By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

The early evening of July 23 was just another busy Saturday night at La Verona in Kennett Square, and chef and owner Jack Mavraj was splitting time between seating customers and checking on the kitchen.
Then, without warning, another layer of pressure was placed on Mavraj and his staff, when suddenly, two men approached Mavraj and asked him, “Can we get a table for two?”
It did not take very long for Mavraj to understand who these men were and what they were at the restaurant for, because just over their shoulders, he saw Vice President Joseph R. Biden and his daughter, Ashley, patiently waiting.
The Vice President and his daughter were offered a table inside the restaurant, but Biden chose to dine al fresco, so for the next hour, those who happened to be strolling along State Street were treated to the same buzz that circled throughout the crowded restaurant.
“'Shocked' is the word I would use,” said Matt Johnson, who was chosen to serve the Bidens. “I did a double take at first, and soon, everybody in the restaurant was coming up to me and saying, 'We can't believe it's him.'”
After a Burrata appetizer, the Vice President tucked into a chicken parmesan entree and a Diet Coke, while Ashley chose the restaurant's crab cakes. They skipped out on dessert, however, choosing instead to lengthen their visit to Kennett Square with a short walk down the street for some ice cream at La Michoacana.
“I told him (Biden) that their dinner was on the house, and that I would not accept anything, because it was our honor to serve him,” Mavraj said. “But he told me, 'No. You have to give me the bill.'”
What did the Vice President leave behind in Kennett Square? A lot of Smartphone snapshots with customers, memories, and a generous tip.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].

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