Café Di Scala hosts fifth Beatles brunch

Often referred to as the greatest rock and roll band of all time, The Beatles’ influence on popular music and contemporary culture is unquestionable. Their music has been used in movies such as “Across the Universe,” has been referenced in TV shows like “The Simpsons,” has been made into video games and is often referenced in everyday conversation, so it seems only fitting that it should integrate into our meals.

This past Sunday marked Café Di Scala’s fifth Beatles themed brunch, and despite only having hosted the event a few times, business is booming.

“Our first one was in May,” owner Tony Lemmo explained. “We’d been talking about it for a couple years now, my executive chef, Phil and I, and we finally decided to make the commitment, just to have some fun. We wanted a place to get some good grub in your belly, and to chill out with John, Paul, George and Ringo.”

With that, a menu was created, a date was set—the first Sunday of every month—and the ball started rolling. Café Di Scala’s Sunday menu consists of Lemmo’s favorite brunch food, albeit with a “Beatles Twist.” Guests pick their first act, opposed to entrée, second act instead of dessert and encore in lieu of their beverage choice.

“Our steak sandwich is certainly popular, we had a five-year-old kid order it today, and she loved it,” Lemmo said.

And who wouldn’t? Officially called “Let it be,” the New York strip steak comes with fried egg, arugla and red onion over toasted ciabatta with garlic aioli, and served with twice baked potatoes. Other tasty options include “Srgt. Peppers,” a crepe, with crimini mushrooms, chevre, roasted peppers and spinach, and “Rubber Soul,” a grand marnier french toast, mandarin oranges, mascarpone and maple syrup. For something more sinful, try the “Hey Jude,” a chocolate gelato with pizzelle, or “Strawberry Fields,” a tempting vanilla panna cotta with balsamic strawberriesh—real treat.

Café Di Scala touts having “fresh” and “local” food, two buzz words usually synonymous with expensive, but the prices at this café are surprisingly reasonable, with many of the menu items being under $10.

If the food isn’t enough to keep you coming back, perhaps the ambience will be. Café Di Scala resides in a century-old Victorian mansion a few blocks west of Downtown in the Sherman Hill neighborhood. The cozy restaurant has soft candelabras behind the bar, authentic Italian décor and plenty of little nooks to seclude oneself in; it positively exudes intimacy.

The restaurant is named after Scala Coeli in Southern Calabria, the tiny mountain village in Italy where Lemmo’s family is from.

“I went there in 2000, met my relatives for the first time, and just fell in love with it,” Lemmo said. “Long story short, I wanted to be self-employed, wanted to own a restaurant, and so I decided it was a fitting name because that’s kind of where my culinary pedigree came from. All the recipes came from there, and made their way over here when my family emigrated here. [I am] just trying to link it all back to where it originated from.”

Professor of Journalism Todd Evans says he appreciates the effort the cafe is making, but wishes it would go deeper into the theme.

“I’ve not yet had the opportunity to give it a try,” said Evans. “It’s not a totally original concept to use the ‘comfort’ of the Beatles music to create a certain ambiance, however. Beatles fans appreciate creative and new ways to appreciate the music, and share their experiences, so this initiative should be a hit. I’m disappointed that Café Di Scala didn’t take the Beatles Brunch theme and go deeper with it. I applaud their effort, but would rather listen to the informative and entertaining Beatle Brunch radio program at home, eating my own ‘Sgt. Peppers(s) Steak’ omelet.”

Photo: Connor McCourtney