Food was fresh and very tasty. Loved the experience of sitting right next to oven with freshly baked bread

New owners, chef Natasha (Tasha) Getchell and Colton Messa, have made delightful improvements since buying this restaurant from the original owner in roughly December 2024. While the name remains the same, everything else seems an "ahhh..." some improvement from making the interior more welcoming, the service more gracious and the food more delicious. With the changes initiated in early 2025, it is still early days in their ownership and I'm sure there will be more to come as the eatery evolves. SPACE & SEATING: I swear the original owner had such bright lighting inside that one could land a plane there but now it is soft lighting that along with greeting offered by Colton makes guests feel very welcome stepping in the door. Italian themed music at just the right level to know it is there but not to compete with conversation. Table seating that was "sardine can tight" under the original owner, so tight that it made it a squeeze for servers trying to get to the tables and even blocked the path to the loo, has been rearranged to offer space to get around. MENU & $: The menu remains pasta centric but the new menu retains many of the former favorites and has been expanded to add new dishes. Pasta price points are roughly $23 and up for expertly prepared dishes of perfectly al dente pasta in generous portions and served hot to the table. There are also antipasti (cold and hot) that start at about $13 (example; for salads) to $23 (example for fried calamari and shrimp). Arancini are on the antipasti menu here and they are hard to find in this area. The new chef has also added "of the day" specials for fish and risotto. Because the pizza oven has put back in order, they are also offering a handful of pizza options. So one could order a meal as simple as a pizza and salad or do what we did when celebrating our anniversary here recently, and share the beet salad with orange an goat cheese ($17) to start then order both the Risotto del Giorno (on this evening it was sausage, broccoli rabe, corn $32) and Pescato (fish) del Giorno (on this evening it was full of lobster meat and tail-on shrimp over pasta in a perfect light white sauce $39) Of the day, del Giorno, options are AQ so the server will provide the price when describing the dish. Both of our dishes were delicious with in generous portions; some of the risotto came home with us to be enjoyed the next day. (See my photos.) My husband is Italian on both sides and grew up in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn and he thought the dishes perfect. IF I WERE QUEEN: I would bid wave my scepter and have them I would reduce the number of pasta dishes (some carried over from the old menu) and add in a few other non-pasta Italian options. (A la A Cena or Nostrana in Portland. This chef has the skill to do it.) SERVICE: The chef's daughter has been the main server but an accident a couple of months ago means she is needing time to recover and the friendly young woman serving on the night of our visit, with back up from Colton, did a lovely job. We felt well tended but not hovered over and she seemed to be offering the same gracious care to the tables all around us. It seemed she may have been a little new to the menu ingredients but that will come with time and this was big tip worthy customer care. LIBATIONS: A thoughtfully crafted wine list, beer and soft beverages across price points and our two by glass wine options totaled only $21. RESERVATIONS & AN "ALL ARE WELOME HERE" GREETING FOR WALK INS: Reservations via Open Table or by calling the restaurant and it is best to make one, although on busy Thursday when we dined in, there were a couple of walk ins, both a single and a family of four, who were able to be seated. And it is worth noting that the single young man diner and the family of four with teens in tow were treated with the same welcome and attention as the reserved dining guests. That doesn't always happen in restaurants and it didn't happen here under the original owner with the wife working front of house. ACCESSIBILITY: The inside set up has some tables that would be accessible to diners using wheelchairs and that is an improvement made by the current owners because under the previous owner that was not the case. The ongoing problem is the parking lot here has always been non-compliant for ADA with not a single spot of accessible parking near the restaurant. The lot owner finally marked a space with the ADA logo but the infuriating (that is the right response) thing is that they did not add a curb ramp so unless a wheelchair user can step up over a roughly 6" curb this is worthless. It also violates 36 year old Federal law and Idaho State building code. read more

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As in the past, this was a wonderful experience to put it mildly. Food and wine were exquisite. Service was fantastic. Ambiance superb. New owners made us feel like family, and as good as everything was in the past with the original owner Vincenzo who has retired, I believe it's even better. It's been our go to Italian restaurant whenever in Boise and will continue to be so. Mangiamo!! read more

