RESTAURANT PROFILE Story by Charis Patires
Mama’s Italian kitchen
A
year after purchasing Phat Sal’s on the Bagnell Dam Strip, owners Matthew and Dana Smith found a new home for the restaurant in Laurie — a community that craved a quaint little Italian joint with a vintage vibe of Mama’s Italian kitchen. Serving up fresh, high-quality ingredients you’ll find a few original favorites offered but will appreciate the unique flavors and wide selection that encompasses the entire menu. The couple relocated to the Lake from Colorado and has been in the restaurant business together for 16 years. They purchased their first restaurant, Lil’s Sushi Bar and Grill in Crested Butte, Colo., at the age of 26. It offered sushi, seafood and steaks for 150 guests each night for 15 years, and was very successful. They also owned Blackstock Bistro in Gunnison, Colo. while operating the other establishment. They ran that business for five years before selling their shares to their partner to spend more time with their small children. After 15 years of running and operating a major restaurant in a ski resort town they became tired of the long winters in the mountains and wanted to move to their rental property at the Lake fulltime. “We both thought we were done with ownership as this industry is super unforgiving at times,” Dana said. Dana stayed home with the kids trying to figure out what to do next while Matt continued to work as a restaurant consultant, and still does, for a Coloradobased group. He is an accomplished chef who earned a degree in Culinary and Culinary Management from the Culinary Institute of America in Denver. It wasn’t long after relocating to the Lake that a deal came their way they couldn’t pass up — Phat Sal’s on the Bagnell Dam Strip went up for sale. They loved the concept and decided to go for it. A year after purchasing Phat Sal’s they found a new home in Laurie, inside the Laurie Terrace Mall. Phat Sal’s on the Strip was originally known for its “spuckies” or “subs” as others call them. The food was good but Matt being a chef knew that he could up the game and create a bigger menu with more Chicago-style subs and offering what Laurie lacked … homemade pizza. The Phat Sal signature sub is one of the most popular menu items along with the Truffled Fries, and the Goat Cheese and Pesto Rigatoni with homemade roasted tomatoes. Their pizzas boast flavor and is made with a crispy crust. “People have been diving into more of our unique dishes and pizzas which is reassuring to see here on the Westside,” Dana said. “We are just getting started with bringing more ‘artesian’ style flavors to our pizza menu.” Being family-friendly is important for the Smiths, who find it important to balance work/life in order to run a successful business. In addition to offering food that’s hard to beat, serving it in an atmosphere that welcomes family is important. | 4401 North Main Street, Suite 9 (in the Laurie Terrace Mall) | Phat Sal’s West on Facebook or www. phatsalsloto.com | Closed Monday & Tuesday Open Wednesday & Thursday 12-6 p.m., Fridays 12-8 p.m., Saturdays 2-8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Phat Sal’s West
28 VACATION NEWS
January 21 - February 10, 2022
