Sal and Victor
Have you ever had a restaurant experience that made you feel like part of the family?
It doesn't happen often, but it happened to me just before Christmas, in Williamsburg, Virginia.
I don't always have family in Williamsburg…but when I do…it's Christmas.
This historic city is a favorite destination of Sis-inlaw, and she's the one who has the timeshare.
So this trip we had lots of family nearby, including a nearly-new nephew-in-law, or whatever you call the husband of your niece.
That made eleven of us (one more than previous holidays) which always makes it a challenge to find a decent restaurant that can seat all of us in a reasonable amount of time. But still, we go out.
That's what we like to do, and so far we've been able to make it work one way or another.
And most importantly, it's meals and experiences like these where memories are made.
That's where the stories come from that you tell over and over again, around Christmas trees and Easter baskets, at birthdays and funerals.
Once in a while I get the responsibility of finding a place to eat. “You're the food guy, you pick.” No pressure there.
Especially with two 99% vegans in the group that I had to please.
Thankfully, I'd been advised by the vegan committee that Italian food was a good option.
As long as there was no hidden parmesan, a plate of pasta and marinara would be just fine.
And salads with particular kinds of olives. They worked, too. Not being a local I had to trust the interweb for reviews and such (and we also didn't want to drive too far).
But even with all these factors, we found success at a neighborhood spot called Sal's by Victor.
The nomenclature follow the same pattern as Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. (Chris was the original owner, then Ruth bought it and tacked her name on it, too.)
Sal's was originally named by its founder, Salvatore, and later purchased by Victor, who added his name to the sign.
Victor is a chef who was raised in Italy, went to culinary school in Italy, and worked in restaurants in Italy and across Europe. His Italian resume is strong.
It wasn't long after walking in the door that we heard Italian accents from the hostess and some of the folks going back and forth from the kitchen.
Good signs so far.
And it wasn't long at all when they were ready to seat our party of eleven. Really? I'm impressed.
They took us to a back room of sorts, but it wasn't the kind of back room that makes you feel like you're away from everything and might be forgotten.
This was a family room, and it was bustling with families.
The room was huge, and filled with long tables that could have held several more than our party required, had we brought another family with us.
Most of the tables were almost full, like ours, and it looked like everybody was having a great time. I hadn't eaten a bite yet, and I was already happy.
Another nod towards the atmosphere was the Family Feast section of the menu.
It was only for takeout or delivery, but the meaning was the same: we are thinking about families.
And with our crew and all the picky eaters (not a judgment, just a reality) it wouldn't have worked, anyway - but it's the thought that counts.
They started us off with a bread basket, which was a smart move, given that we arrived hungry.
Hidden under the slices of Italian bread were what I would call garlic knots, which in many places are a separate item on the menu. Bonus!
For my entree, I almost ordered the Homemade Crespelle, which was described as an Italian crepe filled with cheese and spinach, then baked with besciamella (Italian bechamel, or white sauce) and melted mozzarella.
Doesn't that sound amazing? I didn't even know the Italians did crepes. But the crepe didn't win the contest, as appealing as it was.
Instead I ordered the smoked chicken ravioli, served with a rich pesto sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parmesan, and a couple of asparagus spears.
That almost sounds healthy, doesn't it? So many of my favorite tasty things on one plate.
I'm still happy to be at Sal's, and getting happier by the bite.