We love Va Bene. The enclosed solarium is perfect with a beautiful view of Lake Superior. Try the Peach Bellini, it is a delight. I confess, I almost always order the Gnocchi with Gorgonzola cream sauce. I add shrimp and mushrooms. Little pillows of heaven. Awesome. Next time I am going to order another dish as my husband's choices have been stellar too. And don't skip dessert. The cannelloni is delicious and the gelato amazing too. You can even pick 2 flavors. Service is friendly and fun. read more

What we ordered - Prosciutto crostini Shrimp Alfredo Gorgonzola peperoncino* Pomodoro E Polpette Di Carne Arrabiata Al Padre Ricardo* NA sage gimlet Mm everything was delicious, freshly made pasta and everything jam packed with flavor** both of our dishes had a good portion of spice and Tony's Gorgonzola pasta was creamy slightly sweet from the peppers with a little spice in the sauce and from the sausage and the perfect amount of crunch from the almonds on top. I loved the prosciutto topped with Gorgonzola and fig - it's the best combination. Ian was our server he was awesome, thankfully we were able to get a table today, the last time we went on a whim they were slammed so I highly recommend you make reservations. Our reservation was at 4:30 around 5 they dimmed the lights - setting the vibes, I love that. Great experience! read more

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I stopped by Va Bene for lunch today. My husband and I had visited once before and left so obsessed that we vowed to return every time we're in Duluth--for the rest of eternity, basically. Our first experience was incredible, so this time we brought family along to share the love. We started with complimentary focaccia and olive oil with balsamic. The bread was incredibly fresh and paired perfectly with the dipping oil. On our first visit, I ordered the Spicy Mango Margarita, the Gorgonzola al Peperoncino with shrimp, and an espresso for dessert. My husband almost ordered the same pasta, but was unsure about the gorgonzola and went with the Spicy Erbe with salmon instead. After stealing bites from each other's plates, we both agreed the Gorgonzola al Peperoncino easily won. He admitted regret, continued eating off my plate, and said he'd be getting it next time. It might genuinely be the best pasta I've ever had--I even returned the next day to order it to-go before heading home. So when we came back a month later, returning to Va Bene was non-negotiable. We both ordered the Gorgonzola al Peperoncino again, this time without the add-on protein (delicious, but not really necessary). My in-laws joined us and both ordered sandwiches. My father-in-law said his cheesesteak was a bit soggy and immediately regretted not ordering the pasta after he tried it. He declared it his new favorite dish and said he'll order it next time. The Spicy Mango Margarita wasn't in season, so I got a regular margarita instead--still excellent. My husband enjoyed his Old Fashioned. We've had great service each time. The dining area is lovely, especially the patio overlooking the water. Our first visit was on the open patio, and this time we were seated in the screened-in patio with a similar view. We plan to keep coming back to Va Bene as long as it's around. read more

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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 read more

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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! read more

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Superb Superb Superb. What a place! My wife and I had lunch today shortly after it opened around 11:30. She had NOCE E PERA and I had POLPETTA DI CARNE. Absolutely great atmosphere, waitstaff, cleanliness A+ from table to floors to lavatory. As I mentioned in a previous rating the parking is a bit sparse and overpriced, but for the occasional visit I don't mind. Even the speed of service was wonderful. Nothing to criticize. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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Visiting Duluth on a snowy weekend, we had planned ahead and had a reservation at tiny Va Bene. The fresh bread, delicious pasta, and tasty dessert were all top-notch. One of our favorite Italian restaurants anywhere! We will return some time. read more

Delicious! Tried their salsiccia (probably spelt that wrong) but it was great. Very light. Their focaccia was super good, even a little sweet which I enjoyed. The inside is beautiful, great view of the lake. read more

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. read more

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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!!! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Va Bene - Lemon Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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This place is amazing! In the winter the solarium has impeccable views of Lake Superior, the restaurant has a cozy fireplace and tons of charm! Staff, flawless. We were a little early but were seated right away. Food, where to start. Fresh pasta, vegan and vegetarian options. They have a vegan sausage, kinda spicy but very tasty. The gnocchi is superb in the Gorgonzola sauce. Deserts, Oreo cheesecake yumm! The vibe is pretty casual, jeans and sweaters and we fit right in. We will be back!!! read more

