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the bed and breakfast was limited to a traditional dining room-sized space, the need for a larger place became apparent.
“We were getting busier and busier but the space limited our real growth,” Mr. DeLuise said, adding their purchasing the present building which once housed The Comer Post Restaurant was by sheer coincidence.
“We were just riding around and saw the place was for sale,” the chef said with a smile. “We never thought we had a chance.”
Their chance arrived and after rearranging, redecorating and hiring new employees, Four and Twenty Blackbirds opened in Flint Hill.
“It was a great deal to think about,” Mr. DeLuise said of the couple’s feeling on the purchase. “We knew it was going to be a great deal of work.”
Hard work is “par for the course” in the restaurant business. From their early experience in resaurant business and their personal experience with their establishment in Amissville, Mr. DeLuise and Ms. Morf were aware of the long hours required to make the business flourish. Many days start as the sun warms the sky and end as the clock strikes a new day. But, Mr. DeLuise admits as time progresses things are beginning to be easier.
Foodstuffs are easier to obtain through delivery; the couple has grown familiar with local places such as My Father’s Butcher and Warrenton Seafood Market as sources, and “local people have really supported us, offering fresh produce while the employees have become familiar with the routine,” Mr. DeLuise said.
Their success - critiqued by The Washington Post and Mid-Atlantic Country - Mr. DeLuise attributes to Four And Twenty Blackbirds dedicated saff.
“We could not have done this without the help of our employees,” Mr. DeLuise said. “They have stayed with us and worked right alongside us.”
“We are like a family here,” Mr. DeLuise said of his waiting staff of seven and his kitchen staff of six. “We sometimes spend more time with each other than we do with our families,” he added with laughter.
Serving a clientele of varied age, locale and background, Mr. DeLuise noted with pride that most of the patrons are Rappahannock residents. “We want this to be a local place to eat,” he added, saying the hours, Wednesday through Saturday lunches from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. with Sunday brunch from from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner hours from Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 until 9 p.m., offers people a variety of time to dine.
Reservations are requested for weekend nights and for parties of more than five and can be made by calling (703) 6751111 during these hours.
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