Very good food; great ambiance; friendly service specially for our 2 kids and good value for money. Gnocchi were a bit short on sauce. read more

Incredible pasta dish by chef not on menu, penne, shrimp, olives, potatoes, red pepper, cheese (I'd recommend some Gorgonzola for some funk!) in a slightly creamy redish/pinkish sauce. Friendly and helpful staff through and through. Waiter in particular was extremely knowledge on wines and pairings, though we're losing him to St Paul. I will be a regular here, which I think may be saying a lot for a New Yorker. read more

Va Bene - Chef's creation! - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Love, love, LOVE! I need to come back to Duluth to try more of their menu. On our visit, I had a pear pasta. The calories consumed were most "worth it" that I've ever had! Every bite was pure heaven. Bread was good, with oil & balsamic. We couldn't resist dessert either, and they have wonderful gelato flavors (we had pistachio & the salted caramel)! My sister had a flourless chocolate cake that was even more divine. We were seated in the front room, but the back room has a view over the lake. Make reservations! We were there on Wednesday (they do 1/2 off bottles of wine then), and it was packed even after 8pm. If you are in Duluth, this is a must-try restaurant! read more

Amazing! Perfect little restaurant. Come here for all your Italian food needs. Cozy with a wonderful view of the lake. Plus gelato! read more

Came here for my first trip up north and loved it!! We had a wonderful view overlooking Lake Superior. Super romantic and cozy! A total mom and pop restaurant with delish food. I recommend the artichoke dip.... So good! Had great wine, delicious pasta and incredible flourless chocolate cake! Tasted the gelato on the way out too..... Chocolate birthday cake was amazing!!! Perfect for a date night! read more

This focus of this restaurant is pasta, but don't mistake this for your red sauce only. The pastas (20 options) are traditional and creative; lots of options. Started with the roasted red pepper spread. It only comes with lightly toasted bread, but anything else would not have highlighted the creamy smokey goodness. Shout out to the cook on duty; the extra scallops I added to an otherwise vegetarian pasta dish were cooked to perfection! We will be back ... hopefully when the ice is off the lake and we can sit outside on the patio overlooking the lake. Try this place - you will love it. read more

This was one of the best experiences that my family and I had anywhere near Duluth. I am a restaurant seeker and it took practically an arm and a leg to convince my steak-and-potatoes family to dine at an out-of-the-way italian restaurant, but let me tell you. YOU HAVE TO GO HERE. It was literally a great and memorable experience for the whole family and there were no complaints from anyone, (even my sister who is a hard one to win over if she does not want to like something). I had the penne pesto pasta, my mother had a make-your-own pasta including a gorgonzola cream sauce, my father had the carbonera and my brother had the winning dish of the night; a pesto frutti di mare. please, if you are in the mood for a great night and some worthy pasta. Head to this restaurant. Great views of the superior lake, too, along with a comforting feel to the whole shebang. read more

Food was delicious! View from our table of the harbor. Was a great meal and cannot wait to go back!

This is our let's go out to celebrate spot!! The food is amazing. The views from the enclosed deck is stunning and the staff are exceptional. Well worth the effort to find parking. If you are disabled. It's worth it to park in the fitgers ramp. Duluth parking anywhere is at a premium. But back to va Bene's. The Italian cake is in a class by itself. My nerve turns to jelly every time we are lucky enough to score a piece. Heaven. Yes it is pricy but the food is gorgeous. The flavors amazing and the wines are among our new favorites. The restaurant boasts a fireplace. Just lovely all around. The staff really treats you well! Enjoy! read more

Great Resturant My wife had the sea bass. I got to try it excellent I had a number 10. He the waiter suggested I add sausage it was great. read more

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1. Overall very good Italian - best in Duluth. 2. Atmosphere if you can get a lake side seat on porch is amazing. 6/5 star view. 3. Food good with nice variety. Mine was perfect (#12 on menu). Not sure why they feel the need to have a filet mignon offering in addition to a nice selection of pastas- (typical American error: we offer everything!) 4. Get past the vinyl table cloths and laminated menus-the atmosphere was great, as was the service. 5. I didn't do it- but the gelato and coffee bar in the front was great classic feel, and overall the deserts were tasty. Would be worth the trip for that alone. Summary: bring your wife, friends and family here. I'll be back. I wouldn't bring the biggest business deal of the year here unless they love Italian! read more

The food was awesome but the service was terrible. We actually had better service (filling up our drinks and bussing tables) from the staff that was not assigned to us. Im pretty sure our waitress just forgot about us. She and another waiter were a bit snotty, it seemed he was busy taking care of some important people that showed up and were talking business with what could have been an owner or manager. The waiter was super nice to those customers. Bottom line, food was awesome. Wait staff needed a bit more training. I don't like spending 60$ for lunch and being treated like shit. read more

The soup was good and salad. The salmon lacked flavor. The hostess (ted hair) heavy eye makeup barely made eye contact and never acknowledged me only to ask if I had a to go order. Asked for some dressing and on her way to get it bumped into me. No excuse me nothing. Idk. The service alone based off the hostess was subpar as I was trying to find decent food while Visiting. read more

What a great little restaurant near the Portland Malt Shoppe on Superior Street in Duluth. Made a reservation to dine with some friends while we were in town for the holidays and were not disappointed. Staff seated us in the back room with a spectacular view of Lake Superior and the Aerial Lift Bridge. Our server made some excellent food and drink recommendations and was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Loved the rosemary bread with olive oil dipping sauce. Such a nice touch. The food arrived surprisingly quick and was enjoyed by all. I had the bolognese sauce with fettuccine. It was rich and flavorful. I could have used less Parmesan cheese on top, but that was only a small blip in an otherwise wonderful meal. My husband loved the Mahi Mahi recommended by our waitress. And don't skip dessert. The restaurant makes their own gelatos - everything from apple pie and raspberry chocolate truffle to caramel sea salt (which we had to order) and creme de menthe. Generous, delicious portions. We also sampled the almond liqueur soaked cake with raspberries. It tasted like an amazing wedding cake. It was hard not to linger over such a good meal in such a beautiful setting. Can't wait to go back and linger some more. read more

With a great view and kind staff the reasonable prices at Va Bene make it a good choice. Also, being off of canal park saves it from some of the overcrowding that other restaurants in town seem to experience during the summer. read more

Va Bene - The view of the lake and railroad. - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Food was excellent, fresh, and very authentic Italian. We had the pesto pasta and had to go back for more. The Alfredo was also super creamy and the gelato was to die for. Only down side is how small the place is, very hole in the wall and extremely popular. Waiting for a table can drag on for bit. Get a bigger location! read more

We did a pick up order the other day, such good service and fantastic food! This was our favorite restaurant before COVID and after the pick up service, continues to be! This place is Top Shelf, always has been and they probably always will be! read more

This place is fantastic. The frutti di mare was the best pasta I've ever had! The service was awesome, too. Can't ask for much more!

My daughter and I had a wonderful meal here. She had the alfredo pasta and I had the puttenesca. The bread was also amazing. The service was good and friendly. Highly recommend. read more

Best pasta I think I've ever had. Amazing flavors that taste straight from Italy! I got the new pesto dish and my brother got the steak dish. Both were absolutely delicious. read more

After one botched experience here, we returned about a year later in hopes of a change and that it was! We arrived on a Friday night and only waited for about 15 minutes to be sat in the back porch area overlooking the lake. It had a great atmosphere and although it was somewhat cramped, the room was quiet and very serene. Our server greeted us and after debate over wine, she offered up a bottle even cheaper than what we were considering and it was wonderful! My boyfriend ordered one of the fish entrees and I ordered the carbonara. Both were very well done, piping hot and filling (a bit of a surprise since they don't use heat lamps here...as someone in the industry this makes me nervous beyond belief, but whatever works, I suppose!). Overall, we had a very pleasant experience and I would be more than happy to return. read more

