VV The Italian Experience located in Mt. Lookout is a casual Italian coffee shop offering espresso drinks, pastries, and classic meals. It's a family-run spot inspired by their grandfather's bakery and Italian culture, truly living up to their motto of being "not just a café, not just a restaurant, but an experience that is authentically Italian." We ordered the Crostone, an assortment of Italian breads featuring different toppings. One with fresh salmon cream and Asiago cheese, and another with roasted cherry tomatoes and stracchino, along with their Bufalina pizza. For drinks, we tried the Mokaccino Ferrero Rocher and their seasonal Arancia Nutella Latte. Everything was delicious and made for a great lunch. Definitely stop by and check them out for a unique café experience! read more

VV The Italian Experience - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I loved their Sophia Lauren Salad! Highly Recommended. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox read more

I recently attended an event here, and I have to say this is a "would return to" kind of place. If you like authentic Italian cuisine with homemade pasta, rich sauces, and delicious desserts/wine, you'll want to give this a go. This is an intimate little place that features an impressive display case of desserts/pastries. I could easily see someone renting out the whole place for a wedding reception or private party. The space is just made for communal eating and revelry. I heard they have live music here every now and again, and I'd venture to say those must be the most popular evenings. I can only imagine what that vibe would feel like. This place has Italian owners, an Italian chef, and an amazing menu I'm looking forward to trying more of. The event featured a tasting menu of VV's best dishes, and the standout was the stuffed eggplant. Seriously. I don't even EAT eggplant that much, but I finished this dish! read more

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Gianluca and Kenia were great! I don't know if I'd recommend for entrees, but the calamari, desserts, and drinks are superb!!! You can't miss with those. Luca corrected my concerns. My entree wasn't at a preferred temp. I waited for them to correct it. Service was prompt and efficient during a busy dinner time on a Friday. It was busy, but servers and host still managed to get things on track. I would return for the sweets, treats, and drinks. read more

VV The Italian Experience - Strawberry Mascarpone - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I've been to VV three times and each time the staff has made us feel like we're getting luxurious top notch service at a fancy restaurant! The inside is fun and stylish, with cool furniture and coffee table books inside a small-ish space. This time, my husband and I both ordered affogato with pistachio gelato. Yum!! It was so beautiful and elegantly served. I was even able to get mine decaf. The gelato was perfectly sweet and adorned with whipped cream and it all melted together so deliciously. read more

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One of my favorite coffee/cafe's of anywhere i have been. we had reservations for 6 and a baby on a very busy saturday afternoon and we had a bit of a wait, understandably so. they gave us free drinks while we waited and kept checking in. Not that they had to, it's always worth the wait! read more

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Disappointing. We came for lunch, a party of 6, including 2 children. Never offered us a children's menu and when we asked about it, they said we could look online. If you want bread, commonly free in most Italian restaurants, it is $7. We ordered pizza, and I have to say that was delicious. The eggplant parmigiana was not. I actually did not find any eggplant in the breading. I saw pictures from other diners on Yelp and maybe I just had a bad experience. But, my eggplant parmigiana had no eggplant. The kids pasta was good, but the portions were so small, it would take two bowls for my 7 year old to get a meal. The atmosphere and service were good, but we would not return based on the other issues we had. read more

This has been a long time in the making. I have wanted to go here for a realllyyyyy long time and I was so glad that I finally found the right time to. My parents and I went last weekend on a Friday, which ended up being perfect. The weather was amazing so everyone was out and about in the Mount Lookout area. We started the meal with the burrata appetizer and the brought some focaccia for the table. It was soooo delicious. The burrata was creamy and the arugula was super fresh, it was such a great combo. I ordered the rigatoni with tomato sauce and it had olives in it. OMG it was amazing. The olives were perfect and it was so creamy. The pasta was perfectly cooked. We also got the Tiramisu and a chocolate raspberry type cake (I don't exactly remember) for dessert. They were the perfect size for a small family meal to share. Their desserts rotate daily so make sure to grab them while you're there because you do not want to miss the exceptional desserts!! read more

