Lago Su Bella

By Brendan Damon, 18, Wisconsin

Big red letters arch over my head as I walk through the front doors under the “Lago Su Bella” sign. Heading to the hostess stand, I glance around the room at the bar with not a single empty chair and the dining room with even more people, all lightly conversing with each other. I can tell that this place has a lot of regulars, the way everyone joins each other in greetings and conversations. I am approached by a tall young lady with red hair, “Do you have a reservation this evening?” 

Arriving from the airport after my summer vacation just a few hours prior, I hadn’t even thought of making a reservation. “I don’t. Is there any chance you have something open in the dining room?”

“Just a moment.” 

Stepping away, she comes back in a moment with a man in a sport coat. He reaches out his hand to shake mine, “My name is Mike. I’m the owner. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We don’t have a lot of open room, but we did just have a cancellation, so I should be able to squeeze you in somewhere.” He walks me to a table by a window with a stunning view of the sunset over Lake Lac La Belle. “I’ll get you set up with a server. Thank you for joining us tonight.”

Dinner ordered, I have a brief conversation with my server. I mention that I just got back from vacation and that I am here for my birthday dinner. The server smiles at me, “Well happy birthday!”

Some more time passes, and I see a man in a flat cap walking to my table with my food. “Swordfish with tomato Salmoriglio sauce, Roman potatoes and garlic spinach. Please enjoy and if you need anything, ask for Joe. I am the head chef.” As he begins to walk away, Joe turns around and comes back, “I heard it’s your birthday. If you don’t mind me asking, why aren’t you spending it with your family?”

“My mom is working, and my dad and brother are unpacking from the vacation we just got back from today.” I stare at the food in front of me and then back at Joe. My server comes up to the table as well with a small plate in her hand. She sets it down on the table in front of me.

Joe begins, “I wanted to do something special for you for your birthday. Here is a free chocolate mousse dome cake on me. And your server wanted to do something special for you as well…”

My server steps out from behind Joe, “No one should be alone on their birthday. I felt I needed to do something to make your day a little better, so I covered your bill for you.”

“Oh,” I am at a loss for words. I was not expecting this. “Thank you so much.” Standing, I hug my server and shake Joe’s hand. Smiling, they leave me to my meal…

About a year and a half goes by and I am sitting at a table in a restaurant called Zin for a dinner with the Lago Su Bella staff. I have only been working at Lago for six months, but I have grown to consider these people a second family. Mike stands up and taps his glass with a fork, “I just wanted to quickly say how grateful I am for all of the hardworking people sitting around these tables tonight. Without all of you, Lago wouldn’t be the amazing restaurant it is. And that is why I have decided to get each of you a small gift. Merry Christmas.”

Mike and his wife hand out a gift bag to each person in the room, and we all open them together. “I will also be covering the entire bill tonight and, adults, order whatever drinks you want. It’s on me.” Everyone takes turns telling Mike how thankful they are for what he has done for all of us, especially me. I start to remember the reason I decided to work at Lago in the first place…that night that I went in for my birthday. 

Dinner tonight is just more evidence towards how good of a person Mike is. I never would have thought that a single business, on a small lake in Wisconsin, would change me as much as a person, but Lago Su Bella did just that.

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I was inspired to write this piece because of a good experience I had with a Wisconsin business and a long-lasting relationship with the people there that it created. I wrote this as an assignment in my Composition class and I had a lot of fun reliving some of my experiences with Lago Su Bella and the amazing people there.

@bren.damon (Instagram)