By Rodger Morrow, Editor & Publisher, Beaver County Business
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If You’ve Ever Wondered About a Dog-Inspired Restaurant
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a man names a fine-dining restaurant after his dog, the answer is Biba.
Jason Benegasi, who spent his New Castle boyhood surrounded by cooks, pots, pans, and the kind of family kitchen wisdom that gets handed down like heirlooms, didn’t just open a restaurant—he put his boxer’s name on the sign. It was either that or “Jason’s Place,” and fortunately for Beaver, the dog won.
A Path Made in Kitchens
Benegasi’s path to restaurateur was less a straight line than a ragout—some beef here, a little tomato paste there, and simmer until something good happens. After high school in Shenango and a detour through Edinboro University, Jason did his graduate work in sauté pans at Lidia’s in Pittsburgh, under the formidable Lidia Bastianich. There he absorbed how to run a restaurant without losing your shirt, your temper, or your loyal staff.
By 2010, tired of commuting and eager to raise a family without spending his best years on I-376, Jason decided Beaver deserved something finer than another chain eatery. He opened Biba in August of that year, managing not just the kitchen but the whole show. Locals quickly discovered it wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a dining room with ambition.
The Therapy of Cooking
Jason’s style is organic—meaning he throws away the cookbook and tastes until he’s satisfied. He loves ragout, stews, noodle soups, and setting things on fire (culinarily speaking). For Jason, the sizzle is therapeutic.
What he doesn’t love is dessert. Recipes, he believes, are tyranny in stainless steel. Still, every cake, biscuit, and focaccia at Biba is baked in-house, proof that someone is willing to follow orders even if Jason isn’t.
The Signature Cuban
If Biba has a signature, it’s the Cuban sandwich—ham, pulled pork, Swiss, mustard, and pickles pressed into something that disappears faster than the specials board can be erased. Jason updates the menu daily, so regulars know to check bibabeaver.com or social media for what’s cooking.
A Decade and Counting
Biba has now been part of Beaver’s dining landscape for over a decade. Jason and his family have traveled the world chasing flavors to bring home. He calls Biba a labor of love, and the steady stream of customers suggests Beaver agrees.
So if you’re in the mood for tacos, steak, soup, or a sandwich named after a boxer’s spirit, you know where to go. Just don’t ask Jason for the recipe. He threw it out years ago.
If You’re Going
- Location: Biba Restaurant, 406 Third Street, Beaver, PA
- Hours: Dinner service Tuesday–Saturday (Closed Sunday & Monday)
- Reservations: Highly recommended. Call ahead or book online.
- Must-Try Dish: The Cuban sandwich
- House-Made: All desserts, focaccia, and biscuits baked fresh daily.
- Online: Visit bibabeaver.com for the latest menu. Follow on Facebook and Instagram for daily specials.
