Like many Americans, my familial heritage is split. In my case, it’s half Swedish and English on my father’s side and Italian on my mother’s. Growing up, cultural influences from the Swedish/English side were non-existent, but from the other side—the Italian side—all I can say is, “Mama mia!”
Even though my grandfather—Nonno—came to America in the 1920s, he never learned to speak English. Nonna, on the other hand, understood and could speak “American,” but preferred her native Genovese dialect. And as we spent a lot of time with our relatives on Mom’s side of the family, up until my grandmother’s passing in the early 1970s, I was essentially bilingual, and well steeped in Italian culture and all that entails, including food and drink—especially food and drink!
Transitioning to my career life, my earliest years were spent in the restaurant industry, working in every capacity; from dishwasher, busboy, waiter, and maître d’, to restaurant manager and food and beverage manager at a country club. Of all those jobs, I enjoyed being a waiter most of all because I dealt directly with customers, and compared to the other jobs, except perhaps manager, I learned about what makes a restaurant successful, and how to tell the difference between a poor, average, and an exceptional eatery.
Sadly, one result of that “vocation education” was becoming somewhat jaded about eating out because I found that good service in restaurants was (and is still), for the most part, rare, and exceptional service is, well, the exception, not the rule. Nothing bugs me more than going out to dinner, hoping for a pleasurable experience, then leaving a restaurant feeling as though I just wasted my family’s hard-earned money, not to mention our time.
In my waiter days, I felt that any tip I earned was done so for service I provided above the basic standard, but sadly, too many “servers” today seem to believe all they are there for is to take an order, carry out a plate and drop it down in front of the wrong person, only to be seen again when you want to leave and have asked for the check. These robot-like food deliverers apparently expect to be paid above their restaurant-provided paycheck for doing little more than something akin to taking your place in line at a walk-up, self-serve-style café.
Sound familiar? Well, I am happy to say my bleak opinion about restaurants took a u-turn about fifteen years ago when I met Gabe Davanvante, the owner of Forli Restaurant and Bar in Alamo. Full disclosure: Forli began advertising in ALIVE Magazine back then, and at first, our relationship was strictly business. But then I started eating at Forli and quickly learned that this place was different, as in, “These guys get it!” I realized that they knew about good service and good food, but more importantly, they knew and lived by the secret; one that eludes nearly every other restaurant out there today.
And what is that secret? It is the essence of being Italian—love. Gabe and his partner, Roberto Ruffino, “get it,” as does their entire staff. What sets Forli apart is a love for what they do and for the customers they serve, where every person who walks through the door is made to feel like family.
Over the past decade, Gabe, Roberto, and I have become like brothers—fratelli—and while it’s said “you can never go home again,” whenever I’m enjoying a meal with my family at Forli, that is exactly how I feel—at home, in the company of famiglia.
That’s not to say Forli lacks elegance and class—it has that in spades—but it’s the real variety, not phony or “put on.” Like wearing a fine Italian designer suit, it’s something you must experience to understand. You know it’s special and that it makes a statement, but at the same time, everything fits and feels comfortable and as close to perfect as it can get. When it comes to eating out or enjoying a cocktail or glass of wine with my wife and some friends or family, Gabe and Roberto’s place—Forli in Alamo—is my “go to place.”
But don’t take my word for it. Visit Forli and experience “the secret” for yourself, and by the time you leave, even if you’re not Italian, you may just feel like one of the family none-the-less.
Forli Restaurant & Bar, 3160 Danville Blvd. (In the Stone Valley Center), Alamo. Open every day, 4:00 pm to Close, Happy Hour, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Reservations: 925-854-2638. A private banquet room is available. Visit ForliAlamo.com for more information.