The vibe of VIA Italian Table can only be described as Electric Warmth.
No, not on account of a blanket or a space heater. What I mean is that the décor of this Worcester favorite has achieved what many fail to. It seamlessly pulls together timeless tradition, Italian culture, and relatability.
Keith Carolan, the General Manager for the past 8 years, was kind enough to give me the grand tour.
While it seems backward to start from a focal point in the rear of the restaurant, I find it necessary due to the meaning and importance of the piece.
While in Florence, VIA’s owners snapped a photo of a classic Italian scene – we all know it – locals dining at a table over pasta and wine. They adored the photo and the feelings it provoked so much, that they hired Arlene and Kyle Varlet (local artists from Rhode Island) to not only paint the photo they had taken but to expand it as well. The painting was custom made to fit a wall that is not only tucked away, but that gives a feeling of exclusivity. However, if you dine on VIA’s porch in the summer months, you will be able to catch glimpses of it from just beyond the windows – a win for all.
Another addition straight from the country that inspired VIA’s menu is located in the very same corner. A custom-made table also sits in the semi-private space known as, “the best seat in the house,” which is generally set aside for large groups or special occasions. You’ll see in the video tour that the table is even inscribed with “Made for Via Italian Table.”
First impressions are everything, so rest assured, I won’t skip over the undeniably charming sight that fills one’s eyes upon entering VIA. The bar.
The bar at VIA may be well known for its after work drinks or its incredible wine selection, but, those are not the only factors that make it the bar you love. At least not from my perspective. Did you ever notice how it wraps in a semi-circle? This shape encourages the gathering feeling we all think when we think of Italian dining. It pulls you in and makes you look across at other bar-goers, rather than facing you shoulder to shoulder, perhaps allowing you to lock eyes with someone you may have never noticed if seated traditionally. Love at first sight, anyone?
So if the painting is the hidden focal point, and the bar is the first impression, then where is the heartbeat of the restaurant? Just to your right as you walk in, you’ll peek over the mountainscape of beautifully set tables and into the kitchen, open for all to see. The open kitchen concept is something that you may have seen before, but not like this. The freezer of gelato is in full sight, as is the sous chefs, the head chef himself, and other culinary staff who are hard at work on the meal you are about to dine on. It’s a show every night, every lunch, and every meal – allowing full transparency to customers on how the dishes are prepared with love that quite literally pours out into the dining room.
That electric warmth is showcased through all of the above, alongside the hustle and bustle which makes for a dance recital on a regular Saturday night. VIA Italian Table has accomplished not only authenticity through cuisine, but through an atmosphere that has brought so many together. Watch the video to take a mini tour of VIA Italian Table!