I took my husband to Via Vecchia for his birthday and it was a wonderful experience. We sat on the patio and were able to see boats and listen to live music from street performers, which made for a vibrant atmosphere. Our waitress, Tonya, was excellent. She made good recommendations and was very friendly. All of our food was delicious. For appetizers we ordered the whipped ricotta and short ribs. While they were both delicious I would definitely order the ricotta again, but I'm not sure if the short ribs were worth the price to me. For entrees, we ordered the Agnolotti and Lumache. I'd give the Lumache a 10/10 and the Agnolotti and 8/10. You get a lot more food with the Lumache and the flavors and textures mix fabulously. The Agnolotti was still very good, it does have a strong corn flavor which I think through us off. The more we ate of it the more we liked it! We will definitely be back for future celebrations! read more

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Fantastic all around. Great location and once inside wonderful ambiance. One of our party has celiac (allergic to gluten) and the waitress was super helpful explaining how they make gluten free work (they have gluten free pasta!). Almost all dishes can be made GF! Drinks: We got an aperol spritz and the St. valentine (nonalcoholic) for drinks. Aperol spritz was very good, as was st. Valentine (note: this drink's pomegranate taste was very strong, which we liked but if you're not a fan, try something else). Dinner: one got the bolognese (called radiatori on menu) and it was delicious, the GF pasta was some of the best we've had at a restaurant. We also got the lumache, which is pasta with their house vodka sauce, crispy cipollini onions, chili oil, and whipped ricotta on top. Soooo good! All portions were generous but not over the top/too much. Dessert: the flourless chocolate torte is GF so we shared that. Sooo good--the torte itself moist, salted caramel sauce and cacao nibs delicious, and mocha chip gelato to die for. Overall, just an outstanding meal and experience. Will be returning!! read more

Via Vecchia - Flourless chocolate torte - served warm with salted caramel sauce, mocha chip gelato, and candied cacao nibs - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great food, very cozy atmosphere (could be loud if there are bigger parties around), great people and loved what we ordered and it was the best place to celebrate my birthday in style. read more

This is a nice spot with a confusing front door entry! Server was attentive, though not very helpful when it came to menu selections. Kinda had to coax her into telling us about the items on the menu. The focaccia is awesome, quite a portion (very filling). The pumpkin tiramisu is a definite win win! Plenty of small plate items and mains to choose from. Cozy atmosphere with large windows. Located just off commercial... I would definitely go again. Oh and did I mention they have a mock-tail menu??? read more

Best Italian food I have had in Portland, really good ambiance and espresso martini. Service was great. Vodka pasta was good, would come back. read more

Via Vecchia - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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First time here and it was delicious! It's such a nice cozy spot with great drinks. Our server was also very attentive and great as well! read more

Via Vecchia - Dessert - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I was staying in Portland and selected here for dinner before seeing a show. It was a snowy Sunday evening and I was dining alone. The host was a bit snooty asking if I had a reservation and when I said I just wanted to sit at the bar, he had me seated at an end seat. This was the only down side of my experience here. I don't know why restaurant workers think ANYBODY would like that treatment. The restaurant never got full and neither did the bar. Otherwise, the experience was great. The bartender was cheerful, attentive, knowledgeable and efficient. I loved watching her mix cocktails! I advised that I was vegetarian and she was very helpful pointing out menu options for me as well as advising on what could be altered to make them vegetarian. I started with a glass of Valpolicella from there plentiful and interesting wine list. It was delicious, but not quite dry enough for me. I ordered the warm focaccia and olive oil and they were a delicious starter. Nice and flaky and the oil was very flavorful. For an entree, I got the mushroom tortellini. It was really incredible. Every bite was a joy! I was going to get a glass of the very expensive Taurasi, but the bartender had me try a sample first. I'm glad she did because it was just too much flavor for me! So I went with the Montecucco Rosso Riserva and it was just right. So even though my initial experience with the host left something to be desired, my overall experience was wonderful. read more

Beautiful restaurant seating inside and out! Loved the different dining rooms inside the building. The whipped ricotta was delicious with foccacia, the lumache was flavorful. I mentioned an allergy to our server and he made sure everything was safe for me to eat. I look forward to going back! read more

I came here with friends for a nice dinner and Via Vecchia absolutely delivered! You for sure need a reservation and it seems they book up more than a week in advance. I was able to snag a late reservation on a Wednesday. Our server was CT who was super personable and helpful with recommendations! We decided to share a bunch of plates. We split the beef carpaccio, bruschetta, and polpo apps and then shared the summer agnolotti. Everything was very fresh, flavorful, and satisfying! Love the low lit, romantic ambiance as well. If you're in the mood for pasta I would definitely recommend a trip to Via. read more

