We tried La Vela for lunch today on the recommendation of a friend. We arrived a few minutes before noon when they open. Several other people were waiting outside. You climb a flight of stairs to get to the restaurant. The inside is attractively decorated. Since it was a beautiful day, we chose to sit out on the covered porch, with views of the water. There were a number of parties there for Friday at lunch, but it was not full. We did not make a reservation for lunch, but I understand it is necessary at dinner. Our server was pleasant. We shared the fried green tomato appetizer (four slices, with marinara sauce & cheese). I ordered the chicken Milanese off the lighter menu. It was a fried cutlet, served with arugula and shaved parmesan, with a touch of a lemon dressing. Quite tasty. Others in the party ordered the lobster ravioli (which looked delicious) and the Bolognese. I would give the food five stars. There were a few hiccups with the service (having to repeat requests for bread, for a box for leftovers), but nothing that detracted from an overall nice experience. I would definitely go again. read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Marina views - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

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The food was excellent! Nice portions. The salad was so fresh and generous size. Main course was salmon and it was right up there with the best I've ever had!! Atmosphere was quaint and wonderful. The waitress was very personable and knowledgeable. Will definitely go back!! read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

La Vela is a fantastic addition to the Solomons Island area. Great service, good location, fantastic food and a brilliant menu. The vibe inside the restaurant is perfect. The duck breast and penne Santa Luca are excellent. Drink service is likewise on point. One of the very best Italian restaurants in St Mary's County! read more

Rough start, but the food and service saved the night! We had a lovely dinner here last night. Things started off a bit slow--it took a while to get greeted and get our initial drinks started--but our server was fantastic. They apologized for the delay and went above and beyond for the rest of the meal to make sure we were taken care of. read more

Food is high quality and presented well. The young lady that waited on us was efficient and took care of all our restaurant dining needs. Tomato soup was spot on. I had an eggplant and Zucchini penne pasta dish that was so yummy. Wife had Lobster ravioli in a saffron sauce and it was excellent. Desserts were cream Brulee and a chocolate gellato that were excellent. Long list of daily specials. I will be returning. Try to sit outside as the view of Back Creek is calming. The only drawback is the restaurant is not handicapped accessible. You have a curb to step up to get inside the front door and once in there is a staircase that is 1/2 up to a landing then the rest of the way up. The stsirdcare open back construction. The restrooms are handicapped equipped and located in the main entrance area. Overall the restaurant is really nice and the food better tan good. read more

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Great food and a great experience. Definitely make a reservation if you can, gets quite crowded! Pricey, but well worth it especially for a special occasion. The staff are very helpful and service is very quick. We were able to get a few drinks and an appetizer (bruschetta, very good!) quickly. I had the Gorgonzola truffle gnocchi, it was incredible. So creamy and flavorful, I cannot wait to go back for more! Even better with the complimentary bread rolls. I also really enjoyed the dessert key lime martini, such a fun punch of flavor! Looking forward to heading back to this place. read more

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Some of the sauces tasted good, but the pasta is from a box. I was not impressed and i don't think i will come back. No one wants to spend that much if its not fresh pasta. read more

Dinner in Solomon's Started off well, the New York Sour not only looked good and tasted even better. The fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic was traditional and great. The bruschetta was nice, I would have preferred the balsamic on the side but still very good. My main course was the crab risotto special. Nice flavor, make sure you ask for the parmesan. The table shared the cannoli, the ricotta had a nice flavor and texture. Overall really good meal at a reasonable price. read more

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Excellent service and ambiance. I was seated outside with a view towards the boat slips. It was a nice treat. We made reservations online and everything went off without a hitch. Everyone was a bit dressed up so I was the only one in flip flops, but all in all it was a memorable experience. We were served bread with seasoned oil and we both enjoyed the filet mignon with asparagus and mash potatoes. It was yummy and we wished we would have saved room for desert. This place is a nice treat if you don't mind paying for a good meal or have a special occasion to celebrate. read more

