Staff at a Bologna restaurant spoke warmly about their experience hosting Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, describing the couple as “absolutely incredible” and “kind-hearted people.”
Riccardo Lelli, the owner of Trattoria della Santa, said PEOPLE In an interview translated by waitress Saria Ahmed that the couple dined at the restaurant on July 21, the day before Gómez’s 34th birthday, after a member of Blanco’s team made a reservation a few days before.
Although the reservation was initially for a private table, when the couple arrived they chose to sit outside under the Portici di Bologna, the city’s iconic arched walkways.
“They were absolutely amazing people, very charming and kind-hearted,” Lelli said.
“They showered us with compliments on the food, on the service, and were just great customers.” Ahmed added from her own perspective: “As a waitress, I can tell you that we had a good experience with them.”
The couple ordered generously from the menu, choosing eggplant parmesan, arugula salad, mushroom noodles, buffalo cheese ravioli, butter and sage tortelloni, lasagna bolognese and the restaurant’s signature Balanzoni cream-filled pasta.
The staff noted that the couple was well aware that pasta is what to order in Bologna. Blanco, 38, apparently enjoyed the meal so much that he got up to share it with his team.
Ahmed also confessed to making an unintentional misstep.
When the couple ordered a second round of prosecco, she automatically suggested they order a bottle because it would be cheaper, before immediately recovering.
“As I was going to get it, I thought, ‘What did I just tell them? Why did I say this?’, like they need something cheaper. So I laughed to myself.”
As for style, Ahmed noted that Gomez “looked lovely” in a white satin dress and headscarf with sunglasses, while Blanco kept her signature street style.
Lelli shared a photo with the couple on the restaurant’s Instagram, Blanco flashing a peace sign, Gomez posing in front and captioning it simply: “Thank you so much for eating with us.”