This is the cutest and coolest place to eat in Portland. It was the highlight of my long weekend here. I adore it. Loves: + Yummy pastas + Nice drinks + Even the exterior is nice with brick walls and greenery... okay, you are cute! + Place stays busy so it's vibey + Good service Incredibly busy so you know what means!You've got yourself a pretty good choice for dinner. Live, laugh, and enjoy Via Vecchia. read more

Excellent on all aspects! Food was memorable from start to finish, scallops cooked to perfection with an excellent lemon sauce, the octopus was tender and charred in all the right way. The pasta was what you imagine great pasta should be, toothsome and the sauce was rich and deep in flavor a touch of heat just the right level to keep you wanting more. The cheesecake was light and tasty, couldn't put my fork down. The service was excellent as well, unobtrusive but attentive, courses paced out perfectly. We absolutely loved the atmosphere, depending on where you sit it's a different experience each place - downstairs out front in main bar is bright and friendly the bar it self it awesome big, curved comfortable bar. Booths all around with big windows looking out for people watching. The back room downstairs is also great a little quieter than the front but quality cool. The upstairs is intimate and much quieter. No matter where you sit it's a great experience. read more

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Great experience here. Red wine and gluten free pasta was great. Server was very knowledgeable and experienced. read more

Via Vecchia - Gluten free radiatori - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

10/10. Food is incredible, service was great. Such cool vibes inside. Would say this is a good date spot. read more

Via Vecchia - Agnolotti - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

We sat at the bar, started with drinks, then meatballs, special type salad and the mussels. We couldn't decide which dessert to try so we tried 4. Great staff, not too loud and great interactions with other diners read more

Via Vecchia - 50/50/50 - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We got lucky and got last seats at the bar. The restaurant is smaller than I expected but has a nice vibe. The bartenders were friendly and made sure we were taken care of. The menu is unique and I really enjoyed the food we got. I don't have a picture of my drink but I got the hot and dirty martini. I am a lover of spice but it was far too much for me and I couldn't finish it so just be forewarned if you can't handle heat well. Can't go wrong with their pastas. Our favorite was the lolla rossa salad and campanelle. Overall a good experience! read more

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I don't know why some of the best Italian food is in Portland, Maine, but I will not complain. Set in the middle of Portland's Old Port district, Via Vecchia nails an updated glamorous Art Deco vibe. Food: We started with the focaccia and meatballs. Meatballs were nicely done, not overcooked or over sauced. The meat blend was well seasoned and a they were a great way to add some extra protein to our meal. Focaccia was good, but didn't knock my socks off. Mains- Fresh made pastas, homemade sauces. I had the Agnolotti, and it was superb. My husband had the Radiatori, and he enjoyed it, but agreed the Agnolotti was better. Service was fine. I made a reservation on Resy several weeks in advance. read more

Ah, Via Vecchia. Where to begin. Let's go with the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Good: It is a beautiful restaurant, especially by Portland standards. If you're a dude who wants to impress a new date, take her here. It's a lovely, beautifully-lit, and, yes, romantic date-night restaurant. Again, especially for Portland. The Bad: To be honest, the food is actually quite passable. Spectacular? Addictive? Memorable? Alas, no. But certainly not objectionable. It's just not SPECIAL, by any discerning diner's standards. And the price for such mediocrity? Let's just say the value is not great. As I've stated, the food is pretty okay. But for what they ask you to pay, it should at least rise to the level of truly fine dining, which it fails to do. The Ugly: Via Vecchia adds an extra service charge to every check, in addition to the cost of your meal, wine, tax, and tip. (!) They call it a "kitchen wellness" fee, or something like that. Anyway, it's not even a flat fee, but a percentage of your entire bill. (!) So, counterintuitively, the more you spend, the greater this extra charge. (!!) This practice is banned in many states, because it essentially constitutes deceptive pricing. Via Vecchia excuses it by saying "all restaurants do it", even though only about a dozen restaurants in greater Portland do it. In conclusion, if you care only about ambience, and not the quality of the cuisine, or the value you receive for your money, then Via Vecchia is the place for you. read more

What an amazing dinner we had here. The service was stellar, Patrick answered all of questions and provided us options. He interacted with our table like we were the only one. The food was delish, homemade pasta and gluten free pasta options. So many wines and specialty drinks. The space it self was fancy but very comfortable read more

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The vodka pasta was so good! I loved the heaping pile of ricotta because it balanced the dish perfectly. We sat at the bar and the service from our bartender was great! Even though we were right by the door it didn't feel like people were walking by us since it's pretty spacious by the entrance. The ambiance was great and I'm excited to go back and try more. read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food & Ambiance.... Top notch. Very sophisticated and not stuffy! The food was plated beautifully, the service was fantastic. It's a must go to when in the area. We were told to go to a couple of other places but stumbled upon this beautiful building with the ivy creeping up it with outdoor seating... I'm so glad we kept walking and found this gem! read more

