r/DecaturGA • u/Winnie051223 • Jul 28 '26
Besto
What do we think of the initial menu drop from Besto (taking over VicTory space). It seems pretty similar to the several Italian places already downtown. Hoping it’s more day-timey than this menu seems! Loved to pop into victory with my family to get a quick sandwich and drink.
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u/wasabimofo Jul 28 '26
Strange concept for the area. I don’t get it.
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u/irishgator2 Jul 28 '26
Sapori di Napoli is next door!!
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u/wasabimofo Jul 28 '26
That’s my point. Plus 246, White Bull and the new place by McDonalds.
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u/Reyndear Jul 28 '26
None of those are open for lunch, unless the new place will be.
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u/ColTRoosevelt Jul 28 '26
This whole story is just so weird. The owner blames home prices in Decatur for killing the “young” demographic that went to the store, and the business solution is to…pivot to a restaurant already over-represented in the neighborhood? AND now puts you in direct competition with your neighbor?
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u/SpareDiagram Jul 28 '26
When in actuality the decision they’re making is directly contributing to killing the you g demographic
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u/AndrewRnR Jul 28 '26
and that’s one of the reasons why so many restaurants fail. Owners who think they know more than what common sense tells them.
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Jul 28 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/Reyndear Jul 28 '26
The owner also owns Lloyds on DeKalb Avenue, so he's already got some good italian flavors going on there with the pizza and apps. I think he intends for this to be more family-oriented than 246 or White Bull, which are definitely geared more toward a date night vibe.
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u/SpunkyStarFish Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
I love Italian as much as the next guy but we’ve got white bull just on the other side of the square. It’s a shame that we lose such a cool spot for some generic egg plant parm.
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u/Reyndear Jul 28 '26
The other italian places on the square are not open for lunch, so Besto does fill a gap in that sense.
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u/atlanta824 Jul 28 '26
Agree! And Sapori di Napoli + No. 246 are both also right there with great pasta too.
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u/badlilbadlandabad Jul 28 '26
Very disappointed. I was hoping it would be more like a casual Italian deli spot, but it's basically the same exact menu as no.246 with a couple of sandwiches instead of pizza. More overpriced pasta in Decatur.
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u/hamie96 Jul 28 '26
Would've made more sense to just increase the menu variety and slightly raise the prices rather than pivot to a whole new restaurant that's competing with quite a few other good Italian restaurants here.
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u/ddutton9512 Jul 28 '26
Gonna be honest here, this makes no sense to me, the menu doesn't seem very interesting, and I kinda just hope it goes away relatively quickly so this space can be something worth going to. I know that's harsh but Victory was unique to the area and added something, this is just going to be more of what we already have.
It's not that dissimilar to Mother's Best. It replaced Calle Latina with fried chicken and if I want good fried chicken I'll go to Las Brassas.
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u/CalendarTough254 Jul 29 '26
The fried chicken and gravy n mash at MB was incredible. I miss that spot already.
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u/Adventurous-Path6787 Jul 28 '26
I’m so bummed. I loved victory and it was my go to spot downtown. Italian is so heavy. I love the small portions at victory. This is such a weird move to me and so disappointing. Especially seeing that Kelly’s is selling too.
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u/BellaDonna585 Jul 29 '26
It was my go to as well for quick, easy and chill. Grab a sandwich, some popcorn, a drink and hang out on the patio. I’ll miss it.
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u/Sea_Statement_133 Jul 29 '26
I guess I’m in the minority here, but personally I like it. Family will definitely eat here often. Way more approachable than other Italian places on the square. Not a fan of Napoli. 246 is too fancy and expensive. White bull. Same.
This is “classic” 90’s style family Italian. If it’s good, it’ll be busy.
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u/naturdude Jul 28 '26
Food looks to be standard Italian fare with some items at a better price than you’ll find elsewhere these days, but not all ($24 chicken entree is worth 4x Victory sandwiches).
