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    Va Bene

    4.4 (652 reviews)
    PriceyItalian, Desserts
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Va Bene Photos

    VA BENE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Va Bene

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    Reviews With Photos

    Alexandra H.

    This place was so yummy that atmosphere was just everything. The food was Incredible! Yummy. We got the gelato de arrogate. The service was fantastic

    Purple Rain
    Mary V.

    I loooved Va Bene Caffe, it was the cherry on top to end our trip in Duluth! They have modern Italian dishes that are all made with fresh ingredients and everything is made in house from scratch! To top it off they have the most stunning views of Lake Superior in their solarium. Everything I had was just delicious! They offer complimentary Rosemary Focaccia which is their House made bread, served with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar --so yummy! I ordered the caprese and carbonara which were both amazing. Caprese was fresh and tart and the carbonara was light, creamy and just so rich in flavor. Also for drinks I highly recommend their purple rain mocktail, it's their house lavender syrup with lemon and soda and it was just spectacular -- sweet, tangy, and vibrant I literally had two of these and drank them all up! Tip: There is a QR code on their menu to view pictures for most of all their dishes! *Most importantly, make sure you have a reservation because they book up fast and you don't want to miss it!

    Noce E Pera
    Chloe A.

    Va Bene has a beautiful lakeside setting and a menu with both hits and misses. The burrata with tomatoes, pesto, and focaccia was excellent, the pesto especially stood out. The Noce e Pera pasta with candied pear, walnuts, and gorgonzola sauce was also delicious and well-balanced. The meatballs, however, were disappointing...small, dry, and lacking flavor. The Preferito della Casa pasta was also underwhelming, with chewy chicken, overcooked noodles, and a balsamic sauce that overpowered the dish. Service was a little slow but staff were pleasant, but overall the food felt inconsistent. Parking can be tricky, small parking lot so try to find street parking.

    Espresso Martini
    Beth G.

    This has been one of my favorite spots to visit in Duluth but our dinner last night didn't match what I've experienced years prior. My boyfriend and I were celebrating his birthday last night and the night started off great but it started to become disappointing quickly. For drinks we ordered a Bellini and a Cold Fashioned. My drink was wonderful and tasted great but my boyfriends had zero taste of kahlua and espresso. Our server asked if makers mark was okay and he said yes assuming it was what it was made with but then there was a charge for makers mark. The complimentary rosemary focaccia is always amazing but I was surprised it was cold when we got it. We ordered meatballs for an appetizer which we loved! The sauce was a little spicy but it was well balanced and a good portion. For our mains we had Perferito Della Casa and Bistecca. They're my two favorite pasta dishes from here that I always get! I was beyond excited to have it again after not having it for a bit now. It took quite some time for our mains to come out after we finished our appetizer. Our server didn't seem to care about cleaning off our table and I had to ask her to grab us another drink. When our dishes came out our server asked my boyfriend if he wanted Parmesan on his since people tend to ask for it. He said yes and then she never came back. The pasta wasn't what I've experienced in the past at all. The pasta was undercooked which ruined the whole experience. I understand a little al dente but this was hard and chewy in some spots. The Perferito Della Casa was pretty dry and didn't taste like there was mascarpone in it. Before we were even close to being finished with our dinner our server brought the dessert menu. It felt like it was her way of pushing us out of here quicker. When we made the reservation we said we were celebrating his birthday. It was surprising that nothing was mentioned of it but yet another couple near us ended up getting a dessert with candles for their birthday. Our server didn't come back for quite some time otherwise I would've said something about the food not being great but we were tired and just wanted to leave at that point. My boyfriend had to go ask her for the check since she hadn't come back and we were waiting around. She wasn't even helping anyone, just talking with the other staff inside. When we were leaving the restaurant none of the staff said to have a good night or anything. Everyone was too busy talking and closing up for the night. We had an 8pm reservation so I'm assuming the staff just wanted to be done as soon as they can but it felt uncomfortable feeling rushed. This was such a disappointing experience especially when I've been talking up how good this restaurant is. It was an unfortunate way for us to celebrate a birthday.

    Soup special
    Trisha J.