The food here is amazing and the Ferraro rocher mokaccino is incredible! I see why they won last years Cincy Battles as best coffee shop in the city! So good. Only complaint is it's a small space that is very tight when busy and parking is a nightmare. read more

VV The Italian Experience - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We discovered VV through a Yelp event. So glad we got to try them at the time. It was so good that we wanted to return. I made reservations through their website for Valentine's Day. I love that they text you when your table is ready. What I love about this restaurant is the owners and employees take pride in their food/work. All fresh ingredients and some imported from Italy. They have their own signature wines made only for their restaurant. They are on the top 10 for best places to dine in Cincinnati area. Along with that, also voted best coffee in the area as well. Serving brunch, lunch and dinner. They also have bottles of wines and "Italian products" you can purchase. They also don't charge an arm and a leg for their meals. They remind me of Coopers Hawk, delicious foods made at a reasonable price. Classy and presentation is on point. They serve everything from appetizers, salads, pasta, entrees, dessert, kids meals and more. We ordered: Drinks: -Barbera D'Asti (Bottle made specially for VV) Dinner: -Branzino in Croste di patate-Mediterranean Sea Bass filet with potato crust, lemon sauce with capers -Bolognese: Fresh tagliatelle, house made beef ragu, VV organic EVOO Dessert: -Pistachio cake Wow! The Branzino is the best fish I've ever had! The bolognese was super delish and both paired well with our wine! We made sure to make room for dessert and that was amazing as well. Our server was Gianluca and he was down to earth, attentive and pleasant to talk to. He was so kind to serve us a small sample of Grappa. What a great experience and I made it a point to talk to the owner. I wanted to let her know that we really enjoyed our time and the meals. We are definitely returning. I can see us being regulars. read more

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We enjoyed our experience here! Went for Valentine's Day lunch and its located in a cute little town. The bakery/cafe gives very European vibes. The service was quick and we loved the food. We ordered a bunch of appetizers, main course options and dessert. They have a variety of options to choose from. Since it was valentines they had a few special seasonal items like the strawberry martini and chocolate soufflé cake which was a delish. Everything we ate was flavorful and felt so fresh. Like you could taste the sweetness of the tomatoes on the bruschetta and the spicy flavor or the salami. Would definitely be going back to try their other dishes. read more

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Love coming here for lunch and dinner! Reservations are an absolute must. The service is lovely. Though the restaurant gets very loud, its not their fault that they are popular! Love my food every time I'm here! read more

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For the prices, the service should have been a lot better (for example, their soup is $16). We had reservations. Took a long time to be acknowledged, server had nothing to say about the menu or anything else. Drinks took a long time to come. Our server dropped off the food and we literally did not see her again until we were done eating. Done eating for a considerable amount of time. She never checked on us, did not offer dessert. I literally thought she had left the building. She showed up when she heard we were ready for the check. Food was fine. I had a rigatoni dish with tomatoes, and olives. My friend had a panini. The experience we had...let's just say it's not calling me back. read more

First thing to know is you definitely need a reservation if you come here because of how small it is but it's a great spot. The service is great and I believe it's family owned and operated. While we waited for our table they allowed us to order drinks which was a nice option. Once we got sat our food came quick we started with Arancini and they were each filled with different flavors so that was nice to get a variety of options. I got the lasagna for dinner and it was hot and delicious. This was a great Italian spot and you can taste the freshness. read more

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Italian food is one of my favorite foods and they hit the nail on the head. I have visited on two occasions and the food was phenomenal both times. The pugliese is a must try if you enjoy olives. The atmosphere is bustling and cozy. Everyone that helped us was friendly, and more than willing to explain menu items in depth. Save room for dessert because they have so many delicious options. I tried the chocolate roll cake with mascarpone as well as their chocolate mousse. Both desserts were heavenly decadent. They also are open in the morning as a coffee shop. read more