Wow. Wonderful experience, excellent food and somehow even better service. Parent date nights without kids are few and far between, which puts even more pressure on the restaurant of choice to get it right. Vincenzo Trattoria nailed it, and I am so grateful. We got the spaghetti vincenzo, penne zozzana, and a margherita pizza for dinner. Everything was excellent, truly. The penne zozzana was the favorite, along with the complimentary bread (the bread looks unassuming but is spectacular). I'm typically not a dessert person, but trust me when I say you should not skip the olive oil lemon cake. I will probably dream about it until the next time we visit. Also, I would like to point out that while the restaurant is in a strip mall type location, the interior is cozy and romantic. Ten out of ten highly recommend. read more

Great food and better people. Food is authentic priced great and the service is better.

The food melted in my mouth. I got their homemade pesto pasta. It was light and delicious. Our waitress, Amy, was kind, polite, patient, friendly, attentive, and considerate. Vincenzo Trattoria is a very family friendly restaurant. I would come back here again. read more

PROS: Cute little restaurant with nice decor. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Bread and refills were plentiful but had to request butter. CONS: portions were small, especially considering the prices of $22.00+ which included no sides other than the bread. No soup or salads. Pasta was to aldent'e for my tastes. Pizza was just so so considering they brag on their process an bit under cooked. All in all just an ok experience for the wife's family birthday dinner. read more

Delicious food, great ambiance. Good service. Went the same weekend that we tried a much more reviewed Italian spot downtown and this was so much better it is hard to even make a comparison. read more

Very friendly staff where we felt like family!!! They offered a great wine selection, plenty of appetizers both hot and cold, a variety of pasta selections and delicious daily specials! I ordered the penne zozzanna, it was absolutely delicious and crisp guanciale surprised me in almost every bite. I plate swapped with my husband who tried the fish special that was lobster and crab in a sun-dried fettuccine dish. It was loaded and almost every bite tasted of delicious seafood. Don't leave without tasting one of each of their cannoli's either! We will definitely be adding this lovely place to our regular celebration spots! read more

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The meatballs were super old. Tasted like weeks old. The lasagna was tasteless. The wine was great, the bread was yummy and the beet salad was almost worth the$. Our 4Oth wedding anniversary, we wanted the best of the best and it was only meh. It was literally a reservation for only us and it wasn't a big deal. That's what you get for rolling the dice. read more

Best, most authentic, family feeling Italian food i've had in the U.S.! Been multiple times on dates, with friends and family! Love this spot! read more

10/10 Dining Experience. The food was authentic and delicious. And, the Italian food & wine knowledge from our server made this more than just a great meal out but a whole dining experience. Definitely recommend and will be back! read more

Lovely small restaurant. Atmosphere is pleasing and comfortable. Staff are attentive. Good is very good and I love the flavor of the pasta and sauce. Bread is fresh warm. read more

Dining at Vincenzo is an experience that others have described accurately in yelp. The wife running the dining room can be surly which probably has a lot to do with why they can't hire enough waitstaff. So they aren't in a rush to refill your water glasses or bread basket. And the prices that used to be a good deal have gone through the roof. But the food remains fantastic. I came for dinner with a business colleague and got a glass of Montepulciano, the Frito Misto appetizer, and the Rigatoni Siciliana. With tax and tip (which in retrospect was not really deserved since the waiters were Vincenzo and his wife, the owners), my separate check alone came to $72. The bread which they make in the pizza oven was complimentary. All the food and drink was perfect and I know from speaking with the owners that they use high quality ingredients. The dining room is cute but casual and sparse, so not a place for an intimate, romantic meal. And the restaurant is clean including the men's room. If you want really good, totally authentic Italian food and come with the right attitude you'll enjoy the experience. read more

The clam pasta was not good at all , the sauce didn't have any clam taste to it , and the clams were not good, so small ! And no flavor . I should have sent it back but I was with a group of friends and didn't want to spoil the experience. If you can't do a great clam pasta sauce then don't have it on your menu! All it takes is one dish that's not good and you lose a customer read more

Delicious itialian food, service was Awesome, price....great! Spaghetti carbonara and Rigitoni ala Sicillano were great! Enjoy! read more

Holy cow, great food! I love the cozy decor and they provide excellent service. Good wine selection as well.

