About us
Take a look at the place, the people and the food…
Meet Victor
Owner, Sal’s by Victor
Sal’s by Victor is a family run restaurant specialized in both southern and northern Italian cuisine. We’ve been serving Williamsburg and the surrounding areas since 1974. The restaurant was originally founded by Salvatore (Sal) who named the restaurant after himself. In 1990 Victor acquired the business from Sal and decided to keep the name, while at the same time giving the “by Victor” touch. Chef Vittorio Minichiello (Victor) was raised on a farm in Mirabella Eclano, in the Avellino region of Italy. He studied food arts at the Culinary Institute of Summonte Italia and has worked in some of the finest eateries in Europe, including La Cheminee in Paris, Giardino da Bruno in Rimini and Partenio in Naples.
Today, he is a member of the Italian Chef’s Association and brings his world-class expertise to Williamsburg. Our Most Famous Dish is “Cavatoni alla Capri” together with our famous “New York Style Pizza”. We have been voted as the Virginia Gazette’s “Best in Williamsburg” for Best Italian Restaurant since 1996. After the 2009 fire the restaurant remodeled and enlarged with hand chosen artwork from Italian artists, capturing the beauty of the Italian vistas and creating a small slice of the old country here in Williamsburg.
Sal’s by Victor’s mission is to treat all our “customers” as our guests and to make sure they leave the restaurant with a smile on their faces and a full stomach. We take complaints very seriously and always demand that our staff provide the best experience possible for our guests. We firmly believe that there is no better advertisement than a positive experience conveyed via word of mouth.
Catering
Sal’s by Victor brings authentic Italian food and superior customer service to your special event. To help exceed the expectations of your guests, our menu options feature a wide range of Italian favorites. You may choose from one of our most popular menus or customize a menu to your taste.
As a full service caterer we can provide everything you need for your special event. Our catering team will help with your:
– Business Event
– Wedding
– Graduation
– Birthday
– Anniversary
Please contact us today to set up a consultation with our catering team.
Music
On Friday nights, from 6.30 p.m, you can hear Jim Rice playing Italian songs throughout the restaurant. Jim Rice, or Giacomo Riso, as he is sometimes called, has been serenading guests at Sal’s by Victor for ten years. Jim first met Chef Victor ten years ago at the Williamsburg Winery where they both supported the first Colonial Italian American Organization, CIAO, Festival. Following the successful festival, Victor asked Jim to audition at the restaurant.
Jim enjoys playing and singing songs from Italy because they express all types of human emotions. Jim especially likes to help customers celebrate their special occasions with his music such as birthdays, anniversaries and wedding rehearsal dinners. Children are often hypnotized by his magic box when they sing nursery rhymes to his tunes.
Jim performs at private and public events and also teaches accordion lessons.
Healthy Food
Sal’s by Victor uses the best ingredients in the market. For over 25 years we’ve used natural & part skim milk to bring you the best available cheeses in the world. Not the cheapest, but the best.
– We use extra virgin olive oil imported from Italy. The finest Italy has to offer and you can purchase it to enjoy in your home.
– We use all natural oils for frying with very low saturated fats. We use 100% authentic butter.
– We are proud to offer only the finest cuts of meats. All hormone and antibiotic free veal, chicken, and beef.
– Our cold cuts are authentic world class meats found at only the finest delis and restaurants in the world.
– Our breads are delivered fresh daily from 3 different bakeries to please our customers.
– Pasta is made from all natural grains. Our pasta is mostly homemade with a few selections imported directly from one of Italy’s finest pasta makers.
– All sauces are made from scratch daily using all natural ingredients. We use no preservatives.
– Our daily fresh cut produce comes from trusted suppliers, delivered daily (except Sundays) to ensure freshness. When seasons permit we use local growers who provide us with top quality vegetables and fruits.
– All of our seafood comes from the finest supplier in Hampton Roads. When seasons permit we use locally caught seafood from local fishermen.
We use the best natural ingredients and healthiest cooking methods possible. We’ve been doing it this way for over 20 years. When you use fresh ingredients and make everything from scratch you get the best results… most of the time. If we fall short on your meal please let us know so we can correct it for you!
Jewelry
Enjoy Italian floral porcelain sculpture at its finest. Experience the romance of the traditional art form of royalty. In 1739, King Charles III first commissioned Italy’s best artists to create porcelain flowers for his beloved wife Queen Maria Amalia.
This is the world of Italian Master Capodimonte Sculptor Gaetano “Nino” Galoppo, where he transforms clay into beautiful pieces of jewelry one petal at a time. Mrs. Rosa Schioppa Galoppo and Master Painter Elizabeth Damato bring vibrant color and life to his work.
The Nino Rose™ Collection blooms for a lifetime for your special loved ones.
Each work of art is handcrafted from the world’s finest porcelain mined in the Limoges region of France and the southeastern United States, and hand painted with lightfast, archival oil pigments of the highest quality, brilliance and permanence. No two sculptures are ever exactly alike because molds are never used in our studio; our guarantee that your purchase will always be unique and truly one-of-a-kind.
Nino Rose jewelries are available at Sal’s by Victor. Visit www.ninorose.com for further information!
