Good food and ambience at Vagabond Great service with a helpful, attentive server Food was good-not great but good- Nice chill spot right I Excélsior. Decent food. I had the baked fish which was a little one note in flavor and a touch overcooked but still good overall! Great cocktails read more

Vagabondo - Baked fish - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

First time here and it has been on my punch list for a while. It's a bit out of the way unless you are out in the extreme west metro but the concept of Sicilian food was a definite attractant. The menu has items on it that are about what you would expect from westernized Italian style eateries. This confused me a bit since the concept is to supposedly display authentic Sicilian food to the diner. Having some experience around Italy, I did not find the menu to really reflect a dominant Sicilian flair. In fact one entire section of the menu was for Neapolitan pizza (Naples is about 400 miles away from Sicily). If you go here expecting typical ingredients from Sicily, you are likely to be disappointed as there were not prominent dishes offering the use of sardines, offals, aubergine, or bottarga. It seemed like a pretty standard menu comparable to most of the Minnesota restaurants serving up Italian based cuisine I have ever been to which is all tasty, but a bit of a let down from what was advertised and expected. The food was good, the service was on par and the setting was casual yet modern. What I think took this down a bit for me was the pricing. It seemed out of line for many of the dishes based on what was served. My best example here was that a Margherita pizza was $28 and "Grandma's Lasagna" (which is all vegetarian and really was layers of shaved vegetables with very little pasta) was also $28 on the dinner menu and was one of the smallest, most compact lasagnas I have ever seen. I elected to add the upcharge for the optional bolognese for $15 because I was hungry. What I got (see picture) was a small portion of lasagna with some sauce in it that contained 2 small, discrete (each about the size of a gnocchi) bites of ground meat within the sauce. If you see the attached image, you will get the idea. So, for almost $50 ($43 to be exact), this was very much not worth it. I'm not sure who's grandma this is named for but she must have been miserly. I probably should have known better since $43 for lasagna just about anywhere seems expensive plus, Sicily is not known for lasagna. But since there really wasn't much in the way of Sicily focused food on the menu and I was hungry, it seemed like a good way to order something that is usually filling and I figured the portion would be large enough for the price. I was wrong on both counts. I get that cost margins on food are small and Excelsior rent is not cheap. It just seemed a little over the top expensive for what I got and the whole Sicily concept was a little bait and switch from what I was expecting. I might go here again if I'm in the area and felt like some pasta but it would not cause me to make a special trip, and I would certainly steer clear of any Grandma related items on the menu. read more

Vagabondo - Grandma's Lasagna with the additional Bolognese. Tasty but tiny and expensive! - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

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I was so excited to dine here, but left 2 hours and 45 minutes later with disappoint. My two girlfriends and I arrived right on time for our 7:30pm reservation on a Friday night. Our table wasn't ready for us so we sat at the bar and waited. It was interesting because I noticed a table open the whole time we waited at the bar and when it was finally time to seat us 15 minutes after our reservation time, they sat us at the table that had been open that whole time. After we were seated our server came over a few moments later and took our drink order, off to a great start - or so we thought. We proceeded to wait a while for a drinks to arrive and after 10-15 minutes we received them, although one of our drinks was incorrect. We placed our order to share and then waited again for a long time for our food. They brought complimentary bread, olive oil, and balsamic to the table for us to enjoy which was a nice touch, especially since we had to wait so long for our food. The two pasta dishes were yummy with the noodles being a very crisp al dente. The burrata was delicious with the perfect amount of salt and tomatoes. They could add a few more bread crisps to the dish for the price we're paying though. The pizza unfortunately was our least favorite. There was WAY too much semolina flour to the point of it being too granular and we only ate the toppings off the pizza and ditched the crust. We ended our meal by having to go to the bar and speak to whom I assume was the manager, though I didn't catch a name or title - to ask to order dessert and for our check because our server was again MIA. As soon as I did that and got back to our table, our waitress came back and apologized. She told us she was polishing glasses (insert confusion on our faces). We ordered dessert with her since she said it was lost in translation from the bar. We got our dessert and our check and called it a night. I'd like to give it another try maybe later this summer with the hopes for speedier and more attentive service. read more