Excellent. Service and food was wonderful. Best Italian food we are enjoyed in town. Will be back soon to try out the pizza. Thanks for an enjoyable dinner. read more

We were very disappointed in Vincenzo Trattoria, the food was nothing special, and our server had to be hailed in order to come over. My salmon (Atlantic) was overcooked, after I was assured that it wasn't flavorless Atlantic. It was on a bed of store bought spaghetti noodles, (not homemade)! The poor service and unexceptional food means that we will not go back! Some reviews said that the food was exceptional Italian. I disagree, after 3 visits to Italy it wasn't even close to the great meals enjoyed in restaurants there! No ambiance, it is a large open room. read more

New Owners but the place hasn't skipped a beat. Meatballs were a highlight. The fresh baked bread is as good always. read more

I had a glass of Chianti and the carbonara. Both were spectacular! The bread was delicious, warm, and perfectly baked. It's a smaller restaurant that has a near casual feel with slightly higher end touches. I found it pleasant. I came on a Sunday night, and it was quiet. Service was great. Caleb is very personable and subtly charming. His professionalism is impeccable. read more

Vincenzo Trattoria - Spaghetti Alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

This is a real mom & pop restaurant. Mom is mean! She shouts at everyone "Give me one second!" several times in a very dry tone, no please or thanks, and she never smiles!! I feel bad for the young lady working under her, who's by the way so sweet! Pop is cool, he'll come to check on patrons when he's not tied up at the kitchen. Ah, the food you might ask?! Pretty good, I ordered a Carbonara, the most authentic I've had outside Europe. A little too salty, but that's 95% of restaurants (I think they are in cahoots with Big Pharma, but that's my delusional conspiracist side). It could be a 5 stars rating if only mom could chill! read more

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We had to check out this place. From locals mentioning this restaurant we knew it was a place to try. Our first initial visit a few months ago it was unsuccessful due to that we did not make any reservations and just planned to walk in. Bad idea! This time around, I made reservations and I am so glad we did! As you enter, there were a few tables being serviced and we had to wait a bit to be seated. The place has a quaint feel to it. I am loving the smell so far! Olive oil, garlic...tomato sauce...YUM! Once we were seated, we were offered water. Then, came their warm bread. We ordered: Bottle of Montepulciano - perfect match with our food. Fritto Misto - Fried shrimps and calamari - I have never had it this way with just lemon but it is delicious, tasty and fresh seafood! Rigatoni Alla Siciliana- it has eggplant and red sauce. Delicious! Spaghetti Alla Pescatore - seafood spaghetti. Fresh tasting seafood and large shrimps. The noodles were cooked perfectly! Al dente! Finale was their tiramisu. I love it because it wasn't overly sweet and the lady fingers were just soaked perfectly with the espresso. Not drenching like others. Everything that we ordered was amazing and delicious! Service was good, definitely can be better with checking in on us if we needed anything else. But that didn't deter me from loving this place with delicious food! This place is a keeper. We will definitely be coming back for more and possibly try their other dishes. read more

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So Yummy! Hands down the best Italian we have found in Boise. You could tell everyone there took pride in producing authentic cuisine and stood behind the food they sent out! All pasta made fresh in house! read more

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Vincenzo retired and sold the restaurant to another couple. The excellent Italian food countries to be served with a few new items. I highly recommend dining at this well kept secret. read more