    Va Bene is a cute and quaint Italian restaurant with beautiful views of Lake Superior. Reservations are needed and should be made well in advance. I booked our Tuesday evening reservations two weeks in advance to sit on the outdoor Grotto seating. The menu is extensive, our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable but her suggestion to use the QR code on the menu to see pictures of the items was helpful. Drinks were okay, I enjoyed the spicy margarita. My husband's old fashioned was okay, but very cherry heavy. Our food was good but I wasn't blown away. My expectations were maybe too high from previous reviews but it just wasn't my favorite place.

    Ray N.

    As part of our road trip last week, I took Wifey to a nice Italian dinner at a spot over looking Lake Superior in Duluth, MN - Va Bene Caffe. We enjoyed a wonderful array of pasta and bread and had a limoncello mojito!! First, the service was nothing short of fantastic. From making reservations online, to being seated and the gentleman who took care of us was knowledgeable of the menu and made sure we were well taken care of through dinner service. We started with the honey goat cheese and pear which was grilled bread and topped with what the name says!! LOL it was so wonderfully paired and activated our pallets. I enjoyed the Gorganzola Al Pepperoncino. This pasta dish brought the flavor and really put my tastebuds to work! The punchiness and bild flavors of the blue cheese combined with sweet and aoicy notes from the peopers made for a memorable experience, especially with the perfectly cooked pasta. Wifey and Dawn shared the carbonara. Also a delightfully crafted plate of pasta. It was smooth and delicious. The flavors were more mild in this which is good as it speaks to the flavors the girls like. To close, this really lended to a great road trip and a night we will remember for a long time. Highly recommend!!!

    Micah L.

    My first actual trip to Duluth and the person I was with suggested Va Bene. She said it's usually very busy so might not get a table. Walked in and asked for a table on the patio and the host said not anytime soon, but someone came over and told him there was a spot. So luckily, we got a table exactly where we wanted. Staff was very friendly, patio was beautiful, and food was tasty. Ordered a couple dishes and a few drinks. Came out hot and fresh. I enjoyed everything I had and would definitely recommend it for anyone in the area.

    Lemon Shrimp
    Murad M.

    Food is delicious. 5 stars for the food. We had 2 tables served ahead of us though, even though we were seated before those tables.

    Blue Mule
    Kongmeng Y.

    I went in with no research and no expectations--just ordered whatever looked interesting on the menu. I got the risotto, TORNEDOS DE LA FORET and full disclosure: I might've hesitated had I known the price of this dish beforehand ($55). But my goodness, it turned out to be one of the most delightful meals I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. I was blown away by the presentation, the quality of the meat, and how perfectly it was cooked. The rice was soft, and the stock was creamy and bursting with flavor. The blue mule drink had just the right balance of ginger and sweetness, and I loved that it was served in a tin cup--it kept my drink cold the entire meal. The view was amazing, the vibe was chill, and the service was truly top-notch. I honestly can't wait to go back

    Pasta Alla Zucca Violina
    Morgan W.

    Had a lovely experience here! I stopped in for a late lunch with my girlfriends and the service and food was superb. We ordered the Honey Goat Crostini as our appetizer and for our main dishes the Pasta Alla Zucca Violina and Pesto Gnocchi. The flavor in all the dishes was amazing. We were seated by the window overlooking the water and it was absolutely beautiful. What I really liked about their menu is they have a QR code you can scan and it shows pictures of all the dishes- such a smart and helpful idea!

    Clair E.

    We got the carbonara, and the goat cheese pear appetizer. Very good, the carbonara did come out a little cold though. If I was in town I'd come back

    Nice views
    Jonnathan J.

    Had lunch on a Saturday afternoon with great weather. Sat outside and enjoyed the view. Service left some to be desired, but once the drinks and food got to us everything was delicious. Our salad and pasta were fresh and flavorful. We had the mix salad and gorgonzola al peperoncino, the pasta was super good.

    Salsiccia e Panna Pasta

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    1 month ago

    DELISH! Very fresh and a wide assortment of dishes. Risotto is to die for. Shrimp Alfredo, Prosciutto Crostini. All yummy

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    The food was delicious and the service was top notch. The atmosphere was electric and I couldn't wait to see what they would bring out next

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    6 months ago

    I've always enjoyed the food. Either pull up and then bring it out to you I love curbside there

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    2 months ago

    I dream about the gorganzola al pepperoni on a weekly basis seriously the best dish I've ever had

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    Va Bene Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Va Bene

    What kind of vegan food do you have in the menu?

