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When Alice Pires was growing up in northern Portugal, running a restaurant in Virginia, or anywhere else for that matter, was not something she ever anticipated doing. But fortunately for Manassas and for fine diners throughout the metropolitan area, she's doing it now. Alice and her family moved to New York when she was 18. Her parents later returned to Portugal, while Alice stayed in the United States, then moved to Virginia 23 years ago. She stayed home with her son and daughter (now 19 and 24) until the younger child was in preschool, then decided she wanted to go to work. Her husband's brother was running Carmello's at that time, so she "wound up here," she recalls. Learning the business behind the scenes proved invaluable when Alice and her husband Antonio, along with Alice's sister and her husband, became the owners and Alice took over the restaurant's operation. "It was a big adjustment," she says. When Carmello's opened 20 years ago, it featured only northern Italian cuisine. But 16 years ago, Alice and her partners got the idea to add Portuguese spice to the restaurant. " We wanted to bring Portuguese traditions to Manassas", she explained. The birth of Little Portugal was underway in the space formerly used as a banquet room for Carmello's. Little Portugal was an idea somewhat ahead of its time and took 4 years to come to fruition. It was originally open only 2 nights a week. Now, the menu's are combined, making the name "Carmello's and Little Portugal". Alice finds that patrons love not only the Italian dishes, but the Portuguese as well. "It's lighter, no cream sauces, less butter. The Portuguese culture is big on eating and drinking. We're very hospitable," she says with a smile. Carmello's and Little Portugal offers "upscale fine dining, it's cozy and romantic. It's appropriate for special occasions, but it's a wonderful place to eat anytime. I also don't think that our prices are extremely expensive," Alice says. The Old Town location is a big plus for Carmello's and Little Portugal, Alice observes. "I love being in Old Town. It has changed tremendously and the people have been good to me. It's a wonderful place to be." It doesn't seem likely that a restaurant owner would care to go home at night and cook, but that's something that Alice enjoys. "As strange as it sounds....,"Alice remarks. While her favorite meals at the restaurant are pasta and fish dishes, for example; Penne Primavera in Marinara sauce with shrimp, at home she likes to make more traditional dishes. Rice and beans are a few staples as well as Bacalhau, a traditional Portuguese meal with dried codfish. "It's something that you have to grow up with and get accustomed to," she laughingly says. Since becoming responsible for Carmello's and Little Portugal, Alice has renovated the restaurant's decor and offers entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. Lunch is served Thursday-Friday and dinner is served every night. Alice recommends reservations for weekend dinners and for large lunch groups. Making sure that restaurant patrons feel at home is important, Alice notes. "This is home for a lot of my regular customers. They come for the food and stay for the hospitality." Alice says that she's surprised at how much she enjoys the business. "I love the opportunity of meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. I enjoy that very much. I feel that things have gone well," she stresses that she attributes success to "all of us, that includes the staff and herself. I couldn't have done it without them (the staff). It's hard to run a business, to be successful, to be a mom and be successful at that as well. I think that you need to enjoy what you do to be successful. Unless you're in it with your heart, you can't make it." A quote worth remembering!
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