THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9607300127
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: On the Town
SOURCE: Sam Martinette
LENGTH: 77 lines
When Brian Colombrito expanded Famous Uncle Al's last year and took over the former C'est Nouveau Hair Salon next door, he did more than just double the seating of his restaurant. Next month aboard the Norfolk Rover, he'll wed Kelly Saintsing, who used to work there.
The expansion and wedding aren't really connected. Colombrito just needed more room for his lunch crowd. Now he's counting on Tidewater Community College students this fall, and the construction crews that will build MacArthur Center, to swell business even more.
Until then, this Plume Street eatery will continue to open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays, and for Saturday lunch.
Colombrito, 36, first learned the food business while managing the cafeteria at Virginia Wesleyan College as an undergraduate student. He took over Famous Uncle Al's in 1989 for Uncle Al himself, Al Stein. Low prices and friendly service quickly made the place a hit. When I last wrote about Uncle Al's in 1991, the place was crowded with blue suits, female execs, construction workers, secretaries and other worker bees you would expect to find downtown, all lined up at the counter to order food or pay their checks.
Some things haven't changed. Last week when I visited there were folks from City Hall, TCC, Nauticus, nearby law firms ... only twice as many as before.
``As one customer put it, I created a monster,'' Colombrito said. ``It's so hectic in here at lunchtime. We do a good breakfast, but they all come at lunch, and the output is tremendous.''
Colombrito credits the prices - $1.95 for a quarter-pound hamburger; $4.80 for a Sailor Sandwich of pastrami and knockwurst, with Swiss and sauerkraut on rye; $2.10 for a New York hot sausage: $2.25 for a pork barbecue with slaw - and the atmosphere for his success.
``They can eat by themselves, pick up a newspaper or watch sports on TV,'' he said. ``Some customers are in three or four times a week.''
The sporting motif is heavy, with vintage and autographed photos of sports stars, pennants from the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1961 New York Yankees, even a giant air-brushed painting of Mickey Mantle on one wall.
But in the long run it's the food and the prices, and the staff's ability to serve it up rapidly that fills the place every day at lunchtime. Sandwiches include a hot pastrami ($3.75); tuna or chicken salad ($2.25); corned beef or roast beef ($3.85); liverwurst, hard salami or pepperoni ($3.60); smoked or honey-cured turkey ($3.80). Eight-inch sub versions of the same sandwiches are slightly more.
You can get a Reuben (corned beef, thousand island dressing, sauerkraut and Swiss) for $4.50; a BLT for $2.95; a tuna or chicken salad plate, with slaw or potato salad for $3.85; a cup of Hazel Casey's soup (goulash, chicken and dumplings, chili) for $1.75; or a tossed salad for $2.25. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m. weekdays.
Colombrito says the hot dog is still the most popular item - ``it's what made us famous'' - but he's looking forward to expanding the menu when TCC opens and the mall becomes a working reality.
``I'm in favor of the mall,'' he said. ``It'll help me when I'm lacking, the early evenings and weekends.''
Coming soon: Two new restaurants are set to open within the week, if all goes right.
The Old Dominion Coffee Co. (4220 Hampton Blvd., 423-4211) should open in the old King's Head Inn location about the second week of August, according to co-owner Jeff Sniffen. His wife and partner Kimberly, former catering manager of the Founders Inn in Virginia Beach, and another partner, Greg Lukas, will offer gourmet coffees, sandwiches, light meals and coffeehouse desserts.
``We'll have beer and wine, and a full-service restaurant,'' Sniffen said. ``And we're not just geared toward the college students. We're here to serve Larchmont, as well as the university and medical and military communities.''
Also coming soon is Del Vecchio's (441 Granby St., 627-2788), depending on when the city inspectors give owner Robert Clark the nod. Del Vecchio's will offer New York-style pizza, calzone, stromboli, subs, salads and pasta to the downtown crowd. Mostly takeout and delivery, the place (next to The Monastery) will have about 12 seats. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by SAM MARTINETTE
Brian Colombrito last year expanded Famous Uncle Al's restaurant on
Plume Street. The eatery is open for breakfast and lunch on
weekdays, and for Saturday lunch. by CNB