We thoroughly enjoyed our night at Vagabondo! I was immediately impressed that every employee I encountered, from the hostess to the bartender to servers walking by, met me with acknowledgement and a smile. The dining room is lovely, not too crowded, and we were able to converse without any problem. Not too loud or too hush-hush. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in offering suggestions to our party of four on a variety of items that we could all share. She was attentive without being pesky (for lack of a better word). We started with the burrata and the calamari and they were both outstanding. Then we shared the rigatoni bolognese (must-try!) and carbonara (the al dente noodles were perfection!) and our server's recommendation of the spicy Sicilian sausage pizza. I had read previous reviews about the 'raw' pizza and the server even warned us that the texture is different than a traditional pizza. We were not disappointed! The toppings were aplenty and even though we were all reaching our limit, we had to dip the crust in the oil and balsamic as our server suggested. We didn't save room for dessert, but next time we visit, we sure will! read more

Overpriced, underwhelming: Vagabondo is a no-go. The portions are small and the prices steep. The bruschetta was a sad imitation of a favorite. I had high hopes -- the remodel is well done -- but the food falls short in both flavor and portion size. I truly wanted to like this place. And why did it take 20 minutes to bring gelato? It's just a scoop. At this rate, the curse of Excelsior dining will claim another. Next! read more

What a great addition to Excelsior! Homemade bread, spicy calamari appetizer, four flavorful entrées and an amazing dessert. The Bolognese and tiramisu alone is worth another trip back soon. Top notch service and staff. An all around great experience. read more

Vagabondo - Tiramisu - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

We had a 7:45 reservation, but did not get seated until after 8:15 and then waited another 45+ minutes for our food. We did get a very weak apology from the hostess and a acknowledgment from our waitress. Our salads were excellent, but the main entrees were mediocre at best, with zero flexibility from the chef to modify an entree. Our experience has been that, when dining at this level of restaurant, the chef is willing to modify and entree. Our waitress Jackie was excellent and I would give her a 10. read more

Honestly had high hopes for this place and was not impressed. Service was awful - very slow. Food took forever. It was very slow and not overly busy. Food was subpar- the best was the rigatoni which we enjoyed, as well as the arugula salad was great - but cauliflower was almost soggy, mussel linguine had little flavor, etc. For an almost $400 meal, would not recommend. Huge bummer because the vibe of the restaurant seems awesome. read more

Interesting place. Our food was good. The menu is a touch confusing because small plates and larger portions are all mixed together. We were sat downstairs which felt a little bit like eating in someone's basement rec room. Not awful but didn't feel like what we were hoping for. The service was a little odd. Our server didn't know the menu super well and told us a few things we shouldn't order because they aren't good. I love the honesty but makes a person wonder why there are things on a menu that shouldn't be ordered. I enjoyed it overall. Drinks were really good. read more

Chef Fhima NEVER lets us down!! We came hungry and booked our next reservation before we even left. The ambiance the food the drinks were 10/10. Every dish was amazing. Can't go wrong! read more

Go! Just go! We went during social hour and sat at the bar. The atmosphere is beautiful and you can see all the thoughtful details throughout the place. I ordered the Agata and my hubs got a delicious Sicilian red, suggested by the very knowledgeable, attentive and thoughtful bartender Lucas. We ended up going with the mussels and pizza bruschetta and let me tell you,both were out of this world! The mussels had a lovely little heat while the bruschetta was light, airy and had the full depth of the 136 year old sourdough starter, from which it was made. No notes! We will definitely be back and a double thanks to Lucas for making a silly afternoon whim so memorable! read more

Vagabondo - Sicilian Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

Such a disappointment! We stopped in on Sunday late morning to get a pastry and coffee. While the decor was breathtakingly beautiful, the staff was really not very helpful and had zero personality and the pastry offerings were almost non existent. When asking where the pastries were, I was told just "order off of the board" and we bring it to you outside. There were no pastries visible to look at and influence your decision. (Mind you there was no one inside and only 1 couple outside...very telling). I ordered a plain croissant. It was approximately 2" x 3", tough, rubbery and tasteless-no buttery flakiness of a high end bakery you'd expect; the Pillsbury croissants in a can are far superior! Please put the attention you've obviously given to decor into hospitality training of staff and preparation and presentation of the pastries. Sorry Vagabondo- you are a "no go"! read more

