Restaurant Revisited: Bene Pizza and Pasta

It's brother versus brother at Bene Pizza and Pasta, a 13-year-old business in Omaha, Neb., run by Jon and Bobby Lanphier and their mother, Ginger Lanphier. It was up to Robert Irvine and his Restaurant: Impossible team not only to overhaul the interior of the eatery and improve upon the dreary arcade, but also to mend the siblings' relationship, which had weakened over the years as a result of increasing financial strain on the company. Read on below to hear from Ginger and find out how she and her sons are doing at Bene Pizza and Pasta a few months after their Restaurant: Impossible transformation.
Comparing this December to last December, "business was up 20 percent," Ginger reveals. "The arcade does well when we are busy. We have talked to customers and are convinced that it brings customers in because it differentiates us from other pizza restaurants."
Both the updated menu and the new decor have been well-received by customers at Bene Pizza and Pasta, and as for the food, "almost everything is from scratch now," says Ginger. It's "a little more labor-intensive, but worth it." She adds that "the Bolognese sauce, homemade tenders and chicken Parm" are among the team's favorites.
Bobby and Jon "really discuss things now," Ginger explains of the brothers' relationship. "Robert instilled and reinforced what we had been trying to tell them: Life is short, and it is better to enjoy the life you have." Ginger adds that Bobby's health is "good," though he continues to experience headaches.
Though Ginger says she's yet to enjoy substantial free time, looking back on the transformative experience, she notes, "Robert was a big help, and he did see the different talents Bob and Jon possess." She adds, "Restaurant: Impossible has given us hope that with hard and smart work we will succeed."