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Perfect dining experience. The service, ambiance and food, all perfect. Started with the focaccia and aronchini, both excellent. Then shared the Radiatori. 10/10! read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

After three years I must write a new review for Via Vecchia. The five stars still holds true and in my opinion there is no debate. This has easily become one of my favorite restaurants in Portland and in general. While the prices may be considered high and portions may be smaller than some would expect I have never been disappointed here and don't mind spending a little more here. From the very first time, and every time in between up until earlier tonight I have left happy. Truly a restaurant that is beautiful in every way, from the arguably best looking building down to the inside decor and bars. Bonus points for being festive for the holidays! Due to the meals we have enjoyed here and the world class cocktails you will find this was an easy choice for my wife's birthday meal. From the hostess and other staff wishing her a happy birthday it was those extra touches making it a special meal. Thanks to the reservation we got a couple bar seats so we got a little sneak peak into the kitchen and watched the bartenders work their magic on drinks. Due to being the holiday season they had a side of naughty and nice cocktails and my wife got their Resting Grinch World while I got Marshmallow World (imagine alcoholic hot chocolate with a fire roasted marshmallow on top)! You can't go wrong with getting a classic espresso martini as an off menu option too. The bartenders will make something you like flavor wise as well if the current offerings don't jump out at you. As well as beer and a long extensive wine list. I recommend starting with the Sourdough Bread as it always comes with a delicious house made butter. It is always a must for us. Lastly, they offer a variety of dishes; starters, pastas, scallops, steak, risotto, and much more. Tonight's scallop dish was incredible especially with the perfect melt in your mouth pork belly. My wife's pasta was cooked to perfection and meat sauce was so tasty leaving you wanting more. Be careful though to save room for a dessert (with a candle if celebrating your birthday)! The pumpkin tiramisu was one of the better desserts I can remember in awhile! If you finished reading this long review, then hopefully you are drooling in anticipation of going to try Via Vecchia and if you skipped down to the end then please read this last part! VIST VIA VECCHIA!!!! read more

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Excellent service, delicious food and a lovely atmosphere. Very cozy and comfortable.

My husband and I have been for dinner twice now when visiting Portland and loved both experiences! There were plenty of vegetarian options on the menu for me, and our server Dillon was awesome about my allergies! The Lolla rossa salad was a nice balance of sweet and salty, and we've also enjoyed the carpaccio, homemade lumache, short rib, and risotto. We were so torn on dessert because everything sounded amazing, but thought the pistachio frangipane tarte with fresh fig & s'mores budino were very good. We love the atmosphere too and will definitely be back on our next trip! read more

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Although I did have a business dinner reservation here, I want to focus on the drinks we had at the bar before hand. This was my first time to Portland, and after my business dinner host sent us the menu before hand, I was very excited to dine here. We arrived at dinner early, so headed to the bar for a cocktail while we waited. This was a phenomenal experience. The bartender was excellent, and made a memorable trip for us. After looking at the menu, he asked if anything caught my eye, I mentioned I was looking at two cocktails one with gin and one with vodka. He said neither of those were his favorite, so I of course, asked what he would recommend. He suggested a bourbon one. I explained to him, I'm not much of a bourbon drinker, but he insisted on trying it and if I didn't like it, I could order something else. I loved the confidence and said I would give it a go. I'm so glad I did because I absolutely loved the Smoking Gun cocktail. Never have I ever enjoyed a bourbon cocktail as much as I did this one. It was sweetened by strawberries and very fresh from the mint. I ended up ordering a second one at dinner. Such a fun experience and will definitely miss this cocktail back home. read more

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The front entrance has a stunning presence and from the street the interior looked opulent. At first glance at the menu I thought it looked limited but yummy so I booked a dinner reservation. Boy was I glad that I did! The food quality was exceptional from the in-house made bread to the in-house fresh pasta down to desserts. Service was prompt. The cocktails and wine selection was robust and delicious. The interior is just as opulent and sexy inside as it looked from outside, walking by. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! read more

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In a perfect-for-celebrating-our-anniversary corner booth, our dining experience was divine! Green velvet and grilled peaches bruschetta were a perfect combination. 10/10 Meatballs appetizer were spicy and tender. 10/10! The scallops were an 8/10 and the radiatore a 7/10. Our server was absolutely the sweetest and oh, so kind! I can't remember her name and I apologize. 10/10 read more

