The Mozza Cookbook by Nancy Silverton. I have eaten at her places and think for a baker-trained chef, her food is fantastic, fun, wholesome, and creative.

My family is 100 percent Sicilian, so as you can imagine, I learned a lot from my mom and the other women in our family, regardless if I wanted to learn or not. Living in a loud Italian family, you learn by osmosis. That being said, the #1 thing I learned from my mom is that it’s all about the sauce or as Italians call it….gravy. Keep it simple and never vary from the family recipe. It’s great advice when you consider the sauce recipe has been around for generations!

Pizza. Love it! Can’t get enough of it. Pizza is the ultimate guilty pleasure, because you can do so much with it. You can make a breakfast pizza with eggs and bacon, a seafood pizza, and even a dessert pizza. I’ve had just about everything you can imagine on pizza including a rack of lamb!

SCOTTSDALE- The Molinari family has owned and operated Uncle Sal’s Italian Restaurant for over 12 years.

Despite the tough economy, the family has seen their business grow, and if you ask Bob Molinari, it’s all because of the family.

“It’s the total package with the four of us,” said Bob. “Both humorous and non-humorous.”

Bob, his wife, and his twin sons all work at Uncle Sal’s whether it be as waiters or chefs. The restaurant is a collaboration of their efforts. Bob isn’t as experienced in the restaurant business as his wife or his sons, but that hasn’t hurt them at all.

“Sometimes you see that the time invested in an industry doesn’t mean much when you are working in the family,” said Bob.

The Molinaris have worked on everything together from the food on the menu to the décor of the restaurant. And for Bob, there isn’t anything better.

“You see how the three of them carry themselves and how they protect the environment here,” said Bob. “I think as a father you really like to see that.”

Bob and Sally Ann Molinari
Uncle Sal’s Italian Restaurant & Bar
3370 N. Hayden Road, #120
480.990.2533 | www.unclesalsaz.com

Bob and Sally Ann Molinari met in college in Michigan, and married and moved to Arizona a few years later. Now, after 39 years of marriage, they find themselves partners of another type—business partners at Uncle Sal’s Italian Restaurant & Bar.

Uncle Sal’s has been a fixture in Scottsdale since 1988 and Sally Ann originally worked for the previous owners as a bartender and waitress. She is now in her 15th year at the restaurant. When she had an opportunity to take over the restaurant a few years ago, the Molinari family decided to make Uncle Sal’s a real family affair.

Bob, who had grown up in the restaurant industry, was working in sales for the National Restaurant Association six years ago when he started at Uncle Sal’s as one of the proud new owners. Bob handles the administrative duties at the restaurant while Sally Ann oversees operations and the front of the house. The couple also brought their twin sons into the business with them. To create their classic Italian cuisine, they recruited son and award-winning chef James Molinari.

Son Nick spends part-time at the restaurant on the floor. Bob says it is gratifying to have his grandkids running through the restaurant, just as he used to run through his own parents’ restaurant. Bob and Sally Ann work hard to create a family atmosphere for the diners at Uncle Sal’s.

“We watch couples come in who used to come here as kids themselves,” says Bob. “Now they even have their own children.”
The Molinaris’ pride in their restaurant is obvious. “Everything here is what we make it,” Bob explains. “This is just a great neighborhood joint.”

Growth and development is always a part of Uncle Sal’s and Bob finds that to be one of the most rewarding parts of working together.

“We fight the problems together. You want to be able to grow with your clientele. It’s rewarding to see your business succeed.” Having a family business can often be a challenge, though. “No decision is easy when it involves family,” he says. “Personal feelings are intertwined and there can be differences of opinion.” Yet in the end, Bob knows that their business partnership works because he is married to his best friend. “It’s like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid—when you go into battle, you have to have your partner with you. Sally Ann is my partner.”

Bob and Sally Ann Molinari
Uncle Sal’s Italian Restaurant & Bar
3370 N. Hayden Road, #120
480.990.2533 | www.unclesalsaz.com

It’s no secret that owning a business can be all-consuming — especially family owned businesses. Even if not every family member is directly involved in the day-to-day operations, they are affected by the business in some way. The goal is to set the boundaries between families and business and as much as possible keep them from getting blurry.

So how does a family owned business keep those boundaries clear on several occasions? Following the rules below has helped us — Uncle Sal’s and The Side Door:

 Establish clearly defined roles

If your family is anything like ours, each family member will naturally fall into a role that they are a great fit for. For us, each one of our family members has a very distinct position and a set of responsibilities. This allows for all of our other employees know exactly who to turn to in need. Know which family member’s responsibilities builds strong relationships with our staff; this allows the staff to understand what roles we play in the business.

Treat employees like you do your family and treat the working family members like employees; no exceptions.

In order to create a successful environment where everyone feels valued for their contributions, and most importantly, accountable for their responsibilities, equal treatment is a must.

Create win-win situations

In every business, life gets in the way, and at our restaurants we take great measures to let our employees take care of what is most important to them and support them with their challenges. By creating a supportive, caring environment, all of our employees reciprocate the care right back at our customers.

We often get asked how we manage to have everyone on staff — family or not — show the same level of engagement with our business. The answer is simple. By caring about our employees the same way we do about our family members, we instill in them a deep care for the business as well. In fact, they treat the business like a member of their own family, too.

In our next column we’ll talk about the importance of getting everyone in the family on the same page. Our restaurants had just completed a major “facelift,” and we have certainly walked away with many lessons about what to do and what to avoid. Whether you are a family restaurant — or a family owned business of any kind — the one thing you cannot have is too many cooks in the kitchen!

The Valley’s beloved meeting and eating spot proudly starts 2012 with updated look

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (January 3, 2012) – After over twenty years of business, Uncle Sal’s Italian Restaurant and Bar has been given a new look. Carefully planned and executed, the family-owned and operated restaurant is excited to show off the recent renovations that seamlessly blend with the traditional feel patrons have come to know and expect since the establishment’s opening in 1988.

Patrons will appreciate the beautiful new American walnut wooden floors throughout the dining area and the bar area of the restaurant. Additionally the chairs and booths that have withstood two decades of guests have been upgraded to classy brown leather and fabric cushions that offer both style and comfort. Continue reading ‘FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN RESTAURANT COMPLETES FIRST RENOVATION SINCE 1988 OPENING’ »