Ioannis Voliotis pauses by the bay window of Vaso’s Mediterranean Bistro looking over the sidewalk patio at 1118 King Street.
Alexandria, VA – Throughout the seasons, music wafts from the cream-colored rowhouse that is home to Vaso’s Mediterranean Bistro at 1118 King St., often causing pedestrians to stop and listen and occasionally to join a Greek line dance if that’s what the band is playing.
The vibe here is lively, the food is Mediterranean fusion (gourmet Greek and Italian), the service is attentive (especially when ordering), and the atmosphere is festive. In summer, bands are often staged on the sidewalk patio where blue umbrellas shade the plein air dining; in other seasons, musicians play upstairs.
“We’ve done Greek line dancing but we also host local singers and bands,” said co-owner Ioannis (Johnny) Volioti, noting that the bistro also hosts corporate events and private parties at times. “Believe it or not, we’ve hosted weddings up there, and the music sometimes flows out to the street,” he added, motioning to the spacious second-floor rooms of the bistro that he opened with co-owner (and mother) Vaso Voliotis in December 2012.
Ioannis Voliotis in the upstairs dining room, which has a special-occasion feel with white tablecloths.
Together, they customize menus for those large gatherings with different items not on the usual menu, which already extends several pages like those of his relatives, Vaso’s Kitchen and Taverna Cretekou. Here, the dining rooms are furnished with multiple small tables and seasonal decorations lending a festive feel as recorded light jazz plays softly on a recent visit.
“Here we focus a bit more on the Northern Italian cuisine and marketplace goods—our own pasta line, our line of marinara sauce, and homemade dips and desserts,” Ioannis explained. “We’re using the same sauces and basic recipes and we’re getting into the marketplace” with Vaso’s brand of carry-out food for purchase from a refrigerated case near the first-floor’s lounge bar. Currently, the bistro is adding items to its Vaso’s online market including entrees, gourmet sauces, cocktails, mocktails, and desserts, all accessible at vasosmarket.com.
Fortunately for customers, Ioannis, manager-wife Janella, and Vaso graciously answer questions about what specific dishes include—and, when prompted, the careful steps of preparation—as customers select from a nice variety of the Bistro’s offerings. “These restaurants are a namesake to her (Vaso) and how much she cares and loves her family,” explained Ioannis, who admitted that his mother still loves cooking and training others at her side. “We love creating new dishes too,” adding that he himself is working to expand the mocktails, cocktails, and other house-brand items including Greek Mountain Tea—also known as Golden Green Tea—with rum or a choice liquor and available for carry-out.
Vaso Voliotis joins co-owners son Ioannis and daughter-in-law Janella in creating new Mediterranean fusion dishes and drinks at the restaurant and also for the Vaso’s brand online at vasosmarket.com.
Ioannis, who said he also works in “international finance and specializing in transactional banking,” said he is interested in expanding the cuisine to reach new audiences in the near future. For now, he said the bistro’s focus is on popular items that are also some of his favorites—Veal Valdostana, a veal steak stuffed with ground veal, prosciutto, provolone cheese, and lemon sauce, and the popular Vaso’s shrimp with a fusion sauce of Greek herbs and a Mediterranean flavor. His recommendations also include the popular Penne a La Vodka, and a number of vegetarian entrees from the menu.
“I’m very passionate about our region of Central Greece and its history,” Ioannis added enthusiastically, launching into an explanation noting that the family’s homeland region of Cyprus is “the island where Aphrodite—the goddess of love and beauty—was born. I love to talk about the gods and goddesses and their influence on the Greek and Italian culture and cuisine. I would love to travel more!”
Vaso’s Mediterranean Bistro is located at 1118 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. www.vasosonking.com. It is closed on Mondays.
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Dining and Cooking