We enjoyed the food at so much on Sunday they we went back on Tuesday! One person ordered the same meal both days.

Sadly I was very disappointed with my experience tonight. I got the carbonara and the pancetta was extremely burnt to the point where it was not edible and it was very bitter. For a place this expensive the food should be way better. The server was very friendly. The tables are way too close to each other, not an intimate environment at all. Sadly I don't think we will be back. read more

Great food and ambiance, highly recommend. Best we had in Duluth................ Ask for the patio read more

Food wasn't as good as I expected. The pesto and shells dish was really thick and way too strong. My mom's Alfredo was lacking in flavor and had barely any sauce or chicken. My sisters liked the salmon shells dish and the fungi shells dish. The atmosphere was nice and our server was also nice. Bathrooms weren't accessible for my mom who uses a walker. Chairs were blocking the entrance to bathroom area and staff just stood there and watched us struggle trying to get in. We most likely won't be back read more

Awesome evening. The food was delicious and the service great. Beautiful view, will have to come back in the summer and sit outside. read more

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Authentic Italian food. Delicious! Great service! Atmosphere a bit louder than I'd like but reminds me of my Italian grandmother's kitchen so maybe authentic too ;) read more

Go to date night spot. Needs a reservation, but the preparation is worth it. Fantastic food, apps, and drinks. Probably our favorite local spot. read more

Va Bene Caffe was a great experience, the view for the seating I got was great. The staff were super nice and friendly, and they really gave us a great experience. I was able to reserve seating for their enclosed deck seating, which gives you a view of Lake Superior while enjoying your food. I ordered their pesto gnocchi, the dish was really good and the pesto sauce was amazing, I really enjoyed the dish. My husband got the Salmon Fresca which tasted super good, I highly recommend! The Salmon was beautifully cooked along with the sauce and pasta they used. The dish also included some dry tomatoes which went along nicely. As for dessert we tried their pistachio gelato, super creamy, very tasty, I really recommend trying their gelato here as it tastes super authentic. I highly recommend this place next time you visit Duluth, or if you live in Duluth. It has great food, great staff, and delicious dessert! read more

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Food: awesome! Everything was so delicious and perfect. It was hard to make choices! Had meatball app, beet salad and mista salad, entrees pictured, tiramiSU, and a bottle of Pinot noir. Service: we had Andy as our server. He was so professional, helpful, kind, and fun. Ambiance: could not have been better. We were seated at the rail overlooking the Lake (and the bike trail we rode earlier today). The only reso we could get was 4:30, and it was perfect. Had time to make it to the concert at Chester Park. read more

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This place is absolutely wonderful! A kind family member recently treated me to a meal here overlooking the water. Such a great view! The train going by was uncomfortably loud but they can't help that so I don't mind. Everyone loved their food so much! To start, we got the Burrata e Pomodoro and shared it. I should have gotten that for the main dish! It was incredible! Perfect combination of fresh cherry tomatoes, home made pesto burrata, bread, and balsamic! My main dish was the pasta alla zucca violina with no pancetta (vegetarian) and it was lovely! My family member got the gorgonzola al peperoncino and could not stop raving. For dessert I got the lemon sorbetto which was lovely. The service was wonderful too, our server was so on the ball and attentive and informative. All in all this place is a must visit! read more

Va Bene - pasta alla zucca violina - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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We have eaten at the restaurant many times and always had a great experience. Tonight we went for the wine pairing New Years dinner and it didn't hit the mark. Our salad didn't have any dressing, you couldn't see an oil dredge on the bottom of the bowl. The pasta coarse was Cold and gummy, The last coarse was tenderloin and was COLD. Hot food should be on hot plates!! We commented to our server, no apologies but my husband watched her expound to her co-workers. If you want to be 4 or 5 star then do it. Very disappointing read more

Great food, great service, great with people with dietary restrictions. Our server was extremely helpful in determining what would be safe to eat for someone with celiac. Fun drinks too!! Very very good. Great view of Lake Superior as you enjoy your meal! Highly recommend!! read more