Vagabondo - Torta Caprese - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

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Such a cute spot in downtown Excelsior showcasing Sicilian kitchen comforts and the most delectable pastries. Favorites: Any of the fresh squeezed juices. I had the grapefruit and loved its bright citrus to balance the wintery outdoors. Also, The cornetto French Toast is out of this world with the "bread" component being a butter croissant prepared just as a traditional French toast and topped with fresh berries and cream. (Just thinking about it is making me drool) Delicious and missing "something": the Sicilian baked omelette pie was savory with burst of freshness from the tomatoes but lacked in flavor. I found myself wanting a little more pecorino to give it the salt it was missing. Overall, service was kind and attentive without being overbearing. The vibe is tranquil with the lush velvet accents and warm design choices. read more

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Really good new spot in Excelsior. It's a Sicilian/ Italian place with a great menu with lots of variety. And a good cocktail program too. We tried their old fashioned cocktail, very well made. Lots of wine to choose from at reasonable prices. We had two starters, the calamari and the mussels. The calamari was terrific, spicy and perfectly prepared. The mussels were a complete miss, tasted like tomato soup, very bland. We ordered the whole baked fish which was excellent. It comes in a sizzling hot cast iron skillet. Also had the carbonara which was so good. Their house made pasta is a star. Service is good here and the space is pleasant. We had dinner on the main level which has a view of the kitchen. read more

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WOW!!!! If I could rate over 5 stars I would. I came to Vagabondo with no real expectations knowing they are less than a year old and was beyond pleasantly surprised. They have taken the cake as my favorite Italian restaurant in MN for now! We had a reservation but got there a bit early so sat at the bar for drinks. The decor was beautiful and the ambiance was cozy with a fun, upbeat vibe. . Our bar tender was so friendly and they had some fun seasonal drinks we tried. Both the Weapon of Mass Destruction and What You Want x What You Need were delicious. Strong but very well balanced and tasty. Our waitress was absolutely spectacular. She had some solid recommendations and also was able to answer all of the questions we had about the menu. We tried both the spicy Sicilian sausage pizza and the four cheese pizza. The crust was so flavorful and crispy. The spicy sausage was a major hit. The four cheese pizza was also really tasty but a bit less flavorful than the spicy sausage. We also ordered the Gorgonzola gnocchi and the carbonara pastas. This was truly the best gnocchi I've had since being in Italy. The outside was slightly seared but the inside was so soft and fluffy. Every bite was so delicious. The Gorgonzola sauce was nicely balanced by the pine nuts. My husband told me the carbonara was the best pasta he has ever had. I was also really impressed with the portion sizes of both pasta dishes. They were beyond filling and well worth the price in my opinion. Additionally they gave us complimentary bread that's made from a sourdough starter over 100 years old which I found to be amazing. We also tried their mint chocolate chip gelato and it was so refreshing and tasty. It didn't taste artificial whatsoever. This will absolutely be my new go to spot for great Italian food, coffee, pastries, and dessert. I cannot reccomended it enough! read more

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Such a cute new restaurant! I got the baked fish and loved it, it was cooked perfectly and had so much flavor. I also really enjoyed the wine that i ordered. The service was friendly as well. The only downside was that my friend asked for her steak cooked a certain way but the kitchen didn't listen. read more