The staff were very welcoming and helpful, restaurant had an amazing view of Lake Superior and the Aerial Lift Bridge. We sat in the downstairs balcony which was great; however, we had bugs and mosquito coming after us. I know this is not the restaurant's fault, just a disclaimer for those that want to sit outside with a great view, it has some drawbacks. The food was decent but not the greatest for Italian food in my opinion. read more

This place is super cute! If you have guests who know GOOD Italian fare, take them here for a nice bite for lunch or a few cocktails! Good service and lovely setting! Do NOT, however, take your picky brother-in-law who has never eaten anything besides typical US-American food. LOL! He will likely not be as impressed as you will be! FABULOUS cocktails and wine! A must! read more

BEST and most AUTHENTIC Italian food I have ever had!! The seating is quite limited but it's definitely worth the wait, the patio that outlooks the lake is a great date spot. read more

OK I'll keep this short. My first experience with Va bene was...OUTSTANDING!! Service...A, Food...A, Atmosphere...A. Waitress was attentive, yet not overwhelming. Sausage soup, fantastic with the savory bread and OO/balsamic vinegar for dipping. Bolognese, the best I've had. Very flavorable without tasting like high school spaghetti like so many other Bolognese I've had. Even had some left over to enjoy later. And the atmophere couldn't be much better overlooking Lake Superior, unless one was over looking the Ionian Sea in Italy. All for under $30 including a draft beer and tip. Can't wait to come back with my wife! I have been to Duluth uncountable times. How come I haven't discovered this place before? read more

I liked Va Bene. The view from the porch seating was outstanding. The food was prepared and presented well. The dishes were OK, service good and after two drinks, the bill was right at $60 which is right about in the right range. I would return, but wasn't blown away. The porch seating was cramped and loud so that's what you pay for the view. read more

What a lovely evening at Va Bene! We were seated at the counter on the lower deck facing the lake at sunset. We did not have a reservation and were thrilled with our seating. Our server was wonderful--attentive but not too pushy--and we dined on delicious rosemary bread with olive oil. We only waited about 7 minutes for our entrees! On a Saturday night! We were pleasantly surprised. I had gnocchi with pesto sauce and my partner had beef tenderloin with shells in Gorgonzola cheese sauce. The food was amazing and the view could not be matched. We will be back the next time we are in Duluth! read more

Va Bene - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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We had the best meal of our long weekend in Duluth at Va Bene. 5 of us came in without a reservation around 7pm on a Friday night, and the wait for tables was long but we were starving so we decided to fill up the bar. Service from the bartender and other servers was fantastic, and we got a great wine recommendation. The menu is a straightforward selection of pastas, but each of ours were authentically and lovingly prepared. Perfect portions (you'll be full, but not overly stuffed) and a warm, inviting atmosphere. There's supposedly a great view of the lake from the back dining room, but it was raining so hard during our dinner that we couldn't see anything. read more

My favourite food in Duluth. ARRABIATA AL PADRE RICARDO! You'll want about 5 or 6 on the spicy scale for the perfect everything. Enjoy read more

Super quaint, very friendly service, unique food, tons of house-made items, fantastic view of the lake, and laid back environment makes this a great place for Italian food in Duluth. I've been here a few times since my initial review below, and every time I come I can't get enough. The fall specials are outrageously good! For lunch or dinner you must try the salmon entree. Their daily soups are great and all of their desserts are amazing. I came in around 5:30pm on a Thursday, it wasn't very busy when I came in (only a few tables were taken), but by the time I left nearly every table was occupied in the restaurant. I would say that if you want a seat out on the porch you definitely would need to arrive early, especially on a weekend night. Extensive menu, and the staff is very knowledgeable about ingredients, specials, and anything else you might want to know. They have a fairly decent sized wine list in addition to draft and bottled beers and mixed drinks. The soup of the day was orzo with butternut squash, Gorgonzola, and touch of maple syrup. I can never turn butternut squash down, so I decided to opt for the cup of the soup and a hummus panini with chicken. The soup arrived quickly. It had a tinge of sweetness, wasn't too heavy, and the dollop of cheese served on top melted quickly into the soup (lovely touch). Lots of flavor packed in that little cup, and it was served with some very fresh bread alongside genuine olive oil and vinegar. I was impressed by the portion size of the panini. Two fairly large halves and a side of lemon potatoes with olives, capers, tomatoes and onions. It was packed with crisp red onions, fresh olives, bright red bell peppers, and was loaded with chicken. The hummus was very flavorful, and the bread tasted fresh and let the ingredients really shine through. I can't go to an Italian restaurant without trying Tiramisu. I'm hard to impress with Tiramisu, but it was very good here. It was light, airy, yet it was packed with flavor. The boldness of the coffee and liquor was just right, and it wasn't soggy like some Tiramisu can be. Guilt-free sized portion was just right for one person. There are lots of other daily desserts available as well. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner (and dessert). Come just before the rush to get a good seat, and make sure to try at least one of the house-made desserts. read more

