Bellotti’s Got Location, Location, Location

By Antoinette May Herndon

“Would you care for a martini?”

Would I! I looked up at the handsome host and wondered: Now, why did he ask me that? Charles and I had breezed into Sutter Creek’s American Exchange Hotel with hopes of having a quick dinner before attending a nearby Main Street Theatre Works production.

We were absolutely delighted by the debonair efficiency of Bob Bobdilla, Bellotti’s ebullient host, who spotted us looking bewilderedly about the lobby and swept us right out of the hotel and into the adjoining restaurant. It was obviously a busy night for Bellotti’s Italian Restaurant, but Bob managed to find us a cozy table for two where we could watch—and even feel part of—the lively action around us.

That’s when Bob asked the martini question and offered to get one for me—plus a scotch for Charles— before turning us over to our lovely waitperson, Haile Michol. Now, how did he know that I was a martini kind of person? Perhaps intuition goes with the territory for an outstanding host. Bob manages to combine organizational skill and efficiency with a personality plus demeanor. He’s definitely a guy to watch.

Charles and I hadn’t been to the American Exchange Hotel’s companion restaurant for a long time. I’d never written about it. You know the adage, “If you can’t say something nice . . .”

Actually, we had loved the place in its long ago incarnation as Daffodil’s. In those days (before the Lodestar was even a twinkle in Ralph Alldredge’s eye) the busy bistro, tucked inside the American Exchange Hotel, was crammed with whimsical, wonderful paintings by John Johannsen, Jackson’s hidden treasure. The food and service were first rate then, but sometimes things change.

Anyway, that’s all ancient history. You could say B.C. Before the Lodestar, before this dining column, before Charles and my every

restaurant experience came with a question attached: can I or can I not write about this place?

Anyway, let me tell you that there have been some changes made at Belotti’s in the past year or so. Owner, Dennis Griffin is back at the helm. His presence does make a difference. It’s another page in the building’s history. There has been a restaurant there since 1867 when it also served as a stagecoach stop. Oh, the stories those walls could tell.

Today, there’s still a lot of Gold Rush charm. The adjoining bar could easily be part of a wild west movie set. Bellotti’s itself looks a bit more outdoorsy. The walls are crammed with artwork: barns, fields, flowers, even a few daffodils harkening back to former days. The booths and tables are well spaced and comfortable.

As I mentioned earlier, we’d planned to grab a quick snack before attending the theater. But once I’d absorbed the energy of the room, enjoyed a sip of martini and pondered the menu, I was ready to dedicate the whole evening to a long lingering dinner at Bellotti’s. Yes, it was really that good.

Charles started off with Minestrone Soup. The menu said “it’s sure to warm your soul with its savory flavor and wonderful aroma. The menu didn’t lie or even exaggerate. The soup really was that tasty. After sneaking more than a few spoonfuls from Charles’s bowl, I can say that Belotti’s offers one of the best minestrones in three counties. ($5)

I liked the Caesar Salad too. Very fresh and crisp with plenty of parmesan, though I must admit that I missed that whisper of anchovy that really makes for a true Caesar. ($8)

For a main course, I chose the Whiskey Steak. ($20.99) It consisted of tenderloin steak—a sliced medallion topped with a splash of whiskey. The steak, already tender and flavorful, was cooked just as rare as I requested. (I could swear it mooed at me reproachfully.)

I want to go

back soon and plan to order the Scampi. ($15) After all, Bellotti’s is an Italian restaurant. If anyone knows how to cook Scampi, they should. The menu says jumbo sized prawns sautéed in garlic, mushrooms, diced vine-ripened tomatoes, white wine and a fresh squeeze of lemon. I did a lot of neck-craning that night and saw a lot of Scampi enjoying a very short plate life. Next time . . .

For dessert, we split a New York cheesecake. Delicate flavors of fresh cream with a hint of lemon. Very elegant, very decadent and very delicious. ($5)

As I explained, our original plan had been a quick dinner before the play; but everything looked and tasted so good, that we decided to just relax and enjoy it. As we had planned to buy our tickets at the box office, there was a kind of “nothing ventured . . .” spirit in play.

As it turned out, our server, Haile Michol, was so efficient and the kitchen so well organized, that we finished our delicious dinners in plenty of time. It helped too that the Native Sons Hall where the Main Street Theatre was doing a performance of “War of the Worlds” was right down the street.

Bellotti’s is very well placed for theater-going as another popular venue, the grand old Sutter Creek Theatre is just across the street. So, whether dining at Bellotti’s is just the first part of an evening’s entertainment or its centerpiece, I heartily recommend it. Hope to see you there.

VITALS: Bellotti’s Italian Restaurant is located to the left as you enter the American Exchange Hotel. 53 Main St., Sutter Creek. Phone: 257-5211. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Hours: 11:30 a.m. until the last customer throws in his or her napkin. Credit cards accepted.

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Bellotti’s warm interior is filled with art.

Whiskey steak is a star attraction at Bellotti’s Italian Restaurant in Sutter Creek.