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Takeaways - Portion sizes were generous, but price tag was luxury when we felt the quality of the food didn't leave us with anything that gave a takeaway we wanted to return. A letdown. Pros: Healthy portion size Pizza/Flatbread was the highlight - always appreciate ceramic ovens with the crispy burnt dough edges. Primary reason for the extra star. Pasta was clearly fresh and made in house - fettuccine was much better than rigatoni which was chewy. Cons: Lots of "filler vegetables" like carrots in ragu - felt way out of proportion and came off as a cheap way to save on meat. Tables and chairs in the bar were a joke - all were extremely low as I am tall and was not at all comfortable. Staff was turning away two large families when it appeared there were tons of empty tables in the dining area and people being turned away from the area. It was also pretty empty when we left.. Could have been light staffed or prepping for something on a Monday that never came to fruition but observations were that staff didn't seem overwhelmed. No Caesar salad on an Italian menu was disappointing. Mixed Wife loved the fettuccine carbonara as she liked the thyme flavor. I thought it was a slight step above the Knorr's mixed with ham we had earlier that week at home. Just did not feel much depth of flavor. read more

Vagabondo was beyond delicious for dinner last night Starting off with a bourbon cocktail, and finished with a mouth-watering spicy Sicilian pizza. The entire place smells like freshly made pasta; it'll have you hungry before you even sit down! The service was very friendly and prompt. If you are lucky, you'll be seated downstairs! read more

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bon appétit! vagabondo exceeded every expectation. Our cocktails (unpictured) were spot-on, and even after a hearty spread I never felt too full to keep going. Some of the best rigatoni bolognese I've had -- perfectly balanced meat sauce that hits just right. And the spicy Sicilian sausage pizza was out of this world......fluffy, flavorful, and made with tomatoes straight from Italy. just wwwwoooowww. They are definitely onto something here and I'm excited for more. A little on the pricier side, but honestly worth every bite. I can already see why there's buzz building!!!! keep it up excelsior -- lovin' these new spots! read more

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Yum! Hustle on over to excelsior and experience David and Lori Fhima's new restaurant. Italian. Great rigatoni. Amazing wood fried pizza. Gelato. Yummy fish dish. Good drinks and gelato. And an atmosphere that is perfect for date night, casual meal or a private work event. Become a regular. read more

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This is a coffee hour post: Vagabondo opens at 8 a.m. for coffee drinks and pastries (breakfast coming soon). It was a lovely August morning so I ordered a cappuccino and almond croissant for a little outdoor morning coffee. The cappuccino was delicious--soft with a nice froth. They recommended whole milk for the proper froth, so I went with it. At $5.75 for a grande I thought it was a bargain! I was less excited by the croissant. It was served icebox cold and wasn't flaky, which gave the impression it wasn't freshly made, which for the price I would expect. I will wait for their breakfast menu for breakfast foods, but the lovely space and friendly staff more than made up for it. It will be a frequent stop for my coffee---and now I am ready to try dinner! read more

Vagabondo - Grande cappuccino. - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

Loved this hip new spot. We sat in the basement and felt like we were back in Europe. Very cool vibe and menu. Service was pretty slow, we waited for nearly 30 minutes for our bread, but the food was amazing. Chalking up the poor service to it still being new. A must try new place! read more

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Love that some solid new spots have landed in Excelsior! Vagabondo seemed like an awesome concept - Sicilian flavors and a very cool vibe. We've been there for coffee in the morning and dinner in the evening! Both experiences were great! Morning coffee - this is the spot to be. It's chill and the environment is so beautiful, how could you not enjoy it? Drinks were fantastic and the croissants - oh my!! SO GOOD. Flaky, buttery... the chocolate one was warm and gooey. They were so good I went back and tried an almond croissant as well. Again, nailed it on the head! They will start serving more breakfast-y foods but I'd be back daily for those croissants! We had them on the back patio as well, and it's a fantastic little pocket to enjoy your drinks. Dinner! Loved the vibes, with the exception of the strange screen display in the basement? It didn't bother me too much, but it was distracting sometimes! I can see where some people would not like it at all. The drinks were great, and the food was good. I will be honest, nothing really blew my mind, but a good solid dinner. To the point where I realized I need to go back and try more, bc I might be missing out on the really incredible stuff. We had the burrata, which I feel like can never miss! Then the spicy sausage pizza which looked amazing in theory but when it arrived it just had so much stuff on it that it sort of overpowered the fantastic crust and the individual flavors. Didn't love it, but didn't hate it. Then we had the gnocchi. It had a Gorgonzola and pine nut sauce and I will say, this was my favorite dish of the night! Ironically though, the gnocchi was not what I expected. Usually gnocchi is pillowy and soft and perfectly chewy, but these seemed to be pan fried (there was some crunch) and more dense. But somehow it worked and the sauce was *chefs kiss*! Overall, I liked it and want to get back to try more! It's a fun date night spot or a place to grab drinks with friends at the bar. read more

