Bizbeat: Andiamo Italian Ristorante opens on Lena Court in Eagan

There's a new Italian restaurant in Eagan, but it's staffed with a few familiar faces.

Andiamo Italian Ristorante opened earlier this month.

Enrique Ruiz, who recently worked at Buca di Beppo and Highland Grill in St. Paul, is manager. His father, Ramon, who was the executive chef at Buca, is co-owner with Enrique's uncle Armando, a former chef of the Eden Prairie Buca, who will be mainly in charge of the kitchen's day-to-day activities.

"It's been pretty good," Enrique said. "First couple of weekends have been really busy."

Andiamo is located at 1629 Lena Court, where Bibo Restaurant and Wine Bar and Viva Italia both used to operate.

Enrique said his father seized the opportunity to use the building.

"My father's been in the business for a long time, doing it for about 30 years, and the opportunity came around," Enrique said.

Hiring and training the staff of about 30 was the part of the process Enrique said he was most proud of.

His father was still working as a chef at Buca up to about a month before Andiamo opened. Enrique had to put up ads on Craigslist in a hurry to hire people, he said.

When there is more time, there will be an official grand opening, Enrique said.

"The two biggest things we want to be as a restaurant is we want to be a neighborhood restaurant and we want to have great value."

Taco Bell in Burnsville is being remodeled

Barb Schneider, vice president of development at Border Foods Cos., said the restaurant is getting refreshed inside and out this year. Border Foods owns several local, fast-food restaurants including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and some Sonic Drive-In locations.

An interior remodel is currently in progress, which means the dining room is closed, but the drive-thru is still open. The dining room is expected to reopen in mid-February.

The exterior remodel will happen this spring, likely starting in March or April.

"We are waiting for Mother Nature to clear before we start the exterior," Schneider said.

Lakeville Chamber of Commerce event

It will be hosting its annual dinner and holiday party Monday at the Crystal Lake Golf Club.

The membership meeting includes a wrap-up of last year's activities, a welcoming of the new chamber president and presentation of business awards. Some of the recognitions include: Business Person of the Year award, Hospitality Employee of the Year award and Ambassador of the Year.

The social event begins at 6 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 7 p.m. The golf club is at 16725 Innsbrook Drive in Lakeville.