Despite the fact that I have yet to spell the restaurant's name correctly on the first try, Chef Michael Hanna’s Sicilian spot St. Vito Focacceria continues to grow and evolve at its first brick-and-mortar location in the Gulch at 605 Mansion St. Just in time for some comfort-food goodness as the afternoons turn darker earlier, St. Vito has announced a new happy hour every day from 3 until 6 p.m. for guests at the walk-in-only chef’s counter, as well as for those with table reservations.
The deal includes $8 drinks, guests from a rotating selection of red and white wines as well as cocktails like Campari and soda or an Aperol spritz, as well as $4 beers and bottles of wine priced between $30 and $40. These new hours of happiness extend the dining period at St. Vito from 3 until 10 p.m., with lunch service available Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Perhaps the most exciting bit of St. Vito news is their upcoming pop-up with pizzaiolo Peyton Smith of Mission Pizza Napoletana, the award-winning osteria from Winston-Salem, N.C., that is renowned for the prestigious pies that emerge from the 900-degree handmade Stefano Ferrara oven. Smith will share the deck ovens at St. Vito with Hanna on Tuesday, Nov. 28, for a collaboration — the talented duo will pump out à la carte dishes from both restaurants’ menus as well as Hanna’s sfincione and Smith’s Neapolitan classics.
Reservations are now available at Resy, and walk-ins may be able to score a spot at the chef’s counter that evening on a first-come, first-served basis. I wouldn’t gamble on that, though. Make your reservation now!
