Café Vino is as unique as the story of its three owners, who all attended Johnston High School but never knew each other during their undergraduate days.
Richard “Rick” Melise, Carson Laughter and Adam Baffoni – who have done just about every job imaginable in the restaurant business – are the enthusiastic entrepreneurs behind the cozy, 50-seat eatery that was once known as Café Andiamo at 235 Greenville Ave. in Johnston.
Despite being open only a few weeks, Café Vino is already creating quite the stir on Johnston’s ever-expanding restaurant block.
One reason is the menu, which consists of Italian entrees. Another is the BYOB policy. Mostly, it is the focus on quality food and service, and the local roots of the eatery’s owners.
“We’re not trying to get rich,” Melise, the elder statesman of the Café Vino ownership group, said with a smile. “That’s why we’re closed Sunday and Monday. We have families … we just want to make an honest living by combining our experiences in this business.”
Although the food and beverage business is often trying, there’s not much Melise, Laughter or Bafoni haven’t seen despite being relatively young.
The three Johnstonians met while working at the former Café Andiamo, which recently closed.
“We met and talked about the possibility of opening Café Vino,” said Melise, 35, who has worked in the restaurant business for 20 years at such notable eateries as Camille’s Roman Garden on Federal Hill. “We pooled our pennies and decided to give it a go.”
Despite being some 10 to 15 years older than his business partners, Melise has as much enthusiasm as he did during his days as a champion wrestler and when he went to Rhode Island College and majored in psychology and physical education.
“I jumped into the fire,” said Laughter, 25, who graduated from Johnston High in 2007 and went to CCRI for accounting. “I’ve cleared tables, been a waiter … I’ve worked in this business for 10 years. When we worked at Café Andiamo, Rick and I became a team. I love this business.”
Baffoni, meanwhile, is a local success story on two fronts.
“It’s pretty unique being able to create your own menu,” said Baffoni, 23, who is a Johnston native and high school graduate who has six years experience in the restaurant business. “I’m really excited about what we’re doing here.”
Baffoni is also yet another success story among the top-ranked students from the Johnson & Wales University School of Culinary Arts who, despite being relatively young, has become a chef – and restaurant owner – in that always hard-to-crack level of the food and beverage business.
Moreover, Baffoni doesn’t have to go far to get the highest quality chicken – and even vegetables when they’re in season – as he’s part of the Baffoni family that owns and operates Baffoni’s Poultry Farm, just a stone’s throw Café Vino on Greenville Avenue.
Café Vino is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. There are take-out orders, and the restaurant does catering for private parties. For reservations, call 401-349-2680.
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