When Mike Strickland bought a former historic bank in Woodbridge with the intention of creating a restaurant, he needed a builder who could understand his vision and make it happen. He also needed it to be done right and on time. So, he chose Vinci Contracting in Metuchen. “We're always in communication with our clients from the beginning to the end of a project,” says Sam Vinci, who founded the company in 2016. “We give them a daily schedule for the week, and we always stick to our deadlines.” He and everyone on his team, including plumbers, painters and electricians, all share the same goal - to make customers happy. For Strickland’s Steakhouse, going from a bank to a restaurant was a major undertaking. “When you first walked in, there was this big staircase, so in order to open up the first floor, we had to move the staircase to create a nice bar,” says Sam. “It’s now a really nice lounge area.” A large dining room was created on the second floor, and Jessica Strickland, Mike’s wife, designed the lovely décor throughout the restaurant. The food and drinks are also incredible. “The steaks are phenomenal - everything they bring to the table is amazing,” says Sam. He loves it so much that he has not only eaten there a number of times, but held his Christmas party there as well. “One of my favorite things on the menu is the Bone Marrow appetizer. They also have this Banker's Board that gives you a platter of all their different kinds of steaks, which is awesome.” Sam loves the feeling of walking into Strickland’s Steakhouse and knowing he had a big part in creating such a successful and beautiful restaurant. “It's definitely a great feeling,” he says. “They're busy all the time, which is good for us too. A lot of people who go in know that we built it, and give us positive feedback.” VinciContracting.com
Article by Sue Baldani
Photography by provided by Vinci
Originally published in Scotch Plains City Lifestyle