Local restaurant Da Vinci’s will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants in late October 2022.

America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on October 20th. Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Chris Bender about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

Open since 1980, Da Vinci’s is an icon in the Williamstown area. Three stories high, there is seating for up to 650 guests, which includes private dining areas for events and a 60-seat outdoor patio. Originally owned by Jim and Marilyn Pettit, the restaurant is now owned and operated by Bender, who worked for the Pettits for thirty years as a server and then manager before buying the establishment. She never intended to stay so long, but it’s her love for the people she’s met that keeps her there.

“[I love] the people, the interaction with not only the customers but the employees; the people that you meet and their stories,” she says, noting that some employees have been working at Da Vinci’s almost since opening day.

She also notes that the consistency of the food is one of the best things about the restaurant. The menu is classic Italian, with daily, nightly, and Sunday specials. Spaghetti Mona Lisa is a favorite, as is the trademarked German Pizza, which features horseradish sauce, corned beef and sauerkraut. Both are likely to be featured on the episode.

Da Vinci’s also boasts an in-house pastry chef. Bender mentions the mile-high lemon meringue pie and the frozen coconut caramel pie as favorites.

“The pastry chef makes really unusual specials every week that are not on the menu, and those are some of the most fabulous [items],” says Lisa Collins, marketing director for the restaurant.

America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Thursday, October 20th from 2 pm to 5 pm EST. The press is invited to attend. Da Vinci’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at https://americasbestrestaurants.com/west-virginia/davincis-restaurant .