Ok. So went here recently. My roommate and I took his sister here for Mother's Day. The food is still fantastic, I'll never deny that. However! Few things people should know before heading here. 1) the portions are small, prices are high. Yes, I know, most places that are nicer have smaller portions, but this place isn't like eating at the Ritz Carlton. It's a nice place. Just that. So the amount of money they spend to make the meals..then turn around and charge $25-$30 for a plate that's enough food to fill up a toddler vs filling up an adult..is beyond laughable lol. The food is delicious, don't get me wrong, but if you don't ask for extra bread, you'll most likely be leaving...still .. hungry. More on the bread later in this review. 2) The place is very small. So during the week is when I'd recommend going because if you go or have gone on the weekend, it's ALWAYS packed and it is SOOO LOUD!!! SO LOUD! You literally have to shout to the people you're with. If you're next to a table too that's particularly louder than most...like we were :-/ then be prepared to shout even louder to your party. It was upsetting to say the least. 3) The Asian woman who works there. She waits tables. I think she may be Vincenzo's wife. Terrifying woman. She is so militant in her approach. Very matter of fact, no bull sh_t type. Tell her what you want and fast. Remember the Seinfeld episode with the soup n__i? She would play that role perfectly hahaha! She yelled at her help in front of us. I was proud to see the girl she yelled at stand up for herself, but WOW! Can you say unbelievably unprofessional?!? The woman seems to hate her job, but she's there because she has to be? The way she presents as someone who absolutely LOATHES being there, I REALLY think they should hire more help. Ones that love to be there. She seems like she's the type that would say "I don't trust anyone to do this! Only me! Me! Me!" The owner needs to rethink her role or tell her to work on her customer service skills and to work on how she treats the other employees. There is another waitress there, aside from the blonde one that the Asian woman yelled at in front of us, she is so incredibly sweet. I think they fear this Asian woman tho. That's not a good work environment. This is how it appears to their guests. They may love it there, but they way they acted, yeah, they seemed frightened. 4) The bread. Ok, there is NO DOUBT this bread is incredible. I asked the blonde waitress for another basket of it. Get this! They only allow ONE basket per table! So if you have a larger party, my guess is you need to ration it or you don't eat it at all hahaha! It's wild! I asked the blonde girl for another basket and she was so worried about it and she said "I would but can't. This isn't my table. I just can't" We all looked at each other like...what the actual fk? LOL. Then I asked the other waitress if she could get us. First I asked her why the bread was so sacred. She said the owner...know what, never mind, I don't want to get her trouble. If you DM me about it, hahaha, I'll tell you. She looked so scared tho when we asked her for another. She brought another over and so nonchalantly put in on our table and vanished. It was the quickest drop off ever lol. I know this sounds crazy, but I do not lie and I write me reviews exactly as my experience happened. Yelp has a reputation for bitter reviewers who don't get their way and then come here to write nasty things about a business that isn't true. I am not one of those people. I want Yelp to have reviewers who say exactly what their experience was like and I pride myself on writing just that. If I have a good experience, you'll hear about it, if I have a horrible experience, you'll hear about it. This experience wasn't BAD BAD but it wasn't great. It was so night and day compared to my last experience there. Would i recommend this place to people? Oh no doubt. The food, as mentioned, is still great. Just small portions and the bread is the most sacred thing on the menu apparently haha! It's like eating a loaf of solid gold...in their eyes at least lol. It's so good tho and that's why you want more, but don't let the owner see or know. It was all so funny to us and so weird and off putting at the same time because when I went for my Birthday few months back, it was so wonderful. We went on a Friday evening around 8. So it was quieter. If you're going, again, I suggest doing it during the week. The weekend's are too chaotic and especially at dinner time in a such small place. That's it y'all! If you go, I look forward to hearing your experience there. I need to emphasize that I really do like this place, it's just, I THINK I may look elsewhere next time I'm headed to an Italian restaurant. Thanks for reading, YelperLoafsOfGoldenBread hahaha! Cheers read more