The views from the solarium were fantastic and the food was even better. Our waitress was so sweet and gave us all the fantastic recommendations. We got the honey goat cheese with pear for a starter and it was delicious. For entree we had the Pasta Frutti Di Marie & Gorgonzola Al Peperoncino. Everything was so good and tasted so fresh. 10/10 recommend! read more

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I know my kids like this place. I felt it was a little over the top for what they were charging and we have not been back though I know the food was good. read more

Had a delicious experience at my favorite Va Bene Caffe! Haven't been up to Duluth for a few years so we made reservations for dinner to for a table in the Enclosed Solarium (definitely recommend making reservations). The food was as wonderful as I remember... maybe even better? Started with the Rosemary foccacia (initial slices are complimentary with olive oil and Balsamic). I had my go-to Carbonara with rich, creamy sauce, pancetta, and sweet peas. Hubby ordered the Salciccia e Panna pasta with flavorful and tasty sausage. So delicious, I forgot to even take a photo before we devoured our entrees! After finishing our meal, I did manage to snap a photo of the view. It was Wednesday evening, so in addition to the lovely view of Lake Superior and Lift Bridge we got to see sailboat races, too! Another terrific experience at Va Bene and we look forward to a return visit for sure the next time we're in Duluth! read more

Va Bene - View of sailboats from the Enclosed Solarium - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

We loved this place! We'll probably be back next time we're in Duluth. We sat outside on the lower balcony, and while it was windy and cold that day, we didn't feel the wind and there were heaters there so it felt really great. The view was absolutely wonderful. The artichoke dip was very delicious but it's nothing like Applebees spinach artichoke dip so don't expect it to be cheesy. We loved it. The pastas we ordered were good but not the most amazing. The carbonara was delicious but the sausage we ordered with it was way too salty so it wasn't that great. The Preferito della casa looked unappetizing at first (I thought it was snails for a split second), but after taking a few bites I enjoyed it. It wasn't my favorite pasta I've ever had, but I also didnt hate it. You definitely have to be a balsamic vinegar lover to order this though, as it has that very strong flavor. Our service was great, and even for sitting on the balcony under the rest of the restaurant, we never felt forgotten. read more

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A perfect Duluth day spent on the screened in patio! Meal was delicious (chicken alfredo is 4/5, salsiccia e panna is 5/5) & gelato is a must :-) read more

The ambiance of this caffe is charming, great location right on the lake - the Italian food is out of this world. I honestly haven't had better Italian food - the waitstaff are very knowledgeable of the menu, give great advice in making decisions and are honest. This is hands down my favorite place to eat in Duluth. Make reservations early to get a table right on the water. read more

Food was AMAZING and came out fast and the view on the porch was gorgeous!! The staff was kind and the service was great. read more

Va Bene - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

We were able to snag some last minute grotto spots and boy was it worth it! The view was amazing and if you are worried about being cold, they have heaters and blankets available. From the drinks to the appetizer and the entree, everything was delicious. Recommend stopping in if you are in Duluth! read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The complimentary bread was a lovely touch. Our waiter recommended the pesto frutti di mare and it was our favorite but the carbonara was also a super great choice! By the end of it we were so satisfied by everything. The only thing to keep in mind with the seafood dish was there was 4 pieces of shrimp and 2 scallop but very filling nonetheless! You can really taste the texture of the homemade pasta. The view of the lake and the gelato for dessert were the cherries on top! Caramel and Oreo gelato were both superb! read more

Va Bene - Pesto Frutti Di Mare - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

We loved our appetizers , meals, drinks and dessert. Look forward to coming back next time we are in Duluth

First time customer. The food was delicious and the staff were very helpful and kind with my elderly mother. Love this place by the lake!

OH MY GOSH. This squash pasta is now one of my favorite pastas in the USA. Everything was absolutely amazing.