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I had one of the best dining experiences I can remember last night at Vagabondo. From the moment we walked in, everything was exceptional. The service was absolutely phenomenal--attentive, welcoming, and perfectly timed without ever feeling intrusive. You can tell the staff truly care about the experience they're creating. The atmosphere is just as impressive as the food. The décor is completely off the charts--stylish, warm, and full of character. One of my favorite touches was the old classic film playing silently on the wall. Last night it was Casablanca, and it added such a cool, timeless vibe to the whole room. It's one of those little details that elevates the entire experience and makes the place feel special. And the food...wow. Every dish was outstanding. I had the Sicilian chicken, which was absolutely fantastic--rich, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. We also shared the four cheese pizza, and it was incredible: perfectly balanced, beautifully crisp, and packed with flavor. To finish, I had the pistachio cake, which was the perfect dessert--light, delicious, and a great ending to an already amazing meal. Great service, incredible food, a unique atmosphere, and thoughtful touches everywhere you look--this place truly delivers. If you haven't been to Vagabondo yet, you're missing out. I can't wait to go back. read more

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We had a 5:30 pm reservation on Friday night. We had someone with food allergies and the server spent time with them getting her order taken. 2 of the guests ordered the seafood risotto. Another 2 guests ordered gnocchi dish. About 10 minutes passed before the server appeared telling the guests that ordered seafood risotto to say they were out of Praws so they would substitute scallops. Then as the food is being delivered by the expeditors and they tell the other guests that ordered gnocchi there were out of gnocchi and were preparing something else for us. I was just beyond unimpressed by this experience. They did give the gnocchi guests the meal on the house but didn't make up for the experience. read more

Was so excited to try this new spot but sadly didn't deliver for me. Booked a reservation same day, the restaurant is on the smaller side but cute. There is more seating downstairs as well which I'll try next time for cocktails. We tried a variety of things from the menu. The burrata appetizer was my favorite, smaller portion. Pastas were all okay, didn't love the pizza at all. Was really thick and heavy. Service was good - our server was helpful when pointing things out and food came out fast. read more

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What a beautiful space! They have seating upstairs and downstairs, in a lounge-type style, which gives off a very chic vibe. Staff is very friendly and courteous. We had the beef tartare (phenomenal) and the Gorgonzola gnocchi (outstanding) and the bolognese (average, not a fan of the big carrots/needed seasoning). Overall, stellar dining experience....a must if you're checking out new spaces! read more

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I stopped in on a Saturday night before a dinner reservation next door to grab a drink at their bar with my girlfriends. The inside of the restaurant was decorated with so much details and was super classy and cute! The service was wonderful and the bartender whipped up a delicious espresso martini. I can't wait to make a reservation and try out their food menu soon! read more

Vagabondo - Espresso and chocolate martinis - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

The best bolognese I've ever had!!! Also would recommend getting the chocolate gelato - to die for. read more

Vagabondo - Bolognese - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

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Went to Vagabondo with my friend and the food was good, not my favorite, but I had the streak and that was delicious. The service was fine, but you could tell they were short staff. Lastly, the ambiance was warm, but the difference between the upstairs and downstairs as very different. Curious to know others thoughts! Blog: https://readyourpaige.com/vagabondo-excelsior-minnesota-restaurant/ read more