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Went tonight for Valentine's Day. Overall we mostly enjoyed, mainly due to the food, but for a $200+ dinner, I'd expect a lot more from overall service. Our server was not the most attentive or welcoming, sat with empty waters for a while, the bar was super slow getting drinks out (we were only drinking wine), and we heard them tell the table next to us that they were out of crème brûlée around 7pm. That feels early to be running out of a dessert especially when you're serving a limited menu with only 3 dessert options. Luckily we got there early enough to get the dessert we wanted this year, but this is the 3rd year we've come here in a row and it seems to happen every year. We really want to love this place but until the overall experience matches the price tag, I think we may look elsewhere for a nice night out. read more

This was our first time in the area, and La Vela was highly recommended. Our seats were out on the patio so we had a good view of the boats and water. The food tasted amazing, the calamari was fried very well, the Barata was fresh, and my crab ravioli was perfect! Our waitress came by several times to check in on us and was very helpful with recommendations. read more

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It is impossible to get a reservation at this place. The food is OK but it is not worth being put on the waiting list or not being able to get a reservation at less you make it months ahead of time. They lost me as as a customer for good. I am much of a better cook than anyone that cooks in there even that Italian guy that things he is gods given gift to Italian cuisine. As an Italian private chef, born and raise in Italy I rather cook at home than wait hours at this place. JUST NOT WORTH IT! read more

I made an early dinner reservation for two at 3 today. We walked in and waited over 5 minutes to be seated. The waitress was going to seat us in the corner when there were a number of window seats, I asked if we could have a window seat and she gave us a table and said this table is reserved for 5:15. We waited 20 minutes before we received our drink order. In about 25-30 minutes the Calamari arrived. It was tough. After we had been seated for 35 minutes 2 pieces of bread arrived. My meal was fine, but my friend said his was mediocre. The waitress never showed us a dessert menu or asked us if we wanted dessert. We had to wait a long time for the check. When we left 2 employees were talking to each other. They didn't say good bye and please come back. That's good because we won't. This is sad, Solomons is a tourist destination. read more

We had a great time celebrating our anniversary. This was our first time here and will not be our last. The food was delicious and service was quick. I underestimated the size of the lobster ravioli. I was stuffed by the end of the meal. I would definitely come back again. read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

I've eaten here several times now- so good!! The food, the service, the surroundings all 5 star. I'm gluten free and chef will accommodate if he can. Excellent French 75!! read more

Stopped in on a Sunday evening after spending the day poking around the area - we had noticed La Vala was quite busy the night before, so made it a point to visit. We had called ahead & were seated immediately - very nice views (Girlfriend was not a fan of the wicker chairs used in the inside dining area however). We ordered Salmon ai Ferri & Duck al Vino - both were quite good. Service throughout was well paced and the overall experience was quite good - keeping up our good-dining streak on this vacation. I'd return to La Vela when in the area... read more

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So - good place. The Solomons side of SOMD dining needs a bit of competition. From living in Annapolis for years, it is on par with No Chesapeake / Eastern Shore dining. That's a good thing. Very similar to its 2 sister restaurants in St. Michaels and Kent Island. Concur with others the menu is a bit pricey - especially for SOMD. IMO the dining options in SOMD are becoming a bit more upscale and folks can stay local instead of heading to DC / Balt for a similar experience. Dishes were good. Wine / booze selection very good. Service was good. Setting was good. Better than the Dry Dock experience from before. Highly recommended. read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

Maybe I went on an off night, but I really was not impressed with the food. The calamari was the best dish, in my opinion. The scallops were a bit under cooked (the yellow dish). I will say that our server was fantastic. read more

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Wife and i wanted something different to eat so we heard there was a new Italian restaurant that just opened not long ago. We arrived around 3pm the restaurant is on the second floor don't know if there is an elevator so call before going is you can't do the steps. The hostess stand is at the top of the step she asked if we had reservations we said no, there is 1 table with 3 people and 2 people at the bar 12 other tables empty. She sat us a a tiny table we asked if we could sit at a bigger table she had to check if the table was reserved, she returned said we had to be finished by 5. If we weren't finish by 5 it would have been the restaurant fault for not getting the food out, we were finished around 4:15. We understand with small restaurants like this to just eat and move on to allow other to enjoy the food, we don't need to sit and talk and take up a table like some people do with people waiting if there's no one waiting then fine sit and relax but be ready if people come in. First we ordered the calamari and friends, great name for an appetizer comes with fried calamari, carrots, zucchini and cherry peppers with a sauce. Wow, it is very good lightly bread and fried perfect. I ordered the Old Fashion on the menu, it was good next time I would not get the lemon twist. Wife ordered the shrimp scampi with linguine, this is an excellent dish with great flavors would definitely recommend this. I had the fettuccine bologna's it was very good noodle cooked perfectly. We were so full that we didn't get dessert maybe next time we will skip the appetizer. Can't wait to return. read more