    Our Bruschetta, Focaccia bread, Mista salad, Beet or Va Bene salads when ordered without cheese, Pasta Primavera ordered without cheese, and Pasta di Estate ordered without butter and cheese, are all vegan. Our tomato sauce is vegan. Our rigatoni,… Read more

    Is outdoor seating currently available/open?

    Dine-in is currently prohibited in Minnesota by under of the governor. We had been offering outdoor dining by request when we were open for table service. Depending on weather we will offer this again when the current restrictions are lifted… Read more

    Is it handicap accessible?

    On the first level yes.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Love Creamery - Goat cheese and honey on the left, lemon curd raspberry on the right.

    Love Creamery

    (47 reviews)

    With February being the month of love and all, what better time to review Love Creamery in Duluth…read more Located right in the heart of Canal Park, this ice cream shop makes a perfect stop while visiting the area, no matter what season it is. Their honeycomb ice cream is simply amazing and one of my favorites (although the cookie monster ice cream is close). Honestly, every flavor though offers a unique spin. Even their vanilla is upgraded into a gourmet treat (it is my daughters favorite). I would highly suggest getting the flavor sampler so that you can try more flavors while enjoying a fun way of eating ice cream. One sampler easily fed my family of 5. Price point for their scoops of ice cream is great for the quality and experience. If you want to take your ice cream to go, a pint of pre packed goodness will run you $10. Love Creamery is probably one of the best ice cream places that I have experienced, high quality ice cream, unique flavors, and decent prices. No matter how cold it is outside, this ice cream joint brings on a warm, fuzzy feeling of pure delight.

    If you are in Duluth in the summer for a weekend getaway, after dinner when you walk off some…read morecalories, head to Love Creamery, to pack some calories back on. This is very popular with visitors and locals alike. We came after dinner on a Saturday night and it was packed, line out the door. The line moved pretty quickly, so it wasn't too bad of a wait. We got a few different things. We liked the ice cream, very good overall, but I am not sure it is worth all the hype. For example, I got a salted caramel something and it was way too salty. The ice cream is very good quality, and the people working there are really nice, too. Just not my vibe.

    Alto Pino

    Alto Pino

    (12 reviews)

    The vibe is weird. The food is tiny. The prices are high for the amount of food they give you. Go…read moreto Saratoga instead!

    First and foremost, I'd like to say what an amazing establishment. There is nothing like this that…read moreI know of in the Duluth area. Moreover, I hope the denizens of the Duluth area support this establishment because, as much as I enjoy OMC, Grandma's Canal Park Brewing, this kind of restaurant is needed here. The impetus for the above statement revolves around the absence of chef-driven and curated menus that capitalize on locality, creativity, and seasonality. This restaurant is located just on the other side of I-35. Smack-dab on Superior Street, next to North Shore Tattoo. Entering the establishment, you will see a simple and modestly adorned restaurant that is warm, inviting, and adequately lit. The menu is seasonal and robust with wonderful creations. Think of this as a Mediterranean tapas restaurant with a couple of larger entree-sized sharables. Everything we had was an incredible experience of contrasting flavours and textures. Here is what we had 1. Trio of Dips: You should get this so you don't miss out on the experience of each of these. It is hard to pick a favorite, but the Red Pepper Walnut was incredible. The citrus compote livened up this. The Labneh was quite lovely. More moisture should have been removed, but the selection of herbs atop of the labneh made this pop. The hummus was enjoyable, and had a thicker consistency than I usually have, but it was pretty good. 2. Seared Halloumi - Who doesn't like fried cheese?? The ouzo onions were a terrific addition. Get this one for sure. The hummus was enjoyable, and had a thicker consistency than I usually have, but it was pretty good. 3. Pickled and Stuffed Chard - This was a fun twist on dolmades, and I enjoyed this one. I considered this my salad/vegetable intake for the day :) 4. Braised Rabbit - This was the only disappointment of the whole evening. The leg was flavorful, but it was sooo dry, and I regret not getting the pork. The table next to us got the port, and I was jealous. 5. (Desert )Olive Oil Cake - I was full at this point, but ordered it anyway. It was awesome. You've come this far, order it and thank me later. I really hope the folks of Duluth appreciate this gem in your city, and please support this restaurant.

    Va Bene - italian - Updated May 2026

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