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Whenever you're in Duluth make sure you stop here! It's a small restaurant right on the shore of Lake Superior with a gorgeous view of the lake! The pasta frutti Di mare was absolutely delicious with scallops and shrimp. The little caffe isn't too expensive and the servers are very kind! It's a great place for a family and a very romantic place for a date. Try and come on a clear day so you can enjoy the view that much more. When we went it was pretty foggy, but regardless it was still a beautiful view read more

Va Bene - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Food was great. Service sucked! Our server was inattentive and rude. We requested to change table because I was under the AC but was told by her that once you were seated, you can't change! My little girl was served a tall glass of iced water while under other server, kids older than my kid were served water in plastic cup. Always think I shouldn't give a tip for such lousy attitude! Yet we were obliged to give read more

Definitely a great spot! The views from the enclosed deck area is amazing even in the winter months. The quality of the food is top notch and a great selection. I had the shrimp pasta and that ran around $19, not bad for the quality and service. read more

For sweet local ambiance and better expected food, check out this Lake Superior spot. If it's not too hot, check out the deck over Lake Superior. The Gelato is to die for and there's a nice selection of inexpensive wines, especially the Italian Whites. read more

Va Bene - Mmm Crostini with prosciutto, blue cheese!, Gorgonzola, honey and fig jam. MMMMMMM - Italian Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

If you run an Italian kitchen and make your own pasta, you're doing something right. And that something is everything

No where on the website does it say reservation only. My sister and I walked in and the guy at the front was extremely rude. To quote him, "well everyone else is figuring it out" was his response when we showed him the website and how it didn't say reservations only. He told us it was in the menu. Then proceeded to tell us that they only had one table that wasn't reserved and it wasn't going to be ready any time soon. Very rude customer service. I understand we are still in a pandemic but clearly stating that on a website would be more helpful. read more

Fantastic. Awesome food. Awesome service. Awesome view. Look at all these great reviews!!!! What more do you need to know? Anything I can write in this review wouldn't do the place justice. All I can say is that it's casual, busy and fun. Everything is first rate, without pretentiousness. Just go. You'll be glad that you did. We didn't have reservations (on a busy Saturday night) yet we were quickly worked in and seated. I ordered a wild salmon and alfredo fettucini dish. Kathy ordered something that had thin spaghetti and red sauce that was delicious (I had a bite). Kathy had two glasses of Rose' which she said was excellent. I ordered a bourbon old-fashioned that was expertly muddled and prepared. Service was speedy. Menu was extensive and reasonably priced. We'll drive 5 hours each way again, just to eat there! read more

This place had super friendly service & an absolutely beautiful view! The pasta with shrimp & scallops was a table favorite. Scallops were cooked perfectly. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was a little over cooked, but the flavor was there. It's definitely worth it to sit downstairs out on the back patio overlooking the water, the view really made the meal. read more

I have been here a few times, mostly in 2008-2010, and almost every time the food was great except the sauce was always too runny, which was somewhat disappointing. The Gellato is fantastic, and I can't possibly think of a restaurant in Duluth that has a more cozy atmosphere, or more incredible views of the lake! read more

We had the most perfect dinner tonight. We were seated in the grotto. Great Lake views! Our server was attentive without being overbearing. The food was excellent. We will make a point to comeback the next time we are in town. read more