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Last few times my wife and I have went in, something just seemed off. Food wasn't as flavorful like it always has been. Service was best ever as always. Most recent visit I asked why I had not seen Vincenzo walking the floor greeting his guests. Turns out, he has retired. I truly hope he and his wife are enjoying their retirement. He has earned it. But I could definitely tell he had not cooked our meals. I'd like to see the new owners up their game. I'm assuming Vincenzo trained the new owners on the recipes. Just hope they get it figured out. That being said, we will still continue to go. read more

This is Italy in Idaho. Vincenzo (Enzo) and his wife are welcoming and such hard workers. Enzo is from the Amalfi area and his skill in the kitchen is a testament to the cuisine of that region of Italy. This a trattoria and as anyone who has spent time in Italy as we have, you know you are going to get the best, simple food, where the ingredients and preparation are the star of the show, not the wallpaper and the lighting. At Vincenzo's, they make the pasta fresh, the mozzarella cheese, fresh and they make the bread fresh among other things. They grow their own tomatoes and basil for the Caprese Salad special. In some trattorias, the recipes have been passed down from generation to generation so you are truly getting the family Italian dinner experience. In a ristorante, you get starched white tablecloths, extensive menus and overstaffing. They have a wood fired pizza oven and the bread they serve with the dinner is baked in the pizza oven. Served really hot to your table before the meal begins, it comes with the huge holes inside the loaf and taste - was to die for. Currently, because of staffing, they don't offer pizza on Friday and Saturday nights. Their hours are really curtailed during this period. Dining in is currently operating Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 8:45pm. The Caprese was exceptional! The tomatoes and basil tasted like summer. The fresh mozzarella melted in your mouth. The olive oil was perfect. The charming owner is really named Vincenzo! He came out to our table and introduced himself. His young staff were extremely polite and attentive. He maintains an impressive collection of Italian and American wines in refrigerated cabinets that are wines best served with his style of food. For help with the selection, Enzo is there. Our main course entrees were served piping hot and were delicious. The Spaghetti Alla Carbonara was so rich, but not the typical, cloying, white, paste, goop found at other "Italian" places. The pancetta pieces were like diamonds of pork goodness. The Fritto Misto was also incredible. It had a very light coating which allowed the flavor of the seafood to be the star of the plate, not the typical thick, overly-seasoned coating found at other places which reminds one of KFC. If you want your food swimming in a red, sugar-tainted, swamp and topped with thick, hard, chewy white blob of tasteless store-bought. fake mozzarella, you need to find another place. They are out there and plentiful. read more

Vincenzo Trattoria - Fritto Misto - Calamari & Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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The food is the best Italian in Boise. Loved it!! Wonderful service. Fresh. Fresh Fresh read more

Food was delicious, service was friendly and attentive. Ambiance was cheerful! New owners are generous with the fresh bread and olive oil. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

Small, quaint trattoria with truly authentic Italian food. It was the best meal we have had since we were in Italy. The server was charming, as was the host. We will be back to try everything on the menu! read more

Vincenzo Trattoria - Lobster spaghetti with pink sauce - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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The food was wonderful and the service was impeccable. The new owner was so nice! I'm not sure where they get tomatoes this time of year but the caprese salad was delicious. read more

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I'm giving it 3.5 stars. Our experience was just okay, and a little odd. The ambiance is like a pizza place, nothing special, small, and loud. I point this out because the prices are upscale level. We had a caprese salad, which was okay except it only had the tiniest chiffonade of basil on it. I literally had to search through it to find some to go with each bite. They serve bread, which was good, and there is olive oil on the table. Someone at our table asked the staff if they had balsamic vinegar, and they said they did not. I thought that was strange. Like other reviewers mentioned (make sure you take a look at the hidden and not recommended reviews too) there is an Asian woman working there that is extremely unfriendly, and clearly couldn't give a rat's you-know-what if the customer is happy. She has a sour look on her face, and when asked something, she snapped, "What?" then snapped, "No!" Many people have commented on the portion sizes. I would describe the portion sizes as medium range. If you are a male with a big appetite, you will be very disappointed. I am not a big eater, so my husband was able to finish mine. Otherwise, he would have left hungry. Either way, there isn't enough to have leftovers. I know the price of pasta, and they could probably spare a little more. On a positive note, the food was tasty. The owner walks around the restaurant checking on things, but I wouldn't really describe him as friendly either. He was kind of no-nonsense. I got a very strong feeling from his vibe, as well as the previously mentioned Asian woman, that they really don't care whether you really enjoyed the meal or not. They appear to have a following, and that works for them. Will I go back? Nah, probably not. Would I recommend it? I would probably just say this was my experience and you decide what is important to you when dining out and make that decision yourself. I'm not going to say I don't recommend it. read more