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We diverted from our original dinner plans to try this place out - the ambiance and restaurant itself is very cute and well decorated from the outside. We did not have reservations so then we went downstairs into another dining area - still nice just not what we were expecting. The waitress was great! Very knowledgeable of menu. The menu - so strange. Usually it's broken out by course, not this one. First 5 dishes apps. Wouldn't know unless asking waitress. Also a random burger ‍ We started with calamari and that was actually really good! Small portion but loved that it didn't come overly breaded. Great flavor. . He had the seafood fettuccini - not very good. No flavoring and strong fish aroma. The noodles were also stuck together into one big ball. I had the rigatoni - nothing too special but it was good and had more flavor than the fettuccini. Wine list could be provided at beginning of meal. Bread was good. read more

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Pure EXCELLENCE ! Vagabondo is the type of food that makes you feel. There is an unbelievable amount of heart and soul poured into each and every dish. It moves you. Dining here is a masterful culinary experience. With each bite of every course it somehow continues to grow better and better. This is remarkable considering it is absolutely delicious from the start. Vagabondo is undoubtedly the single most inspired and extraordinary dining experience we've had in the greater twin cities metro. Calling this place incredible feels like an understatement. We have been 4 times in the past week, each time as excellent as the next. (2x dinner, coffee & croissants, and just for gelato!) The restaurant is beautiful, the service is extraordinary, the energy is palpable, and the gelato is a dream come true. (the pistachio gelato is our fav!) Chef Fhima displays a beautiful level of hospitality. One of many fine the details that sets Vagabondo apart from the rest. This spot is going to be the heartbeat of Excelsior. It's already bringing so much style, soul, and excitement to Excelsior! We absolutely can not wait to go back. Again, and again, and again!!!!!! Our new favorite spot in the neighborhood! read more

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Was a fun evening with girlfriends. We had made a reservation on open table at restaurant in Canada - they're not on open table so go to their website to reserve properly- but they were accommodating and gracious to find us a table and not send us away. They had a nice Nebbiolo by the glass The menu only had one salad option I wish there were more but it was good. I had the Penne Alla Norma. The penne was just a trifle undercooked which I suppose is better than overcooked and the sauce was delicious and they used ricotta salata which is the proper cheese for the dish. Overall the dish was done well and I ate the whole half portion. My friends chose the carpaccio, mussels and a burger. They seemed to enjoy. The lighting at night - is the biggest complaint. It needed to be turned down and the music wasn't on so the noises and the awkward feeling of tension was present and caused the restaurant to feel a little cold as night set in - bright light and no music ; the ambiance suffered. read more

Vagabondo - Penne alla norma - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

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First off, love that the vibe felt totally different from Red Sauce in the best way. The exterior is covered in whimsical floral decals, which felt light and inviting compared to the darker feel the space used to have. When you walk in, you're greeted by these large, intricate door handles that give off a bit of a Great Gatsby feel. Inside, the decor is eclectic but really well put together. Light wood floors, tile "rugs," lemon wallpaper, velvet chairs in different colors-it all somehow works. Even the bathrooms were fun, completely drenched in different shades of green. We had a group of eight, so we got to try a lot of the menu. The beef carpaccio was incredible--it practically melted in your mouth. The calamari was a hit with everyone, even though I didn't try it myself. The burrata was solid and came with super thin, crispy bread, but overall it felt pretty standard. For mains, the biggest standout by far was the Rigatoni Bolognese. It was honestly one of the best I've ever had. So flavorful, rich, and comforting--I already want to go back for it. The pappardelle carbonara was creamy and delicious, though I kind of wished it came with a thinner noodle. The lasagna had great flavor and al dente noodles. The T-bone steak was perfectly cooked and well-seasoned. The seafood risotto was also a favorite for a few people at the table. The gnocchi, though, didn't quite land. It was mushy and had way too much flour--hopefully just a first-day glitch. We also had the Spicy Sicilian sausage pizza, which was excellent. Our server joked that the chef would come out and scold us if we asked for it to be cut, which honestly made us laugh and love it more. As for drinks, a few friends got the caper martini and really liked it--salty but balanced. I had the mandarin sour made with tequila, and it was super fresh and tasty. We ended with their tableside tiramisu, which was good but not a true tableside experience sadly. I thought they'd actually build it in front of us, but it just came out already made with some sauce poured on top. Tasty, but not quite what I expected. Service was solid for opening night. Our server was sweet and confident, but pretty new. For a higher-end spot, I was hoping for a bit more polish and maybe some wine or pairing suggestions. That said, the manager came by a few times to check in, which was a nice touch, and it seemed like he was doing the same for other tables too. It's evident they make their own high quality pasta because I left really happy and not feeling overly full. Also, the atmosphere is beautiful, the food is mostly fantastic, and it feels like a place that's only going to get better. I'm definitely looking forward to going back read more

