Vincenzo ran a restaurant in Greece before he moved to the US and opened and opened a new restaurant on a different shore “Vincenzo’s,” a place for fine dining with Mediterranean influence at Calvert Marina.

Don Stapleson and Brian Litz The Bay Net Photo by Anna Bedford

Last Wednesday, as has now become a weekly feature, diners gathered to enjoy live music accompanied by exquisite food. “You can’t go wrong here,” said a fellow diner gesturing to the menu. “This is the only thing that drags me out on a cold winters nights,” added her companion, a self-proclaimed local recluse who asked to remain nameless.

Many of the other guests on Wednesday had come from across the Solomon’s Bridge from St. Mary’s, enticed by the prospect of an evening with performers, Don Stapleson and Brian Litz from the St. Mary’s College community. Stapleson is instructor of Music, Jazz Studies and Saxaphone at the college, and has performed as a guest soloist with the Chesapeake Chamber Orchestra at the Folger Theater and National Theater in Washington, DC. "We'd like to do more with the college," Mary Kay, part owner of the restaurant told The Bay Net.

Dr. Barbara Bershon, Arts Outreach Coordinator at St. Mary’s College was among the diners on Wednesday, savoring one of the specials that evening, lobster ravioli. “I don’t want to finish it,” she laughed.

Vincenzo’s menu includes local specials such as Chesapeake Gnocchi, made with Maryland crab and a vodka cream sauce, as well as lamb, pork, scallops, mussels, and much more, complimented by an impressive wine list. On Valentine’s Day they will be serving oysters, seafood pasta, Filet Mignon, and chocolate mousse. Reservations will be required, and while the restaurant is likely to quickly fill up this week, one lucky couple can win dinner (worth $100) through The Bay Net’s “Vincenzo’s Valentine’s Day Give Away.” For more information, or to enter, visit our contests page. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

To find out more about Vincenzo’s visit them on the web at www.vincenzosgrill.com.

Stapleson is Instructor of Music, Jazz Studies and Saxaphone at St. Mary's College. He performed as a guest soloist with the Chesapeake Chamber Orchestra and at the Folger Theater and National Theater in Washington, DC.

Last Wednesday he performed at Vincenzo's in Solomons Island.