What a great spot! We went here on a recent bachelorette trip. We had phenomenal service and all around great meals. We started with shakerato shots (mini espresso martinis, a dream!) and a few appetizers. We each had different pasta dishes and everyone loved their picks. This is a cute, cozy space. Would highly recommend this spot! read more

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Food was amazing, in every sense, complements to the chef. The service from "CT " was the icing on the cake, his attention to details was spectacular. I would recommend this place 10 out of 10. read more

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This place lives up to the expectations. The food was delicious, service was attentive and friendly, and the place was gorgeous inside. We had the burrata and shrimp pasta, totally delicious. On our next trip to Portland, we will definitely be back! read more

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Great spot! Fantastic service! They even left us a cute note for our anniversary. Our server was knowledgeable, explained the wine menu in depth, and picked a great bottle for us. Felt like we had our own sommelier! Server also had great recommendations for portland in general! The food was fresh and flavorful! The bolognese was UNBELIEVABLE!! Good portions too! read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Such a great experience! Wonderful decor! Amazing service from Noah! Thank you so much! The food was great! read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

We sat at the bar for dinner and drinks and I couldn't have found Via Vecchia to be a more magical spot. With cobblestone and vine-covered bricks just outside an extravagant interior, you're instantly transported to somewhere akin to Lake Como. The space itself is much larger than I had imagined; there's both a front and back dining room area--the front with more typical seating, whereas the back has a more lounge-style area with both a second bar and balcony seating. We sat at the bar which had an open floor-to-ceiling window that looked out onto the cobblestones of wharf street. The area where we sat had beautiful, low lighting, velvet accents, and countless lit candles. Reminded me of if Dracula were Italian and shopped at Anthropologie Home on a regular basis. Service was pretty good and relatively quick. I enjoyed my vodka pasta and the "Lightweight" cocktail (St. George Citrus Vodka, Salers, Cap Corse, Prosecco, Cardamom), which tasted like a smoky lemonade. We split the panna cotta and chocolate mousse cake, both of which were incredibly rich and flavorful. If you're looking for a top-notch Italian dining experience at a restaurant fit for a king, this is the spot for you! read more

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I don't go out too often to Italian restaurants, but how could I not step inside the ivy-adorned, elegant Via? Inside the restaurant maintains the same atmosphere of beautiful high-vaulted ceilings, mirrors, and a bit of a romance. We walked in on a Tuesday night and were lucky to be sat immediately at a table. To start us off, we had the Sourdough app and the Brussel Sprouts. The sourdough came with two house butters, one definitely had honey incorporated which was our preferred one. The Brussel sprouts were so so tasty -- accompanied by Parmesan shavings and pomegranate seeds. We both had pizza, the Vignola and the India St. These are nicely sized, oval shaped pizzas with an amazing crust to sauce ratio. Both delicious! Gotta try their pastas next time. I also had the Siesta cocktail, which was not too bitter! read more

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The food is wonderful. The service was attentive and friendly. We sat outside and it was very nice Can't wait to go again read more

Food is so mid it's sad. Overpriced and underwhelming. Ambiance and service are nice. It's a place for 20-30 somethings to get fancy cocktails. Not a serious dining establishment imho. read more

We visited here for our 1 year anniversary dinner. We had a Sunday night reservation for 8:15 at the bar. We were seated promptly at 8:15 and the service was professional and friendly. We ordered wine, an appetizer, and shared a bowl of pasta. It was phenomenal and the vibes were very class. Modern bar with lots of older decor and artwork. I would visit again! read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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AVOID AT ALL COST!!!! Saturday night around 9:40pm. There is a back bar area which is super dead but the entry for it is at the restaurant area. Approached the host area. Was greeted with arrogance as we tried to wait for the back bar. Was told there was space available but not for us. We needed to wait 1 hr and half to be seated. Mind you when we passed by the alley there is a window that shows the back bar. There is no clear way to enter that section so we asked the bar tender how to get in. He mentioned there is no wait right now and to go around. So we did and was greeted with LA attitude at Portland area which was laughable! When I called to speak to manager Suzanna answered and also backed up what her hostess said which I thought was absurd knowing how empty that back bar was. So if you're even thinking about visiting Portland. Avoid at all cost since they act like they are better than other places by not seating you while they're back bar seats empty. Cringe! read more

loved it here!! the fried artichokes and ricotta stole the show. SO good. our pasta was good but not worth $35. the portion was huge though- you could definitely get an appetizer and split the lumache pasta. had a fabulous time and would recommend! read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

This was a restaurant with stylish ambience and that was about it. Food was expensive, pretentious and distasteful. We had a shrimp pasta that made every person actually sick and nauseous and risotto that was a rise pure, as paste of sorts. We strongly advise against this restaurant read more