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 read more

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I dream of Va Bene. I do recommend having a reservation rather than walking in. Depending on the day/time it may be difficult to get a table. I've never had a bad dish. I've even had the server blindly pick a dish for me and it was delicious. I love the open kitchen and seeing literally how the pasta is made. My only con about Va Bene is the parking situation. While there is a small parking lot out front it is usually full. My recommendation would be to park towards Fitgers and to get dessert at The PortLand Malt Shoppe or Crank and Dasher on your way back to your car. read more

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! read more

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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 read more

Va Bene - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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. read more

Va Bene - Nice views - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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

What a great place! The staff are all very friendly and attentive. The location is awesome with a great view. This was our first time in Duluth, so a friend took us here for a special dinner. He has dined here quite a bit, but has never sat in the grotto. I highly recommend you choosing this option if you can. The food is very good. We started off with the meatballs and they also brought us complimentary rosemary bread with olive oil and balsamic to dip in. The bread was very good. Hubby wished it had been warmed up, but I loved it. The meatballs were good. They weren't as velvety as we liked, but the sauce was delicious. I could eat it with just a spoon as my meal. Our pasta dishes were outstanding. They were served steaming hot and had a ton of flavor. Hubby had the Bistecca. The gorgonzola sauce was very creamy. The steak was very tender and cooked to the perfect temperature. I had the Salsiccia E Panna which was soooo good. It wasn't super saucy but the fresh tomatoes and herbs complimented the sausage perfectly. It had just a little cream, not quite the vodka sauce that I thought it might be. It was a pleasant surprise. We really liked Duluth, and I could see us coming back for another trip. We will definitely return to Va Bene when we do! read more

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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

My wife's favorite food is Italian and she had heard good things about Va Bene, so we called to make a reservation and it said we had to make it online. This was Saturday morning and tried to make one for that evening but they were already booked out all day, we decided to stop by anyway that afternoon and it turned out they had available seating on the outdoor patio. It was a CHILLY Saturday in August (Is it EVER warm here?? LOL) but thankfully they provided a blanket for my wife and had patio heaters. We had a view of the lake and sat at a small granite countertop. She ordered a glass of Chardonnay while I though I would try the Mezcal Old Fashioned. She didn't care much for the Chardonnay as she is usually picky, even with her whites. Mine was pretty good, very smoky and a unique flavor. We were served bread with olive oil and balsamic, which was very good, and a weakness of mine. While we were going to try an appetizer, it wasn't getting any warmer so we went ahead and ordered our entrees. My wife ordered the Bolognese with meatballs and I ordered the Gorgonzola Al Peperoncino. Mine was excellent! The pasta was perfectly al dente and the flavors of the peppers, salami, and sausage were perfectly complemented by the sauce. I was very happy with my choice. My wife also enjoyed hers very much, BUT she is a meatball snob as her Mother was a great Italian cook and she thought they were a bit dense and lacking a little flavor, she also thought it could have used a little more sauce. Overall, we were very happy and will definitely be back again to try different dishes. read more

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Sit outside if you can- make a reservation. This is a special place in Duluth. Appetizers amazing/ drinks delicious. Main courses- all great. Gnocchi was perfect. Salad and bread perfect additions. Try to save a little room for gelato. The espresso is delicious. Service always wonderful. read more

We ate here last year and were so excited to return. The pasta is made fresh with fresh ingredients. Tonight we returned and I had shells with a spicy oil mushrooms and asparagus. I may have had five asparagus tips and small pieces of mushrooms totally a whole mushroom. I thought the flavor was amazing but the amount of mushrooms and asparagus tips were too few. My husband had an angel hair pasta and added meatballs. Meatball rating is a 1. Server was only okay. A bit disappointed to say the least. He never returned to ask how our meal was. read more

so delicious, already made reservations for out next time in the area, love the seating by the lake! read more

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Celebrated a birthday at Va Bene as much for the gorgeous views of Lake Superior as for the food. We sat at one of the tables on the small deck outside (highly recommend) and had a great afternoon. The service was solid and the three different pasta dishes we tried were all good. The focaccia was terrific. read more