Went for brunch on our 46th wedding anniversary. Very small tables, felt cramped in. I ordered the WAGYU TOP SIRLOIN & EGGs. Steak was small and taste was just ok. Ordered medium rare it came medium also came with THYME BUTTER CRISPY POTATOES which weren'tcrispy and on the greasy side. My husband ordered the AMBROSIA BENEDICT. it was a large piece of seasoned Sicilian bread with sliced prosciutto, an egg and a small dollop of hollandaise sauce. It just was dry so we asked for more hollandaise sauce, which they brought to the table in a small little cup and it was cold. He only ate 1/2, and he's not picky! Very disappointing! Went next door to Coalition for the Keylime pie! Made our whole day!! read more

Food was incredible! The pizza had a soft, light crust, cheese was so good and sauce was chef's kiss. I got the gnocchi and pine nut dish and it was equally delicious. The space was super cool, downstairs next the wine cellar room with a movie projecting on the wall created an intimate atmosphere. The service was great too - the staff is kind and they were very attentive. Would definitely recommend this place! read more

Excellent food and service expected at a high end restaurant but at mid level prices. Absolutely worth going to for a nice night out at a reasonable price. read more

My new favorite restaurant in the area! Was so excited to try and it did not disappoint. The staff was so friendly and attentive and the food was incredible. Everything was so authentic and beautiful and the space is to die for! Will be back a hundred more times!! read more

Food was very okay. Very overpriced in my opinion for the flavors you're getting. Our server was sweet but she wasn't very helpful or attentive to our table. Tiramisu was good read more

More like 2.5 stars. Disappointing. You can read about issues in first visit. Figured those were due to it being newly opened. No excuses now, though. Not to sound like a boomer (I'm at the cutoff), but the front staff and service are very young. They are nice & enthusiastic but don't know how to provide a more upscale service. The front needs an experienced hands-on manager. Feels more TGI Fridays than upscale restaurant serving a $45 rigatoni in meat sauce. Service itself was disjointed. Not careless or unkind or lacking effort. From the detached greeting at the door, to the delayed water service, delay in drinks being served (came after appetizer had arrived -- with one appetizer completely forgotten without mention). There was nobody there who we interacted with (owner was present in kitchen not on the floor) who knew how to elevate the experience. As to food: Burrata was good but tomatoes scarce. Like two half small (cherry?) tomatoes to each of four small bread (perfectly prepared) slices. As to drinks. I asked for drink with lemon and single large cube, which server said they had. Arrived without lemon and with many small cubes. No forewarning despite my specific request. Server said they ran out. (Saturday at 730pm ?!). For entree ordered pappardelle pancetta carbonara and sausage pizza. I love garlic but the pappardelle was swimming in it. Way, way overgarliced. Way. Pizza was both over-engineered and lacking distinctive flavor, if that makes sense. The dough we had loved from our first visit got completely overshadowed if not lost. Maybe a simpler pie selection would have avoided this. Anyway, first visit was probably inflated 4-stars based on amazing pizza dough and commendable response to poor service. This one more realistic. Vagabondo has to upscale everything, not just its prices. read more

Welcome to Excelsior, Fhimas! Run in here and order anything, you can't go wrong. Start with a warm and sincere welcome from the staff and a visit from Eli Fhima, a man literally born to run a restaurant. Enjoy flashbacks of Minneapolis' favorite restaurants for nearly 4 decades when you see David Fhima working the line in the beautifully restyled open kitchen I. The former Red Sauce Rebellion corner of water Street. The wine list is impressive, as is the wine cellar private dining space in the former speakeasy below the main dining room. There's a village vibe to the outdoor seating area. The menu features a neat and clean Sicilian take on bistro favorites. The basics are executed perfectly, if you try nothing else, dive into the Pappardelle Pancetta Carbonara. The pancetta is a wonderfully toothy, smoky and salty treat. Pizzas are made on the famous generations old Sourdough and it melts in your mouth. Seafood dishes were cooked to perfection as well. Same with the table bread. A nice change for a brand new restaurant that was serving a full house on a Wednesday night, the staff was attentive, coordinated, and very efficient while covering a lot of space. New regular spot for us. Family friendly and still sophisticated with great Fhima new and classic recipes and famed hospitality. read more

I don't usually write restaurant reviews, but after our experience, I felt compelled to share. Things started off on a positive note: the atmosphere was pleasant, the service seemed friendly, and our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time looking delicious. My friend ordered the Sicilian sausage pizza, which unfortunately came out raw. Not undercooked, the dough was visibly raw. When our waiter checked in, she politely brought it to his attention. He took it back to the kitchen, which we appreciated at first, until he promptly returned with the same pizza and explained that this was "the Sicilian way" and that, because it was sourdough, that's just how it's supposed to be. We clarified, "Raw?" and he said yes, that's how it's meant to be, and asked if she wanted to keep it. It got quiet, and I jumped in to decline, explaining again that it was a visibly raw pizza. He offered her a salad while she waited, which was fine, but no replacement pizza ever came. After that, our waiter largely avoided the table until the end, when he asked if we wanted a dessert menu as if nothing had happened. When the check came, the $28 pizza was still on the bill. My friend had to flag him down again to get it removed. Overall, the evening felt like more work than a relaxing meal out. Between the confusion, lack of follow-through, and having to advocate for basic service corrections, it just wasn't worth it. After reading other reviews, it seems we're not the only ones left wondering if the chef truly understands what Sicilian cooking is supposed to be. read more

We've visited twice in the last two weeks and sat at the upstairs bar both times. Both times we've had amazing service from Lucas our bartender! He even remembered us from the previous week. We love this place! The food is amazing and thank you to Lucas for making it another wonderful evening! read more

My wife had the carbonara, I had the bolognese. Both dishes were bland and unremarkable. The setting was warm and welcoming and the service was fine. But the kitchen has to up its game to survive in an area of well heeled and discerning diners. read more

This place is seriously awful. I was there with 1 other person and had a reservation for 7pm and we each had one drink and then ordered our food at 7:30. The food never came so at 8:40, we decided to leave and made an 8:45 reservation at Mirabelle next door. It was very weird that they couldn't get a pizza and calamari out in over an hour. The server was spacey and off-putting. Even tables sat 30 minutes or so after us were eating and we were still sitting there. Obviously they forgot to put the order in, but never apologized and acted bizarre about it. I give this place a year or two before it's out of business - it's a shame because I wanted to like it and the space is nice. read more

Amazing food and service. Panzanella salad was great, birrata was amazing. Mussels were tasty, and the bolognese was wonderful. 7:30 on a Wednesday night and we were seated right away. Tiramisu was best I've had. read more

Everything we ordered was exceptional. The service was delightful and we even were able to chat with the chef at our table. We loved the ambiance of the cellar and can't wait to take friends with us next time and to try more items on the menu. read more

We went here to celebrate a birthday and explicitly chose the later reservation in order to be seated upstairs. When we went to check in, however, we were told that people were still sitting in our seat and we had to be seated downstairs. There were a handful of two person tables open but.... Ok. When we get downstairs, it takes another 5 minutes to get us to our table because people had seated themselves at our table? Fine ok. We finally get settled in, after 10 min of back and forth, and immediately put in drink and appetizer orders. Drinks come out quickly but the appetizer just seems to be missing? We sit at the table for about 25 min after our drinks arrive with no word on the app and no one coming to take the entree order. Finally, 40 minutes into the meal, our appetizer comes out. Apparently it took so long because someone dropped it. Ok, fine. Again. It is literally a ball of burrata on some bread with cold tomatoes and balsamic, so not sure how it could take this long to make even if they had to make it twice. We put our entrees in right when the app came out, since at that point we were very hungry. Entrees came out in 10-20 min max. The second half of the meal was fine, but it was difficult to overlook two pretty annoying hiccups at the start of the 'experience', especially with the prices that this place is charging. The food here is pretty good overall. We ordered the burrata, carbonara, and one of the pizzas. I would order all of these again, but I probably won't come back. read more

It was a Wednesday night with no reservations available. The ambiance is very nice. Bright and welcoming. The service was just ok. A few requests were forgotten and the server had to be reminded. The main course took way longer than normal (I hate to see a weekend). As for the food, the Panzanella Salad was light and delicious. The Vegetarian Rissotta was spot on. Creamy and delicious. The Pasta all Norma was decent, nothing to write home about. The Linguine ai Frutti di Mare was a huge miss. Tasteless dish. Overall, just ok tonight. I was hoping for more. read more

Great ambiance, service is solid. Maison Margeaux has much better food. Overall, great place for a drink.

Have heard so many great things about Vegabondo and finally had the chance to try it myself. Incredible food, kind staff with great service, and beautiful vibes and ambiance. This is a must try if you are in the area!! read more

Food and ambiance are good, service is another story. Will hope it improves over time

The food, service, ambiance was excellent. The pizza was absolutely delicious. Sourdough pizza crust passed down by generations.

My husband and I went to Vagabondo to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Our reservation was for 8 pm and upon checking in with the host, we were told there was no record of our reservation and the last one was for 7:45. He wasn't rude, but definitely acted like it was our mistake. I showed him the confirmation email and autopopulated calendar item, and he then apologized saying there have been problems with the system. We then had to be seated in the bar area at a tiny table that made us feel like we were having a tea party with our children. Would have been fine for cocktails, not ideal for enjoying a meal. As for the food - positives were that the wine was nice, and my lasagna was excellent. The bad - my husband's pizza was nearly inedible as the dough was basically raw or very undercooked except for the outer crust. Really he should have sent it back, but he felt so bad about the reservation debacle that he hesitated. I'm now seeing that I was charged a $30 late fee from the reservation that we were told didn't exist, so will need to deal with that. We'll definitely give it another try, but will allow some time to work out the kinks. The ambiance is wonderful and we're excited to have an Italian restaurant in Excelsior. read more

So happy to finally have a Fhima family restaurant in the area! The Beef Carpaccio and Carbonara are always my favorites, but I also love trying something new every time I visit. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is personal and attentive. Every experience has felt special and left me looking forward to my next visit read more

The pizza was wonderful but the carbonara wasn't the best, it wasn't authentic carbonara, there was cream in it and the dish was so expensive.. didn't make sense. Tasted like Alfredo, so that was disappointing. Also got lasagna and it was tiny! Wasn't impressed and wouldn't go back. read more

Total misfire. Just awful. Food not as represented by staff. (Food allergy assurances unrelated to food produced). Cold mussels. Lots of bread filling out. read more

amazing pasta dish with ragu. we had the fish with olive tapenade. fish was cooked right but lacked the WOW . pizza was good but no wow factor. only one pizza with sausage, others all different types of cheese pizza. staff were mostly well trained. some were so new they didn't know how to answer questions about the menu. the ambience was very will definitely give the restaurant another try. read more

Overall, food was pretty mediocre. They claimed the burrata was made fresh, but we saw the tub of pre made burrata in the back. Just overall not super authentic sicilian at all. Waiter was incredible and the ambiance was super fun! read more

Five of us went for dinner at this restaurant. We were expecting, as advertised, a meal spiced in the Sicilian way. We were disappointed. The calamari was bland. The salads were acceptable, but the mussels were over-salted and bland. The carbonara was very average as was the baked fish. Again, the main issue was the blandness of the preparations. The best parts of the meal were the gelato desserts. The pistachio and chocolate flavors were excellent. Prices for all the dishes were on the high side, with extra charges being made for adding meat sauce to the lasagna and small balls of mozzarella cheese to the salads. I would also recommend checking very carefully the final bill. They were discrepancies between the initial bill we received and the final bill . When pointed out to the waitress, the discrepancies were adjusted. Service was mediocre. The waitress, Olivia, had more tables than she could serve efficiently. We were seated in the downstairs dining room with very low ceilings. Noise levels were very loud, making conversation difficult. Overall, the feeling of our group was we would not go back. read more