VV The Italian Experience - Pugliese - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I was introduced to this restaurant by a Yelp event and I am so glad I came back with a friend for lunch. I had the veggie sandwich and asked for burrata to be added. It was served with chips on the side. I also got a hot pistachio latte and it was really good. The servers are warm and courteous. The ambiance is pleasant and the decor is chic. We didn't get any desert, but I want to go back and get their tiramisu sometime. The selection of deserts and drinks looks amazing! There is a public parking lot in front of the restaurant, but it is usually full. Parking is a pain in this neighborhood, so be prepared for it. read more

VV The Italian Experience - Veggie sandwich with added burrata - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We were super excited to try this place because the menu + reviews looked great. However, we were very unimpressed. There was a long wait time for appetizers and they came out cold. The bruschetta was good but nothing crazy. Al Pochino salad looked great on paper but was bland with little flavor. The roasted vegetables on top were extra cold which was not a great touch. Pizza was well done, no complaints there. It seems like everyone loves this place so we would consider coming back for desserts or maybe trying different things on the menu. Our experience was lackluster. read more

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Wow! Big Italian fan and decided to try VV Italian tonight. Everything was incredible. Most notable item was the pistachio pesto rigatoni. No notes. Everything was to die for. Some of the best pasta in the city. I will definitely be back. Server was very knowledgeable too. read more

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My fiancee and I came here before for a Yelp event and absolutely enjoyed it so we had to come back for another experience. My fiancee made reservations for 5:30pm on Valentines Day for something extra special. We got there right on time and were sat right away. The place definitely give you the feel of a beautiful European cafe. The aromas of fresh desserts and coffee were enough to make anyone drool. No wonder they were recently voted best coffee shop in Cincinnati. The staff were all amazing and very friendly. Our server, Gianluca, was truly awesome too. Their menu is loaded with delicious authentic Italian dishes from small shareables to big plates and desserts. Their wine menu is very nice and nicely priced. I was pleasantly surprised to see grappa on their menu too. We started with a bottle of VV Barbera D'Asti, which is always perfect for pairing with virtually anything. For our mains, my lady had the branzino in crosta patate, and I had the bolognese. Every bite was incredible! We couldn't stop talking about how good everything was. Of course, we also had to indulge in dessert, so we ordered a slice of pistachio cake. It made for the perfect finish to our wonderful dinner. We absolutely love this place and will definitely be coming back! read more

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Another lovely meal at VV. I was so impressed with our Yelp event meal i came back asap. We were at Ault park and saw this was close by. We came in and stood for awhile .. 6 employees seemed uninterested but we were finally seated. Food was delicious. We shared the eggplant parm appetizer and the carbonara. Portions were not huge but it was enough. read more

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A friend took me to this restaurant and I enjoyed it so much that I went again within the same month. It's not a place that you feel like you have to dress up for. As a matter of fact, it has a relaxed feel to it. We've had scallops, branzino, scallopina ai porcini, profiteroles, and affogato. The staff seems to know what's on the menu well enough to make suggestions as we led the way. The food tasted more like what you might get in a family kitchen from a couple people who love to entertain and really knows how to cook. I'm sure that we will be back soon. read more

I continue to love this place! It is high quality and high standards. They are putting a lot of work into making this quite a nice community institution. Come for breakfast lunch or dinner. There are meals, pastries, or just good old Italian coffee. I've been here for all reasons. They offer an alternative takeout coffee compared to Lookout Joe across the street. Definitely a bit more expensive though but you are getting some pretty luxury stuff. Their breakfast is delicious! Pastries are very upscale and nice. I have brought my family here and they thought it was a pretty cool place to visit for a fun meal. Lunch and dinner is also pretty good but meal portions are a bit smaller. This is very European so it's not going to be anything big or over the top. Service is always great with excellent customer service! Staff is always very friendly but they keep very busy so they will always be running around. I'm going to continue to bring friends and family who come to visit to this place! They're also very kid friendly. Offer crayons and coloring materials with a high chair. read more