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

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

Va Bene absolutely delivered--everything was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. The prosciutto and fig crostini was the perfect start: sweet, salty, and rich. We loved the Pesto Di Mare (bright, herby, loaded with seafood) and the Capesante--perfectly seared scallops over creamy risotto. Great cocktails too--the Nuts and Berries was a standout. Add in lake views and friendly service, and this place is a must. read more

Va Bene - The view from the grotto - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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I stopped by for lunch with my partner & his family and it was a wonderful experience. It's right by the lake so we got a pretty good view and the staff were all so kind. I got the pomodoro and the meatballs were perfect and the sauce had a little tang to it. My partner got the chicken alfredo and loved it. The gnocchi was so creamy and well balanced. Did I mention the bread? The bread was so well flavored and so soft. My favorite part was the chocolate mint gelato, which I forgot to get a photo of. It had a strong mint flavor and it was so soft & the serving size was quite big. Overall, highly recommend if you stop by Duluth. read more

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Beautiful old building on the bank of Lake Superior. We had a window seat with a great view of the lake. The Burrata and heirloom tomato appetizer was amazing. We shared the Pesto Frutti Di Mare, the sun-dried tomato pesto was delicious. This is a Must visit if you're in Duluth read more

Va Bene is always a destination meal for me. The food is so good, the bread to die for. We sat in the enclosed patio for the view but it was after dark so there wasn't much to see other than the Duluth skyline, go during daylight if you can. Our server Steve was an absolute delight, as are all the folks working there. And if you can't get a direct reservation try for the cancellation list, we did and it worked beautifully. read more

We had reservations for 6:00 in the solarium. It is a very tight fit even though the view is lovely. Ordered spaghetti carbonara and hubby ordered a spicy pasta dish. 35 minutes later we finally got our dishes. The spicy dish was delicious, but my carbonara was definitely not the best. Limp pancetta is just the worst...and I didn't realize that they use an Alfredo sauce which is not a true carbonara. Not sure what the hype is, but I have had better. read more

Had a lovely dinner on a Friday night with a view of the lake from the solarium. We had made reservations, and ended up with a window seat. There's also a main indoor dining room and an outdoor patio during warmer months. I got the iced tea and chicken alfredo, which is usually my go-to for pasta. It was delicious and filling, especially after the bread they gave us to start the meal. Service was efficient and friendly. I'd definitely come back and visit in the summertime! read more

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I was so looking forward to the experience on Valentines Day night. Having travelled from Thunder Bay and being a first valentines with the girlfriend I am not excited to report the experience was not good. Did we enjoy each others company? Yes. However after about an hour in my girlfriend asked the waiter if everything was okay with our order curious about the time. He essentially got defensive and said he could Cancel our order meaning we could leave. we were not happy with the response and tone and basically I stopped him from continuing to be defensive and rude by saying "thanks for the update". In the meantime the place was smokey from the cooking which made no sense but they propped the door a few times letting in the cold as we were right next to it. Do they not have proper ventilation? So unprofessional. In the end the food came and it was even more disappointing. A panini that had to be eaten with a fork and knife but over done and the level of salt in the other dish was a bit much. in hindsight we should have cancelled the order but regardless we know the chefs did their best. Rude waiter, Smokey ambiance and food subpar...man I wanted it to be so much better. Were they overwhelmed? Maybe. read more

I will make this a brief summary, simply put, it has the location, it has top-notch food, it even has the layout of many a European cafe/restaurante. Service was friendly, laid back. My only groan was the music. As soon as I walked in it hit me, 70s'/80s' rock music, I know it's a Wednesday, 6pm, but not what I was expecting for one of Duluth's go to places, it was really off-putting tbh. Otherwise, great night out, amazing food, just turn down the volume and change the channel to something more ambient and fitting. read more

I recommend that you get a reservation. There's not a lot of seating and they're pretty popular. Food is excellent. Vibes are great. read more

Va Bene - Scallop pasta - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Another stunning meal at Va Bene. This time we got the carbonara.. A delight to have a restaurant that knows what carbonara is. Delicious pasta, burrito salad was superb. Great service. This is a top notch restaurant. Well run. read more