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Came here last year for Happy Hour and it was great. Since then I have inherited a dog and unfortunately we learned yesterday that they DO NOT allow pets at all. read more

Food was decent (ordered a salmon salad). Salmon was seasoned well and flavorful. Service was quick and overall very good. The ambiance was OK. If warmer, I would have preferred to sit ok the outdoor deck area. I was not blown out of the water, but overall a good experience. read more

Excellent fresh Italian food with large portions. The staff always go above and beyond. We look forward to going again soon!

Celebrated a birthday at this fine Italian restaurant on Solomons Island. Every dish we ordered was superbly prepared and served. Try the flat beard (pizza). And the pasta w/ wild boar ragu. read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Should you find yourselves in Solomon Island, MD, drop by the La Vela Italian Restaurant. - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

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We went to la vela to celebrate our anniversary this year. It was our first time here and it was a little odd to discover it's located upstairs. It's a very cute space though. Limited seating, ambient lighting, a lovely view of the water if you sit with your back to the bar. It was decorated for the holiday, too. I will mention the wicker seated chairs inside are not the most comfortable--I had read this in another review as well. The reservation system asked if we were celebrating anything--and we did say that we were--but it was never mentioned at the restaurant, so that was little odd. Our server was polite and professional, with a great knowledge of the menu. We ordered the grilled octopus appetizer to try something new; we ended up sending it back because he didn't like it. It was beautifully presented, and the hash that came with it was delicious, but it had too strong of a char taste for us. We ordered the shrimp gondola and caprese instead; both were very tasty and equally well arranged. He ordered an old fashioned from the bar and said it was very strong (which is a good thing coming from him). Bread and oil was served with the appetizers. Our entrees arrived at the table in a timely manner: not too slow, not too fast. His shrimp and crab pasta was good, though he did say it wasn't what he expected---he didn't elaborate so I'm not really sure what he expected. I had the salmon ai ferri and enjoyed it quite a bit. It was lighter but still a good portion of food and the flavor was there. We had the cheese board dessert as well. He was skeptical of cheese as a dessert but came around quickly and actually became very impressed with the selection of complimentary flavors. They did not tell us the names of the things on the board so I cannot say for certain what our favorite parts of it were, but it was thoroughly enjoyable--especially when paired with a moscato d'asti. The canola dessert was excellent too; in my opinion it had a taste similar to a strawberry pop tart. All in all, a lovely late lunch and we would come again sometime. read more

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Lobster ravioli is always a must! The rest of the food was great too tho! And the service is always superb. Whether inside or outside, it's a cozy little spot that does not disappoint. Perfect for an intimate date night! read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

Great food. Husband had the salmon panini and he loved it and we shared the calamari and we both loved it. Sat on the heated porch with a lovely view of boats and boat activities. Can't wait to come back read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - This is an appetizer called The Italian Boat, only I had it as my main meal and loved it. - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

We returned here in August to give it a second try. Unfortunately, we find the prices to be a bit too high based on what you're getting. We had the clams and mussels appetizer, and they were so tiny. As in the most of the clams were smaller than the size of a dime. I ordered the Mediterranean salad and added scallops. The salad was $23 for what was essentially a side salad with three scallops. On a positive note, my husband had the Italiano sandwich and didn't have any complaints, but he didn't rave about it either. We chose to sit outside this time and I will say the view is nice and our server was friendly. read more

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Amazing drinks, amazing food, amazing staff!! So good, definitely recommend. I wanted to lick the plate after eating the grilled Caesar, one of the best salads I've had. read more

La Vela Italian Restaurant - Grilled Caesar and limoncello cocktail - Italian Near Me - Solomons, Maryland

Nice place. Upscale for Southern MD. Good food, drinks, service and location. Xxxxxxx read more

We started with the calamari for an appetizer which was good. I got the fettuccine in boar sauce which was pretty good, not exceptional though. Our table also had the fettuccine zefferano (really good!) and lobster ravioli (also very good!). I'd been craving pasta and would've liked a traditional Italian meal (fettuccine Alfredo or lasagna) which sadly they didn't have anything that basic/classic. Everything was good, nice atmosphere. The bar was busy for a Saturday evening. We sat inside but had a view of the water. read more

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The restaurant was very well maintained , the staff made the dining experience feel like a home away from home , the bar tenders and servers were elegant in their pursuit of perfect service which I felt was no less then that .Myself and my daughter really enjoyed the great fresh food and the staff who all made us feel at home , bravo Lavela and cheers until next time read more

What a great restaurant just wish I lived closer. The food and service were excellent. Mandi, the manager was extremely helpful. read more

Very nice place. On the water. Relaxed atmosphere. Service was ok. The food was ok. Nothing to write home about. I won't complain. It was edible. The desert however was delicious. All this being stated, I don't think I will go back. read more

This is one of the best hidden treasures in southern Maryland. The food is so good and the service is fantastic. Highly recommend

Very nice little restaurant. it's small but very nice and clean. All the food was delicious and came out quickly but not rushed. And it was hot and had good flavor. I will be going back read more

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Wonderful restaurant. Beautiful location! We had no issues with parking, we showed up at 3pm on a Saturday and it seemed to be the end of a crowd. Waitstaff was incredibly friendly and were accommodating for my family and my two year old! They don't have a kids menu but they easily cooked up some chicken tenders and fries for our little one. They also have high chairs, but we decided to not use it. Food was outstanding, the pasta was perfectly cooked and the drinks were on point. We will definitely be back! Can't wait to try more things on the menu! read more

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Great food here! It's very nice inside, well above average. Its small and can be hard to get a table, they are very nice. They can't do carry out when they become very busy. I have been a few times and when I eat in, I get the duck or steak which is delicious. When I order carry out I get the gnocchi, which is perfection. You can tell they make it because they are like soft little pillows from heaven! read more

Great dinner. Drinks were delicious and strong. Shrimp scampi was perfectly cooked. Fettuccine Zafferano was very good. Shrimp were a bit over cooked but the scallops and crab were excellent. Branzino didn't look that great but the first taste with that sauce was heavenly! Definitely recommend the Branzino and La Vela. Oh, and the tiramisu was a great finish to a fine meal with good service and a beautiful view! read more

I ordered a takeout meal for 4 people and here's what we ordered: Penne Caprese:. Noodles were fine but the marinara sauce was pretty flavorless. You'll see a reoccurring theme on this point. Gnocchi with gorgonzola: this was voted as the best dish of the order. The gnocchi was well cooked and the creamy gorgonzola sauce was very nice. Crab soup:. This was the dish that got us to order from here in the first place. The person that ordered it said that it was still delicious. Chicken Parm: The noodles were cooked fine and the chicken was fine, but as previously noted, the sauce was pretty boring. It was described as just chopped tomato's. We like tomato's, but we like flavors a little more and their tomato sauces we're lacking in it. Mashed potatoes:. Pretty good, no issues. Asparagus:. Pretty good, no issues. Bruschetta:. Now I LOVE a good Bruschetta, and order it whenever it's on the menu. This was probably the most boring one I've ever had. As with the sauces, it just tasted like chopped tomato's on bread. There really weren't any flavors to be had. It advertised a balsamic drizzle, but from what I saw it was so minor I must have missed it. The bread was flavorless as well, and the arugula was probably the only thing in there that gave it a contrasting flavor to the tomato's, but it looked more like a salad tossed on top than an accent garnish. I was very disappointed in this dish. Canoli:. Couldn't tell you because they FORGOT TO PUT IT IN MY ORDER !!!!! The one thing I was looking forward to and they forgot it. On a good note, the credited me back the charge for it, so their manager was right on it and very friendly. Would I go there again.... I wouldn't, but my wife would. The lack of flavor, the messed up order, and the higher price points than most area restaurants will likely keep me away. I'm sure I might get dragged there by my wife one day, and when that happens, I hope it's a much better experience. read more

Good portions, good quality. Best gnocchi my wife and I have ever had. Plus, the wine selection is great as well. I got the Rosa chicken, the chicken was juicy and the meal tasted great. read more