
By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services
Perception is reality.
Now, I don’t agree with that statement. I believe reality is reality. But there are many people who think that how someone views something is how that something really is.
So, what does all that have to do with a lunch restaurant review?
My perception of Bella Fresca (6307 Line Avenue, Shreveport) was that it is an upscale dinner restaurant. But I had seen its social media posts urging people to try them for lunch.
So, on a recent Friday, I invited a friend to join me, to see if perception was reality.
If you’re expecting to find Bella Fresca with the help of a nice, modern sign out front, that’s not happening. Instead, there is an old, faded sign from which hangs electrical wires. I will say the sign matches the building’s outside appearance – gray and drab.
We arrived at 12:45 and walked into, thankfully, a dining room which looked much different from what we saw outside. The tables and booths were modern and well-appointed, with folded white cloth napkins, and glasses waiting to be filled. Some of Bella Fresca’s wines and their prices were written in colorful chalk, on boards flanking each side of the room.
Bella Fresca seats approximately 60 people, counting 10 chairs at the bar. However, while we were there, no more than two other tables were occupied. When we walked in, one of the servers told us to sit anywhere we like.
We chose a booth, and didn’t wait long before our server, Angel, was filling our drink glasses and asking if we wanted anything other than water (we didn’t). Angel was very attentive throughout our visit. On one occasion, he refilled our glasses when they clearly didn’t need refiling. But hey, it’s better to have too much water than not enough, right?
Angel also brought us a basket of bread – four warm slices which were very good. But beware. If you like the bread so much that you want more, you will have to pay for it. While the first basket is complimentary, you will be charged $5 for each additional basket. I’m glad I noticed that on the menu, or I would have ordered a second basket.
Bella Fresca’s lunch menu offers six appetizers. Five were between $14-$16, with the other one at market price. Those seemed a little pricey, so we decided to pass, and focus on our entrees.
The lunch menu described four salads, and 12 “Main Courses”. I don’t like to eat a heavy lunch, particularly in the summer. So, I chose to have the Rustic Caesar salad ($12). For an extra amount, I could add either grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, or grilled New York Strip steak. I chose to add grilled chicken ($7).
My friend was really hungry, and ordered a salad and a main dish. She started with the Field Greens and Goat Cheese salad ($14), followed by Chicken Piccata ($19).
Her salad arrived first, as it should have, and the presentation was beautiful. There was an ample serving of greens in the center or the plate. Two corners of the plate each had a fried goat cheese ball. Another corner had sliced grapes which looked very fresh. The final corner had what the menu described as “Spice Pecans”. However, I tried a few and didn’t taste any spice.
It felt like we waited awhile before the rest of our meal arrived, but it was worth the wait. My friend’s chicken was nice-sized, especially for lunch. She said it was cooked just right, juicy, and flavorful. The chicken was topped with capers, and two asparagus. The asparagus was tender, and much thicker than what you find at the grocery store. All of the above sat on a healthy heaping of mashed potatoes. I had a bite (okay, maybe a few bites), and the potatoes had that old-fashioned taste. They reminded me of the potatoes my mom used to make.
When ordering a salad as my meal, I’m always concerned the serving might not fill me up. When Angel brought my salad, that concern immediately disappeared. My plate was full of romaine lettuce, topped with crispy bacon, Parmigiana Reggiano, and served with two (very) small garlic crostini. The grilled chicken came in eight thick slices. Each was warm, seasoned just right, and perfectly cooked. The chicken wasn’t too dry and wasn’t too juicy.
However, the most satisfying thing about my salad was the amount of the homemade Caesar dressing. Often times, a Caesar salad is drenched in dressing – so much so that the dressing overtakes, and sometimes ruins, the salad. That wasn’t the case here. My salad had just the right amount of dressing.
Angel offered us four desserts, including one of my favorites, Key Lime Pie. It took all of our willpower to decline, knowing if we didn’t, we would be useless the rest of the day.
A couple of other thoughts about my lunch experience. Bella Fresca’s music wasn’t what I was expecting. It was upbeat, lively, and at times, bordering on the hard rock sound. But the music was a bit too loud, making it difficult for my friend and I to speak in a normal tone and be understood.
Speaking of volume, another server had two different conversations with people sitting behind me. He was so loud, it was impossible for me to converse with my friend. The dining room is quaint. I would suggest he use a softer one when speaking with diners.
Oh, and here’s an example of how Bella Fresca’s dining experience is a little different. No salt and pepper shakers here. Angel served a tray with salt, pepper, and a spoon for us to use.
The cost of our meal before taxes and tip was $52. However, I noticed that while on the original receipt the subtotal was $52, my credit card receipt showed $56.98, which included tax. So, if you’re tipping based on the subtotal, go by the amount shown on the original receipt.
Now, $52 is a price I’m not willing to pay every day for two people to have lunch. But I thought the cost of our meal was worth what we received in quality and service.
I don’t give Four Forks often. But I am this week. I would go out of my way to have lunch at Bella Fresca. I won’t go often, but when I want something other than the usual lunch experience, Bella Fresca will be worth the trip.
That’s not perception. That’s reality.
1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so
Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?
Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.
