Are you a local business?
Va beh' Out, Broccolini In on Dean Street
Monday, July 15, 2025 at 8:17AM
Va beh', the little Italian cafe that opened in December of 2011 on Dean Street between Fifth and Flatbush Avenues, has closed. Here's the message that the owners, the husband and wife duo of Michele and Qiana Di Bari and their friend Andrea, posted to their website:
Quiana, Michele, and I would like to thank all of our loyal patrons for supporting this endeavor of ours.
It was one hell of a ride and we are so grateful to have been able to share this time with all of you.
A huge thank you to our committed team Greta, Remy (Remigio), Giada, Giovanna, Danny, Luigi, Carmine,
and many others, all of whom contributed to our success.
We have entrusted our beloved Va beh' to a dear colleague who we assure will deliver the same quality of dining and service.
My partners and I have moved on to explore new endeavors but will never forget this once in a lifetime experience.
Alla Prossima!
Quiana, Michele, and Andrea
The small restaurant, which featured lots of marble and a garage door-style front wall that opened up to the street, had a nice selection of cheese and salumi, crostini, antipasti, homemade pastas, and desserts. While it was a cute space and the food was generally regarded to be good, it was also in an awkward location (in the shadow of the Barclays Center but obscured by the former Triangle Sporting Goods building), and the seating was communal, which sometimes works but didn't in this small space. The owners earned a reputation for being welcoming and friendly, and not afraid to give away a glass of prosecco or two.
It appears based on Yelp reviews that the "dear colleague" has opened a new restaurant in the space called Broccolini, but when I've walked by and called there hasn't been anyone home. The decor is reportedly about the same, and the menu has done away with the crostini and includes items like lasagna and gorgonzola gnocchi with walnuts.
Photo: Yelp/ Andrea A.
Closed for Business in Food, Storefronts
Reader Comments (11)
Broccolino has been there for a couple of months, or at least close to it, because we first ate there in late May. I never ate at Va beh', so I can't compare it to that, but we have really enjoyed our food/experience the two times we've eaten at Broccolino. It's such a cute space - I wish we had found it before so we could have tried Va beh'.
Can't believe they didn't thank me!
In other news, they built an arena across the street.
For late breaking neighborhood news, yeah.
...and the picture is old and doesn't even reflect the new signage. If you'd walked by, you'd actually seen people eating there. They're on Seamless and GrubHub as well.
All of this I know by just walking by. Maybe you should try doing the same.
Ted Nelson:
Where is your blog? Give me the address; I want to follow it.
Ted Nelson - one of those people who complain about everything and do or create nothing of value themselves. Go away.
We are all Ted Nelson.
If you leave the article up long enough, and don't post something else, you can just update it to reflect the next place that moves in in a couple of years.
www.parkslopestoop.com
www.dnainfo.com
www.brownstoner.com
Wow. Ted's angry. Do you really think those of us who read this blog are unaware of the existence of the blogs you just mentioned?
HPS is a nice compliment to the more thorough blogs like FIPS, Brownstoner, Park Slope Stoop, South Slope News, dnainfo, etc. Plus, it's a fun place to comment.
The comments are the main thing for me. How long is a walk from Union St and 7th Ave to the defunct Va beh?
I served with Jbob. I knew Jbob. Jbob was a friend of mine. @Ted Nelson, you're no Jbob.