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I was eager to try this restaurant and I was incredibly disappointed. It took our party of 4 over 1.5 hours to be able to put in a food order and felt like the service was not prompt. I ordered the rigatoni bolognese, and the portion was very small and overpriced (in my opinion), and the noodles were al dente at best with an incredibly salty sauce. The others in my party ordered Grandmas 7 layered lasagna and this item is very misleading - more of a ratatouille as it has ribbons of eggplant, zucchini, and squash, and only 1 lasagna noodle. We were the last table in the restaurant, however googled what time they closed and we still had an hour according to google. The kitchen staff was cleaning and dimmed the lights to full darkness and turned on the lights to full brightness while starting at our table. Restaurant was well decorated, however, very disappointed with the service / food quality. read more

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We arrived a couple minutes early for our 7:15 reservation and were sat at a table that had booth seating on one side and a chair on the other. The first thing that I noticed about the atmosphere was how bright and fresh it was--lots of natural light and greenery. We began our culinary journey with: an espresso martini (perfectly balanced and smooth), a limoncello spritz (light and crisp), and followed it with a THC Indeed White Gummy (lightly sweet and fruity). Once our appetizer selection of Spicy Sicilian Calamari was ordered, a small plate of sliced Italian bread appeared with olive oil and balsamic vinegar appeared. The bread was soft and moist, though it sponged up the olive oil and balsamic nicely. Our next round of drinks were the Lemoncini and the Arrancello Spritz (blood orange)--we are loving the bubbles. These cocktails are delicious! The Spicy Sicilian Calamari was nearly-naked of breading (low carb salute!) but absolutely succulent. The red pepper flakes were the perfect amount of spicy. We wanted to order the Pancetta Carbonara, but unfortunately we were informed that they were out for the evening! So we ordered the Risotto ai frutti di mare (Seafood Risotto) and the Rigatoni Bolognese instead. The seafood risotto was nicely plated with shellfish (scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams) it was nice. However, the Rigatoni Bolognese was the real winner! We finished with two glasses of the Pino Noir--no room for desert this time! Dan was our amazing server. He offered great suggestions and was knowledgable of the menu. He gave us a wonderful experience. We are looking forward to returning and dining in their gorgeous patio! read more

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Overall okay experience. Nice and relaxing ambiance. The food was ok at best for its price point, nothing out of this world. The pasta was decent. Pizza lacked flavor. Baked fish had good presentation but was underwhelming. Service was adequate. Perhaps my expectations were too high going into this restaurant. read more

Amazing sourdough base for bruschetta appetizer. At our table we ordered the hamburger with fries and garlic aioli- neither of us received that. Our service was spotty at best. We came for the social hour but never felt we had a server designated to our table- no water or drink refills, we had to flag people down to add more to our order or to clear plates. read more

Vagabondo is absolutely incredible. You feel like you are on vacation when you step inside, teleported to Sicily. The Busiate Al Pesto Trapanese was amazing. It was incredibly flavorful - fresh, savory, nutty. Fantastic. The service was top notch. Location, ambiance, vibe all amazing. Another 10/10 Fhima experience. Best restaurants in Minnesota. Thank you! read more

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What a wonderful addition to Excelsior! Vagabondo is a lovely restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio. I started with a wonderful glass of Montepulciano. We shared there dishes all wonderful and very filling. We shared the cheese pizza which is topped with wonderful olives. We shared the burrata which was yummy. And we shared the amazing lasagna. You have to add the bolognese. Our server Vivian was enthusiastic and so excited to work there and share the restaurant with us. read more

Wanted so much to love this place, but a series of problems left us uncertain if we'll return. We arrived at 5:30 for a 5:45 reservation in the Dining room. The host took us to the cafe/bar area and seated at a small table that sits about 24" off the floor. My knees were literally higher than the table when seated (I'm not embellishing at all). I politely asked the server if that table was considered Dining room and she assured me me it was. Out table was right along the bar seating stools - lots of traffic back and forth and people standing right over us with their backsides (butts) right in our faces throughout the meal. Every other party that got seated in that area had the same surprised look on their faces - several asked about reseating and all were left visibly disappointed. The tables weee so small, it was a constant game of Tetris to try and make space for food and drinks when it arrived. The first two items were delicious - calamari and eggplant - which gave us hope we could salvage the evening. The drinks were also very good. Unfortunately, there was a 40 minute gap between our starters and our mains. The Sicilian Chicken came out first - was so hot the server warned us to be careful. The sauce was still simmering. The outside of the chicken was burnt and the inside was dry and tough. Our pasta, pappardelle came a couple minutes later - it tasted good, but was borderline cold. My guess is they added premade cold sauce to the pasta and didn't cook it first. Some of the pancetta pieces were not fully cooked, so tough and chewy. The service was spotty throughout. Multiple utensils were not clean; the server couldn't be found from time to time; at the end of the meal she stacked all the plates on the table and then picked up the stack instead of removing items to her hands/tray. The prices at this places are VERY elevated - more expensive than Maison Margaux even.... I will gladly pay a premium for an outstanding dining experience but this was definitely not that. I hope it was just a bad night for food and service, and we'd have a different experience if/when we give it a second try. Though, I don't know that I would take the chance on getting seated at a "kids table" with butts in my face again.. :( read more

Vagabondo - "Dining room" seating - I'm only 6'1" and my knees were 1" above the top of the table - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

I wanted to give this 5 stars. The food is amazing! Atmosphere is comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. Wines available by the glass are impressive and not at a crazy price-point. The downside is that the staff are like something out of a vintage Seinfeld episode. Comedic characters and nobody knows what's going on. They know how to take a reservation but not how to hold a reservation. If you show up on time you can expect to wait another half hour or more. The bar was filled with other people who had the same experience and decided to eat at the bar. Despite this, I will return because the food was that good. read more

Such a beautiful experience! From start to finish, we walked in and were greeted by the friendliest staff. The art by the infamous Stephanie Dillon and decor are stunning. The drinks were paired so well with everything we ordered and the presentation with each bite of food felt like we were in Italy. We love all of the Fhima's restaurants and can't wait to back for round 2 soon! Downtown Excelsior is the place to be. Book your reservation because it fills in fast and go down to the gorgeous basement bar while you're visiting! 10/10 service and booking for April now. read more

I went with my friend to Vagabondo over the weekend and we didn't have a good experience. We ordered an app and 2 entrees to split and we ended up sending back one of our entrees. Our server asked her manager to take the one entree off our bill since we didn't eat it and when our server came back over to our table she had tears in her eyes and said she just got yelled at in the basement. We both felt so bad for her and how she was being treated. She was an incredible server the entire night. The manager came over to our table 2x that night- once when we sent the food back and then a second time telling us she wasn't going to take the food item off the bill. Both times she was very rude. She eventually took the item off the bill. I'm just writing this review in hopes that the owner sees this and will talk to the manager. It was very disheartening to see how she was treating her staff. I'm leaving 2 stars because the ambiance is beautiful in there. Our server was amazing. And the bolognese was great. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our night at Vagabondo! I was immediately impressed that every employee I encountered, from the hostess to the bartender to servers walking by, met me with acknowledgement and a smile. The dining room is lovely, not too crowded, and we were able to converse without any problem. Not too loud or too hush-hush. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in offering suggestions to our party of four on a variety of items that we could all share. She was attentive without being pesky (for lack of a better word). We started with the burrata and the calamari and they were both outstanding. Then we shared the rigatoni bolognese (must-try!) and carbonara (the al dente noodles were perfection!) and our server's recommendation of the spicy Sicilian sausage pizza. I had read previous reviews about the 'raw' pizza and the server even warned us that the texture is different than a traditional pizza. We were not disappointed! The toppings were aplenty and even though we were all reaching our limit, we had to dip the crust in the oil and balsamic as our server suggested. We didn't save room for dessert, but next time we visit, we sure will! read more

Overpriced, underwhelming: Vagabondo is a no-go. The portions are small and the prices steep. The bruschetta was a sad imitation of a favorite. I had high hopes -- the remodel is well done -- but the food falls short in both flavor and portion size. I truly wanted to like this place. And why did it take 20 minutes to bring gelato? It's just a scoop. At this rate, the curse of Excelsior dining will claim another. Next! read more

What a great addition to Excelsior! Homemade bread, spicy calamari appetizer, four flavorful entrées and an amazing dessert. The Bolognese and tiramisu alone is worth another trip back soon. Top notch service and staff. An all around great experience. read more

Vagabondo - Tiramisu - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

More like 2.5 stars. Disappointing. You can read about issues in first visit. Figured those were due to it being newly opened. No excuses now, though. Not to sound like a boomer (I'm at the cutoff), but the front staff and service are very young. They are nice & enthusiastic but don't know how to provide a more upscale service. The front needs an experienced hands-on manager. Feels more TGI Fridays than upscale restaurant serving a $45 rigatoni in meat sauce. Service itself was disjointed. Not careless or unkind or lacking effort. From the detached greeting at the door, to the delayed water service, delay in drinks being served (came after appetizer had arrived -- with one appetizer completely forgotten without mention). There was nobody there who we interacted with (owner was present in kitchen not on the floor) who knew how to elevate the experience. As to food: Burrata was good but tomatoes scarce. Like two half small (cherry?) tomatoes to each of four small bread (perfectly prepared) slices. As to drinks. I asked for drink with lemon and single large cube, which server said they had. Arrived without lemon and with many small cubes. No forewarning despite my specific request. Server said they ran out. (Saturday at 730pm ?!). For entree ordered pappardelle pancetta carbonara and sausage pizza. I love garlic but the pappardelle was swimming in it. Way, way overgarliced. Way. Pizza was both over-engineered and lacking distinctive flavor, if that makes sense. The dough we had loved from our first visit got completely overshadowed if not lost. Maybe a simpler pie selection would have avoided this. Anyway, first visit was probably inflated 4-stars based on amazing pizza dough and commendable response to poor service. This one more realistic. Vagabondo has to upscale everything, not just its prices. read more

We had a 7:45 reservation, but did not get seated until after 8:15 and then waited another 45+ minutes for our food. We did get a very weak apology from the hostess and a acknowledgment from our waitress. Our salads were excellent, but the main entrees were mediocre at best, with zero flexibility from the chef to modify an entree. Our experience has been that, when dining at this level of restaurant, the chef is willing to modify and entree. Our waitress Jackie was excellent and I would give her a 10. read more