Truly a little Italian experience. It's like a quiet cafe in the morning for meeting up or getting some work done but they also have full meals you can enjoy later. The service was great, they were attentive and kind. You'll also probably hear some Italian being spoken between the workers so you know it's legit. I just went for a bit in the morning and got the Italian hot chocolate and the almond croissant. The hot chocolate was thick and rich and delicious. I haven't ever had it like that before but it was amazing. The croissant was also the best I've ever had, very fresh and light with so many flaky layers. Would love to come back and try a meal! read more

VV The Italian Experience - Hot chocolate and almond croissant - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Honestly the first time I came I wasn't impressed but I gave it another shot and I've been back many times since and it just continually slaps. After going to Italy, it's the closest thing you will find to it, the owners and staff are from Italy and even go back to train. The pistachio creme is out of this world and I could eat it on its own. The picture is from October during a special they had and it was so good. The staff is always friendly and greet you with a smile. This is not some fast food latte that is overly sweet and you're out quickly. It may take a couple minutes to get your drink but they are always worth the wait. They are well balanced and with the right amount of flavor to appreciate the espresso. They have cold sandwiches you can grab to eat or order a hot crepe. Vibes are chill and somehow feel like your neighborhood coffee spot while also removing you from the country. read more

VV The Italian Experience - Creme brûlée latte - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ordered: Va Pensiero, tiramisu Parking: street parking, small parking lot Still one of my favorite spot in Cincinnati! The panini is freshly made, it came out hot, you can taste how high quality each ingredient is. The service was superb! Each interaction that I had with a staff member was excellent. They had great teamwork, I noticed they all worked together to quickly serve each guest. I'm always excited for my next visit. read more

VV The Italian Experience - Va Pensiero - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I recently visited with my parents on a Saturday night. VV The Italian Experience is a cute spot. We didn't have to a reservation and waited about 40 minutes for a table. We were a party of 3 and the hostess told a party of 4 that arrived after us without a reservation that it would be a while for them. They ended up being seated 20 minutes before us. That didn't make the best impression for us. When we were seated, our server was helpful and friendly when taking our order. Our food was flavorful and the desserts looked and tasted amazing. Overall, I'd try VV The Italian Experience again but with a reservation. I'd also come back for breakfast and lunch. read more

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This was one of the best places I've been. The food, atmosphere and staff are top notch! We went for lunch at Easter and the pastas were amazing. The appetizers , spritz and cafe were top quality. We will be back. read more

We stayed a few blocks away on our stay in Cincinnati so we walked over every morning for a light snack and coffee. Loved the toasted ham and cheese croissant! For those in a rush, there could be a line so plan ahead. There is limited seating inside but a great vibe nonetheless. The cashiers and employees were all very pleasant and friendly so I think it definitely adds to the experience. 10/10! read more

We had a wonderful meal at VV The Italian Experience. The place is small; reservations are recommended. Our server was wonderful and very authentic, meaning English was not her first language. This fact, however, only added to the ambiance of the meal. She was extremely helpful and helped Mark and I decide what to order. They had a special menu and she suggested a pasta, Rigatoni VV - rigatoni pasta, pistacchio pesto, crispy pancetta, creamy stracciatella cheese. First, the pasta was delicious. Second, it is so good it is now on the regular menu! I'm sure many patrons tried and loved the dish as we did. One of our friends had a panini. I'm not sure which one, but she enjoyed it. Our other friend had Tirolese - ravioli mezze lune, mixed mushrooms, cheese béchamel, chives, VV organic EVOO. This meal looked fantastic. I love mushrooms. While my meal was delicious, I was a bit jealous look at this wonderful dish. She loved it. We made one mistake; we didn't order dessert. I didn't notice the bakery case on the way in, but I did on the way out and I was very sorry we didn't order something sweet to complete the meal. Our waitress asked if we wanted dessert. I wish she'd been more convincing because it was obvious as we passed by the case that the desserts are something special. Next time. read more

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Service was ok. It's rather loud and hard to hear each other. Food was good. Eggplant parmigiana was rather oily. Scallops were good but you only get 3. Best part was dessert and coffee. read more