Loved it so much we made a reservation for 8 days from today. Our wine and beer choices presented good quality. I had the chardonnay and my husband had the cream ale. Bread w/olive oil & balsamic was tasty; we ordered more. My husband's carbonara was excellent and fattening. My pesto salad was okay; just not much flavor. One of the best parts of our meal was the view!!!! read more

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100% our favorite restaurant in Duluth,MN! During the summer you have to make a reservation, but it's not too difficult to get in during the off seasons. Great for celebrating! Compared to the rest of the town prices, we find this ver reasonable for the quality of the food. It's fun seeing the boats come in on the patio or watching the kitchen cook your favorite pasta if you're inside. They also have gelato for dessert! Small, well lit and elegant. Great for intimate moments (; read more

Food was amazing so was the view. It was amazing that they have the outside patio so my puppy can come with me to eat and I'm glad that I was very pet friendly again. The food was amazing. read more

Va Bene - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Amazing Italian right on the shores of Lake Superior, would definitely recommend outdoor seating during the summer!

Wonderful attentive service in a beautiful, intimate space. We had a lovely view of the lake and our server was wonderful. We went all out and enjoyed all items. Huge portions of yummy Italian American food. It's not authentic Italian food, but it's delicious Italian American food! Gnocchi was standout best dish of the night! Highly recommend. Parking wasn't too challenging as we went earlier in the evening. read more

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Always a great place to eat when visiting. Had an excellent young man serving us and everything he recommended was beyond excellent!

Outstanding food and service. I was visiting for business and a local suggested Va bene . It's a must do when in the Duluth area.

Visiting Duluth for the first time and we read the reviews and made reservations. Be sure to make reservations. Even early at 5:30 p.m. they were already on a roll. Our Vino Bianco Chardonnay and appetizer Burrata Pomodoro was excellent. I had the Bolognese and my husband had the Chicken Alfredo. Very good but both needed more sauce. A bit dry for our taste although still good. I'd dine here again if I'm ever in Duluth. Nice atmosphere in a small space. read more

I was looking forward to a wonderful dinner at your restaurant, knowing the great Italian food I've had in the past. We were welcomed by our server Tom, who is fabulous, but obviously had to adhere to a very strict time frame . Although my friend was seated,  I wasn't seated yet and we were asked to order drinks. I felt like I was on a rigid  time frame, constantly being asked to order the next course before I had even looked at the menu. It was very stressful and not at all what had experienced previously. I refrain from ordering a main course, as I didn't feel like I could finish it within the time frame that was allotted. During the meal, I was told we had a 1.5 hour time frame and it was up at 6:30 p.m. Frankly, I felt like I was punching a clock with my dining experience. If I wanted to do this, I could have gone to any fast food restaurant. Since I hadn't seen my friend for years, it was very disappointing to attempt to order, eat, and pay a bill in 1.5 hours, while  being reminded of our 630 time frame  As a Duluthian, I was very disappointed in this restaurant, and embarrassed for my friend who was out of town and who I hadn't seen forever. I had a very stressful dining experience, and am unsure why the 1.5 hour time frame was set when there were four tables available when we left. I understand this was placed during covid, but I would highly recommend lifting this ban, particularly for visitors, allowing people to enjoy a better dining experience at your restaurant.   Your food is fabulous. However, I will be frequenting the other Italian restaurants in Duluth as I can be seated and remain at the table for as long as I want and have the ability to reminisce with friends without such stress.  Please return to your past practice,allowing people   to enjoy the ambiance and experience that used to make Va Benne a  very special experience in Duluth read more

The café had seating overlooking Lake superior it started with bread that was served with olive oil and the vinegar. The bread was homemade and delicious I had the salmon pasta dish and the taste was incredibly good. We had a salad one serving of salad that fed three of us. Service was excellent ambience was great. I very much recommend this place for a meal read more

Amazing dishes. Amazing service. Loved the Italian mule for a drink. The balsamic soaked pasta was to die for. I really want to come back here some time but have no other pull to Duluth. The salmon Fresca was awesome but one suggestion would be to train your servers on what size of scallops you actually have. He said scallops were $5 a piece I said okay do you know how big they were? He said "ohhh the big ones..." I said "like U8?" "Yep those!" so I ordered 3 with my meal and they were definitely 20/30 scallops at the biggest. If I knew how much they were for the size I would've never add $15 to my meal for the dinky things. I'm still excited to come back if I ever find myself in the area but I doubt it. read more

