Okay, so we didn’t have the award-winning pizza, but there’s a good reason this place has won the local paper’s Best Italian Restaurant award eight years running. The food is fabulous and the atmosphere authentic American-Italian. Vittorio (Victor), the chef, was chef at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics – the athletes must have eaten well! The décor is unpretentious: stained glass lights, plastic tablecloths, murals of Italy on the walls, and lots of hustle and bustle.
The food is delicious. At dinner, a meat lover’s calzone for $8.99 could feed two generously – it’s full of meat and vegetables and served with marinara sauce. For $9.99, I got three huge ricotta-stuffed manicotti, topped with fresh sweet tomato sauce and accompanied by bread and salad. The house dressing comes in a huge cruet – shake it well and enjoy the distinctive flavour. We started our meal with deep-fried ravioli in a spicy coating. Italian wines and beer are reasonably priced and available by the glass. The red Lambrusco is poured in the kitchen and served cold, just the way it would be in your Italian neighbour’s kitchen. Fresh espresso or cappuccino rounds out the meal. Who has room for the desserts, even though they look great?
Service is efficient and makes you feel like part of the family. Don’t be afraid to ask your waiter or waitress for advice on what to order – they’ll be glad to suggest a great meal and send the leftovers home for an "Italian breakfast" the next day. Sal’s by Victor is well worth going out of your way to visit if you’re in the Williamsburg area!