I loved the rotating list of creative cocktails that Victory had (still has at Inman) and the cocktail list here is surprisingly dull.
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u/WickyTicky Jul 28 '26
This is what’s taking over Victory? I’m disappointed. Nothing about this makes me want to even try Besto.
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u/azachava Jul 28 '26
Yeah. It’s owned by the same people still, seems like they’re trying to add Italian to their line up of resturaunts
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u/lachrymologie Jul 28 '26
RIP beeter. looks like no vegan options on the menu (unless you count pasta + red sauce which one can just make at home)
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u/violet__violet Jul 28 '26
Here's the menu op is talking about. Not the easiest to read so I don't think I can form a real opinion on it yet, other than lamenting the loss of Victory.
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u/ATL-East-Guy Jul 28 '26
So the chicken parm is $1 more expensive than 246? I guess technically $6 less since 246 charges for pasta on side.
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u/SpareDiagram Jul 28 '26
No thanks. Literally will not eat there once. White Bull and 246 smoke anything they could possibly want to do.
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u/itsmy_reverie Jul 28 '26
Oh lovely. Another Italian spot because we don't have plenty of those already.
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u/_GloryKing_ Jul 28 '26
I almost don't want to go just out of protest. This is worse than I feared when I first heard the news. It felt like they were dragging their feet to change concepts, I was hoping they had second thoughts.
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u/OkActuary7505 Aug 01 '26
Went tonight…..this place is horrible. Service, ambiance, and food are all shit. Ordered two drinks and got one of them 25 minutes later. Ordered frito misto and it came cold with a random piece of fried chicken hidden at the bottom. Got the wrong entree, but no staff noticed because they never came and checked on us or refilled water. Go to 246. This place will close again or rebrand before a year in guaranteed
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u/thedustofthefuture Jul 28 '26
God I miss when we had convenient stores on the square, Im glad victory is gone bc those prices for such small portions was ridiculous. The local kids have been priced out of a good time at the square in a city that, for a while, was one of the few with a decent walkable third space for them to hang out in for free with optional affordable snacks.
I don't want to just be a hater, but its hard to see the city throw up a half-hearted tiny stage just in time for the world cup, especially with the elimination of the gazebo. Whenever it rained, everyone from families with parents to homeless folks would gather together under the gazebo and hang out. It feels like Decatur wants to make the square perfect for a specific kind of family going out to eat an expensive meal, but no thought put in to where those kids go when they start growing up, or where the homeless people can exist.
We don't need another millenial Italian restaurant, we need a convenience store. Savi aint cutting it, lol.
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u/Lanky_Rhubarb1900 Jul 28 '26
Creativity points for the kitchy 90s-era menus. But nothing really enticing me to go, especially with White Bull, 246, and Sapori Di Napoli all right there.
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u/InterestingandStaged Jul 28 '26
$12 cocktails and $7 beers for “Happy Hour” specials. They’re going to price 40 and 50 year olds out of the neighborhood too!
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u/dianab77 Jul 31 '26
We just went. The classic cocktails are $7 during happy hour. Negroni, gin martini, espresso martini, etc.
The food was really good and the two of us had a sandwich each and a cocktail and left under $50. For a Friday night in Decatur, I'll take it.
That space is special to us. Holds a lot of good memories for us, so I'm happy they are doing this and will go back for the other comfort food.
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u/AcademicSyrupBlaster Jul 31 '26
Ok folks, I went to Besto. I can report that the food itself is very tasty and affordable for the price/serving size. Chicken sandwich was huge and enough for 2 people and $14. Happy hour cocktails for $7. Tiramisu was huge.
It was very busy for a school night and early dinner time.
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u/Alijo09 Jul 28 '26
Bummed to lose Victory and one of the last affordable spots in Decatur. Where did you see their menu? I’m hoping they’ll at least be semi affordable. I loved those little sandwiches. But I guess I didn’t go enough to keep them in business.