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This restaurant honestly deserves 6 stars. That's why if you show up without a reservation, you'll be sorry. Most of the people who arrived without one were told a minimum of an hour wait. It's that good. This is my second visit here over the span of a few years, and I'm so glad that the food quality and intimate atmosphere haven't changed a bit. I requested a table in the solarium and they honored that request. Our server was just what you'd want for a romantic dinner, popping in only as much as needed and never making you feel rushed, which allowed for continued conversation. I have to say that I really love the new "low alcohol" drink menu! We tried a few different options and loved that we could enjoy a beverage without having to count and decide who would be driving home. What a great idea! We started with the winter caprese (the Mr was grudging and not a tomato person). To my surprise, we fought over the last bites. The fresh mozzarella was divine and the roasted tomatoes absolutely mouth watering. Next I had the carbonara, the Mr the arrabiata al padre ricardo. He accidentally overestimated his spicy tolerance and was smoking at the mouth a bit, but that wasn't the fault of the kitchen. He still enjoyed it very much. I have dreamt about the carbonara since the last time I had it, and it was exactly how I hoped it would be this time around. My only complaint is that they don't put a sunny side egg on the top. To finish, we had the tiramisu (a light, delightful staple here) and a dense chocolate cake. I finished all of mine, while he had most of the cake boxed. You just can't go wrong with any of the dessert options here. We were so pleased with our visit and can't wait to come back here on our next milestone date! read more

They really know how to pack people in to this cozy little restaurant for their homemade pastas. We had a group of six, so called ahead to see if we'd be able to get in. We are from the Cities so we were first timers. The call didn't go so well, leaving my friend feeling a bit put off by their attitude. We arrived a bit before our reservation, which was a bad idea. There is really nowhere for 6 people to wait without getting run over by the staff. Half of the kitchen is in the middle of the dining room, so all the prep is run from the back through any waiting people. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating. We were the last table in the restaurant since we weren't able to get a reservation until 8:30pm. They did add gratuity to our bill, and let us know. I'm guessing this had to do with the size of our party. There were many pasta options but the majority of us went with the mushroom pasta that the waitress had recommended (Pappardelle Al Funghi) . One of us had the seafood pasta (Pesto Fruitti Di Mare). They were both tasted fresh and delicious. I did add a bit of salt to mine. The mushroom was definitely there, but it was not a very powerful flavor. It was a nice light dish. The seafood on the other hand was very rich and creamy. I was lucky enough to snag a bite of it with a bit of scallop! It would be very heavy to eat alone, so maybe would be a good dish to share. read more

Food was fabulous, service was very good; the noise level was deafening due to both customer chatter as well as food preparation (dishes clattering, etc). The building is old and very charming; there are measures that could be taken to dampen the noise levels and I recommend the management consider such actions. read more

YUM. What a great place to dine at in Duluth. We had an outdoor spot that overlooked Lake Superior and it was beautiful watching the sunset while eating this delicious food. I got the pesto pasta sauce with pappardelle (not sure why pesto was in the name when it was a red-orange cream sauce but still, it was delicious). I appreciated the free bread that you get in the beginning, but only one piece per person so that was small. You can order more with a cost. My boyfriend got the steak and potatoes meal...He didn't get many vegetables though which disappointed him (it was a $30+ dish). It was my birthday so I got a free small gelato which was a sweet touch. Had to mention to our waiter though (she did not ask if we were celebrating anything that night and I wish she did but it's fine). Overall, definitely come to this place if you want to treat yourself :) read more

Made it safely to Duluth today. Was to stop in and sit by the lake and taste some delicious food. The staff are all swift, friendly and helpful. Heather was a pleasure to work with! Spot on tips from her!Having a superb glass of Dolcetto d'Alba red wine from Viola Piedmont sitting in this Caffe. Then ordered the Signature Mista- filed greens, fresh fennel(mmm new like), red onion and shaved carrots with balsamic vinaigrette. Tornedos de la Foret - medium rare pan seared filet with a rich cognac mushroom sauce sitting atop a wild mushroom risotto! The meat was perfect and cut it with just a fork. Highly recommend! And then to wash it down with a rich, deep and luscious dark chocolate gelato! Was torn between that and from scratch tiramisu... well I can always go back and have that next trip! Recommended by my AirBnB Superhost Barbara Ann and she nailed it! read more

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