Italian for "blank canvas," Vele has become well-defined as a top spot in town for high-end steaks and seafood, but chef Justin Richardson's ever-changing menu is proof that Vele hasn't become complacent.
There aren't many places in Springfield that offer grilled octopus or shrimp and sausage orecchiette, but it was on the latest menu on a recent night at Vele. A massive wine selection, along with a long backlit bar and the Pearl – an oak-paneled multi-room in the back and styled as a speakeasy – lends itself to those hoping to impress a date.
Some of the steak prices might make you gulp, but when they've been consumed, you feel like you got more than your money's worth. The seafood is top-notch as well, including the Thatcher Island raw oysters on the half shell, scallops from Prince Edward Island and Tuscan shrimp in garlic and white wine cream. The Caesar salad is old-school authentic with real anchovies.
And the bar, with expert mixologist Wade usually in the house, is always a lively hang. Whether taking a date or hoping to meet a date, Vele is the place to be.