We love Vincenzo's! We went there under the previous ownership and while the food was always very good, the service left a lot to be desired (read any of the older reviews to get the gist). With the new owners, diners are getting the best of both worlds - fantastic food AND great, friendly service. We had a moment to chat with Colton and we were so impressed with his passion for the business and his genuine desire to provide a great experience for his guests. Those of us in NW Boise are lucky to have this gem in our backyard. Can't wait to go back again! read more

Excellent food that is, as Vincenzo says, "100% authentic Italian." Along with their great food menu items, they have a great wine selection and freshly baked bread made in a traditional Neapolitan pizza oven. A favorite spot for a date night or to enjoy a meal with family or friends. Great service from Vincenzo himself and always a great time. read more

This place is bomb. Some of the best Italian food in Boise and has that nice small, family restaurant dynamic and the staff were super nice and quirky. I saw some review saying it was like ordering from the soup Nazi in the Seinfeld episode..ya not at all LMAO prob a beta I'd assume. Portions were great and everything tasted fresh and home made. The bread was EXTREMELY horny and you better believe when they asked if we wanted more I went "ummmm yes please!" I've never been to Italy but I've been here and that's gotta count for something! #italy read more

What a gem! We had Vincenzo's for the first time this evening and it was amazing! We went on a double date with friends and this was their recommendation. I'm not gonna lie when we pulled up to an Italian restaurant in a strip mall my expectations were pretty low... and then we opened the door to this adorable little place and we were greeted by Vincenzo himself. He sat us at our table. We got our water and a refill bottle. The amazing bread came shortly after. Vincenzo checked on us several times and shared the specials with us. We knew we were in for a treat. It's not often that the owner/chef interacts with the guests. The wait staff was friendly. The Asian woman that is referred to in other reviews was calm and quiet, so we did not see any of the aggression others have referred to. It was a Saturday at dinner and the restaurant was decently busy and we had no problem hearing each other at our table. The young gentleman server was great. He joked around with us and him and Vincenzo checked on us regularly. Our food came out hot and fresh not long after we ordered. And let me tell you the food was INCREDIBLE! One of our friends served a mission in Italy and is quite knowledgeable of authentic Italian and he definitely did us a solid with this recommendation. Our portion sizes were perfect. And the flavors of every item was incredible. I had the fettuccine with pesto and burrata and it is impeccable! We shared the cannoli for dessert and it was delightful. We left happy and full. Our family will definitely be back and all I can think about now is... do they sell their lasagne by the pan to go because that would be a delicious Christmas dinner! Can't wait for our next meal at this little gem! read more

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great service! Lilly was such a kind young lady! the bread was absolutely Devine! and my pasta soooo flavorful! i highly recommend

Had a fantastic authentic Italian dinner here tonight. Do yourself a favor and order the Shrimp Calamari appetizer......magnificent! The pizza is oh so good! They make their own pasta and don't skimp on the portions. We seen a pasta plate and meatballs pass by our table and the meatballs were the size of tennis balls. If you've read any of my other restaurant reviews you know we always get the calamari appetizer. The calamari melts in your mouth and you get large flavorful shrimp!!! Read the owners story on their website. Old school Italian cooking is what he's all about and "HE IS THE COOK" read more

Vincenzo Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Food was exceptional. Service was attentive. It's a family owned restaurant; and the personal caring shows. I absolutely will be back.