See Restaurant Spotlight, Pages 9 and

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LOCAL

FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 2, 2022 | PAGE 19

Victor’s Grill Churrasqueria Is a Steak Lovers Dream

Continued from Page 9

somewhere else.” And we both laughed.)

I ordered my steak medium well (hot and almost brown on the inside; one of five ways to order meat) and it was perfectly cooked, moist with the hint of grilled flame, and meek seasoning which did not overpower the taste. Delicious with every bite, even the leftovers! This could be compared to the ecstasy brought on by afternoon chocolate, but this was meat. (Making me wonder why I had ever joined the “fauxs” anyway.)

For a side, I ordered cheesy rice, my first experience with it and more to come! It came out in a bowl, looking like a chunky white sauce and mixed with white cheese and hidden rice, unlike anything I have found in an American restaurant.

The salad was okay, but why waste an authentic South American choice at Victor’s on a side as boring as lettuce, tomatoes and beets? Dumb me! The rolls were warm and tasted homemade which Serrano confirmed they were.

Besides steak, Victor has several chicken choices and a kid’s menu ranging from a hamburger and fries ($5.50) to a kid’s pizza ($8.95). Thanks to Covid, seafood and pasta inventories have been reduced or deleted from the menu.

“We are famous for our breaded steaks,” Serrano beamed. “They are deep-fried and topped with optional two fried eggs and ham. It’s kind of like a pizza, but with ham and cheese and marinara sauce. They are why people come here. A replica from South America and we are one of the few restaurants in this area, maybe the only one, that has them.” (Do the calories count? Who’s counting?)

Several weeks ago, before its liquor license was approved, I visited the new Cuates Grill in Falls Church where I was deprived of a much-desired margarita. Having a strong yearning for one ever since, and to celebrate National Margarita Day February 22 (a bit early, as if I needed an excuse!), my taste buds were about as excited as an Olympian getting ready to leap at the top of the half pipe.

The margarita wait was worth it. “Kevin” at the bar made me a perfect drink, not too strong as they often are, not too weak, saltless per request, and big. Neither he nor another server were willing to guess the quantity of the “small” cocktail ($8.95) which I pegged between 10 and 12 ounces. Certainly, too big to have two and drive home!

Fanny’s Grill, a Bolivian restaurant now occupies Victor’s first home in Falls Church on Washington Street which Serrano launched in 1999. Victor’s opened its second location in the present spot in 2003, but “it was hard to run two restaurants” which were located fairly close to each other. The original restaurant closed in 2011.

The Serranos live in the City of Falls Church where Serrano, the son, graduated from George Mason High School.

Covid’s aftermath has left the family feeling “blessed. We are doing much better than before,” and the larger-than-expected crowd in the middle of a weekday afternoon was proof.

The restaurant was hard hit by Covid’s darkest days, some days with no sales at all, yet Victor’s remained open, and followed guidelines.

Now, the big issues facing it and other restaurants are the labor shortage and inflationary pressures.

“We learned that we have to be more proactive and manage everything and plan for the unexpected or otherwise you cannot survive in the industry,” Serrano said.

Victor’s has a new menu but inflation’s ugly head leads the owners to consider whether they should raise prices. They don’t want to reduce their large portions “because that’s what we are known for,” Serrano said.

“Restaurants are not like grocery stores which can immediately

TREAT YOURSELF to a margarita for a belated national Margarita Day celebration. (P����: P������� L�����)

raise prices.” If restaurants did that, they would lose business, he noted. Some restaurants are charging more and some have closed, but survivors persist, making sure their food and service are great and protecting their namesake. Victor’s hours on weekdays are 10:00 a.m.—- 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. — 10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.— 9 p.m. They are located at 7634 Lee Highway, Falls Church 22042.

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We are continually following CDC and ADA guidelines in order to keep patients safe and healthy.

We are appreciative of our patients’ continued con dence in our ability to maintain proper safety measures, allowing us to care for their dental health.

PAGE 20 | FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 2, 2022 FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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