Gondola-shaped tables part of eatery’s new look

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

In front of the lone gondola, a bustling waterway stretches out and disappears in the distance while people dine on Italian food at tables just under the windows of an adjacent building.
It may seem a picturesque scene from Venice, but it’s actually just a few of the improvements that Davinci’s pizzeria in Abingdon has done to give the restaurant a more authentic feel.
According to Davinci’s owner Ramzy Gamlen, he opened the eatery in July of last year with the intention of being a simple pizzeria. However, Gamlen found that his customers would have liked to come in and have a sit-down meal.
So, to service his customers, Gamlen opened a dining room with about 10 tables. Soon enough he couldn’t accommodate all the diners.
“It was getting to where I couldn’t seat people,” he said.
So expansion followed.
However, instead of just adding a couple of tables with matching tablecloths, Gamlen did his customers one better.
“We were only going to be a carryout service…there wasn’t much atmosphere,” he said. “I thought ‘Why not bring a little slice of Italy here?’”
To give a more Italian feel to his restaurant, Gamlen hired local artisans to build a gondola-shaped booth. The gondola is modeled after the boats seen navigating the waterways of Venice. Gamlen also had murals painted on the walls and a storefront installed.
He’s hoping the new dining room is done by this weekend.
Annette Blanchette, one of Davinci’s patrons, said she comes for the food but added that the new dining room was a nice touch.
“It’s nice. I like the boat,” she said.
Blanchette said she has eaten at an outdoor bistro in Belgium that reminded her of Davinci’s new settings.
“It gives it a more authentic feel,” she said.
Another diner, Patsy Gentry agreed.
“It’s all very pretty,” she said.
The patrons may be satisfied with what Gamlen has done with the dining room, but he’s hoping to take it even further.
Some of Gamlen’s ideas include live bands and DJ’s, karaoke and a lunch buffet.
Davinci’s is located at 883 Empire Drive in Abingdon, near Interstate 81’s Exit 19.
Justin Harmon can be reached at 628-7101 or