'If you like proper Italian you have to drive to La Famiglia'
La Famiglia restaurant offers an authentic Italian dining experience on Virginia's main street.
Open for just one month now, La Famiglia's wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta and Italian wine selection has already proven popular with customers. Their tables have been fully booked at the weekends, and some have already scheduled Christmas parties there.
For owner Ardian Arra, opening a "proper Italian" sit-down restaurant in Ireland is his dream come true.
"It's getting so busy. People are driving from everywhere and this is a good sign," he reports.
With 16 tables seating sixty diners, the space is intimate and relaxing, and servers are always on hand to cater to each customer's needs. Ingredients are sourced locally where possible and also from Italy. Each dish is curated by the four Italian chefs, while Ardian has tested each dish before it reached the menu. So far, their creamy Spaghetti Carbonara and selection of Neapolitan-style pizzas with their puffy and slightly charred crusts are the most sought-after options.
"This pizza, you can maybe find it in two or three places in all of Ireland," Ardian claims.
They also have a broad selection of starters; Caprese which contains buffalo mozzarella, vine tomatoes, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil, garlic pizza bread, calamari and more.
As for dessert, Ardian says La Famiglia has the "best" tiramisu, which is homemade in their Virginia kitchen.
"We make it fresh every day. All the desserts are made here; there is nothing coming in frozen or from other places," he assures.
"If you like proper Italian, you have to drive to La Famiglia," he encourages.
Meanwhile, each meal is finished with Limoncello, a traditional lemon liqueur.
"Virginia is a small town but it's a good town," he believes, describing how customers have come from neighbouring towns which are "not too far away" to try their food.
"I was a little bit scared because Virginia is a small town but I said I will try... it has started very good, I am so happy."
However, it's not the father of four's first business venture in Ireland, he also owns Little Italy just a few doors down the street, Mario's in Ballyjamesduff, Nico's in Bailieborough and another takeaway business in Dundalk.
Originally from Shkodër in North Albania, Ardian has always had a love of Italian cuisine, and trained as a chef in Florence.
"The Italian kitchen is the best kitchen in the world," he believes.
While he is a qualified chef, you can see him "everywhere" in La Famiglia, helping in the kitchen, serving tables, clearing plates, and looking after everything in the background.
"When I see I am needed somewhere, I go," he says.
"I just followed my dream because I like Italian food so much."
He moved to Ireland with his family ten years ago, something he hadn't intended on doing. Living in London at the time, the family came over for a weekend and fell in love with the tranquility here.
"There is a big difference between here and London. When you have kids, London is a crazy city," he finds.
Meanwhile, he credits his wife for her encouragement throughout his business venture.
"She was a big support to me because she said 'just do it, I think you are doing the right thing' and here I am."
La Famiglia is located on Virginia's Main Street and is open in the evening from Monday to Sunday with the exception of Tuesday. They also take online orders.