Fantastic place to sit and have a delicious coffee with a friend. Delicious fresh food and great service read more

VV The Italian Experience - Cappuccino pistacchio - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

One of the best espresso martinis & almond croissants I've ever had!! Will definitely be going back to try more :) read more

VV The Italian Experience - Espresso Martinis & Paninis - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

John Luca was incredibly kind and recommended the absolute best drinks and food. He made our date night so special and everything was delicious. We typically come in to get dessert with our kids but the food was just as amazing as the sweets. Thank you VV! read more

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This is one of my favorite places in Cincinnati to eat. The food is super yummy and super fresh. The service is always amazing. And the place reminds me of a cafe in Europe if it had outdoor seating I would say exactly like Europe. I love everything about VV's. I try to come here at least once a month. And it is always worth the drive down from West Chester. Yummy pastries and a lot of items imported directly from Italy. read more

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Very cool spot on Mt. Lookout Square. Looked tiny from the street but actually has plenty of tables inside! Parking can be a challenge on the square but in truth one should always be prepared to walk a block after parking anywhere so, not a big deal. We just had pastries and mokaccino and cappuccino but they are all top shelf. The pastries are FANTASTIC. Very pleasant inside, and the service was super friendly and just...nice and welcoming. Great little business and I hope they continue to flourish! read more

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My second experience here and this time I made a reservation for 3. Our service both times was disjointed and not very organized. This is not "european service ". Just disorganized on delivery of food and drinks. No suggestions on the menu. I realize the neighborhood but I think it's pricey for what you receive.. I don't know why condiments are not filled but that's trivial. GOOD LUCK at CVG I opened DARCI's Restaurant 2 locations there 25 years ago . Good luck with logistics and moving production between concourses and delivery and working with police and airport infrastructure. Better iron out details before you hit the big time. Many reflags in the original restaurant. Our first visit an exterminator was spraying during lunch service! Yes it did happen. read more

This place will truly transport you to Italy. It's comfy yet bright inside, making it so inviting. You'll hear and smell the cappuccino machines brewing, and be warmly welcomed with the Italian accents of the owners. You can get breakfast or lunch, and dinner twice a week, but you'll have a tough time passing up the stunning pastry case. Everything is incredibly authentic, and even if you can't pronounce it, just know it all tastes incredible. Stay for a coffee and pastry and make it your go to spot for working remote or chatting with friends. read more

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I will never be able to tolerate another salad place again thanks to VV. No salad has ever or will ever compare. Their bread and oil are incredible. I thought the price was a lot, but I leave feeling extremely full, satisfied with flavor and taste, and feeling like I made a great healthy choice and took care of my body. I love the service they are kind and like family. The inside is small but they have a nice couch out front to wait for a table or enjoy a coffee which is also delicious. read more

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True to it's name, this is a truly authentic Italian experience! Located in the heart of downtown Mount Lookout, VV is a beautiful coffee shop and restaurant that offers the most delicious coffee, pastries and food with both dine in and take out options. We visited on a busy Saturday morning and were impressed by the friendly and fast service. The display cases were filled with yummy pastries and baked goods that are perfect for "treat yourself" or "pickup for the party" occasions. We decided on ham & cheese croissants and some specialty coffees for the road that were absolutely amazing. This little downtown square is always busy with limited parking so build in some extra time on your visit! read more

My wife and daughter have raved about VV The Italian Experience for quite some time. First, they loved the drinks, and now they love the food options, too. They finally brought me along with them on an early weekend morning. You can order things to-go from the counter, or there are some tables to sit and have table service. We lucked into one of the last available tables and were soon greeted with drinks and a quick breakfast. As we were in a little bit of a hurry I was glad to see some savory options in the display cases. I went with a ham and cheese cornetti, which is essentially the Italian version of a croissant. I loved that there was some extra cheese on top, as it was very tasty and the layers of dough were crispy, light, and flaky. It was very good and I look forward to trying other items at VV! read more

VV The Italian Experience - Cornetti - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio