Very impressed! I would have never known this restaurant was there. Incredible food and great ambiance. We had Mark as our waiter and he was great. Everyone was happy with their meals. Food tasted fresh and was delicious! read more

Vanda Cucina - Salmon dish - Italian Near Me - Warwick, Rhode Island

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Must try ! Beautiful decor, delicious food, great service, and all fresh ingredients. You won't be disappointed. The bread and olive oil with home made garlic paste to start with was amazing and it just got better as the meal went on. John was our server and was kind and attentive, I was impressed with how professional he was. The food was fresh and everything tasted authentic and made with love. We had the squash blossoms, ravioli, agnolotti ravioli dish, and the minestra soup, finished off with their blueberry and olive oil cake. The red sauce was full of flavor, and the agnolotti left my husband speechless! It seems as everything here is delicious, you can't go wrong. We will be back read more

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Amazing service and incredible food! Our first time and we were super pleased with our experience.

Good service. Really nice dishes. I had eggplant rollatini. And a garden salad. My husband's salmon was superb. Don't hesitate. Go

So glad we finally made it in for dinner!! Wife and I Live around the corner and always drive by looking from the outside in thinking it would be to small. VANDA was perfect in all aspects! Sat at the bar and was blown away with everything. Service was very friendly and helpful, we will be back!!! read more

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A gem of a restaurant. Delicious offerings, friendly, skilled wait staff, and a welcoming atmosphere. I had the Malfadine Pasta dish on our last visit. It was delicious. read more

the homemade focaccia is so so good! great food, cute atmosphere and great for a date night. definitely make a reservation since they're usually booked up! read more

The antipasti clams dish is just extraordinary. I could have eaten this on a dish of pasta...I could have eaten this all night! Delicious! Her son, the owner, said it's his mother's recipe. It's fantastic. The olive oil cake is amazing, lemon curd, rhubarb compote, and I ordered the cherry gelato. Great place, great owner, great staff. Loved it all. read more

Always on point. The food is great! Our kids love it here too!!! But I would say if bringing kids go early it does get filled up and the atmosphere is lively. The bread is so yummy! Thank you for sharing your craft! read more

Delicious food and excellent service, cozy atmosphere and very attentive staff. read more

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Vanda is some of the BEST Italian in Rhode Island. We've gotten takeout multiple times during COVID, and it's just as good as dining there. The homemade focaccia is what dreams are made out of. The veal is always tender. The gnocchi are like little pillows. Great cocktails too! read more

Delicious!! The bread was amazing too. Great Service too will go back soon. We love it

The meal was excellent!! We met friends for dinner and had a lovely time until the end of the night. We paid the check and was finishing up our conversation when the waitress collected the paid bill. Then the flamboyant male came over and whipped up our napkins almost hitting us in the face. He was extremely RUDE!! There was no one waiting for our table and he could of handled the situation much better by kindly asking us to depart. The food was awesome and it is too bad that this person put the restaurant in a bad light. I was looking forward to a return but not after his rudeness we will not be returning. Please hire better staff that represent you in a better light. read more

Incredible authentic Italian. Will visit again when in the area. Beat if reservations are made prior.

I am a 50 year foodservice professional and fussy Italian grandfather -- I am hypercritical when it comes to Italian food and restaurants. Vanda at every point of the restaurant compass is a superb dining experience. Without reservation the ambiance, decor, and dining experience ranks with the best in North America. The menu, food quality, culinary preparation and presentation rivals anything one would find in any in the "foodie" culture of major market like New York, Boston, Chicago or Los Angeles. The arugula/radicchio salad included skin graft slices of excellent prosciutto and a dressing that complimented the bitterness of the greens. The calamari, which has become pedestrian in so many restaurants had a crispness and delicacy that spoke to a light touch with the seasoning of the flour, a frying oil perfectly matched to the delicacy of the protein along with a cooking temperature that produced a perfect texture without destroying the flavor of the finished product. The meatballs from the appetizer menu, which are a favorite of my wife who orders them often wherever we go, were, "the best I ever had". When paired with the house made from scratch focaccia, it was like dipping bread in your grandmother's gravy as you ran through the kitchen on Sunday morning. Our entrees were all superior in every way, with (finally) exactly cooked pasta, sauce developed to a maturity and consistency that took the ingredients to a singular flavor and a presentation that made one take the time to sip the excellent Montepulciano d'abruzzo and just look at the dish like a fresco in Florence before picking up a fork. Finally, one of the most telling signs of a great restaurant is the collective activity of the service staff. In a great and busy Italian restaurant it should be like an opera with everyone a star performer in their own right but collectively an amazing team. That is the staff at Vanda. Having spent over half a century in the business it's the little "tells" that show a great restaurant. One is the humility of the server who offers the menu and wine list with pride and the consultation of a surgeon. Our server was so good I never looked at the menu. I asked here for her recommendations and they were exact to my taste and preferences. The quality and professionalism of her service - and that of the entire floor staff who supported each other like a championship team only went up from the amazing experience of her menu presentation. I don't normally tip 50% - I did last night. I could go on but I'm running out of superlatives. Don't let the location or the humility of the building fool you. Vanda is truly a "rose between the thorns". read more

first time there. we were seated outside. waitress was great. food not so much. bolognese pasta, of which there was maybe 3 forkfulls... the bread the best part of the meal. another had a salad, hardley any dressing. t he pasta dish of the day dry... desert was the olive oil cake was ok.... between the airplanes and the rescues (which not their fault) very noisey. read more

Hi- 2nd time dining here. Food was excellent BUT the service and man who sat us had no idea what he was doing and sort of rude. We arrived early for our reservation and the restaurant was empty besides 2 diners sitting at a table for 8. Why would you put 2 people at your 1 only large table? They squeezed our party into a table for 4. We got past that, but then when the man helped our waitress bring out the orders, he had no idea what each plate was. I wish I could say it was his first night, but he was there weeks ago because I remembered his rude demeanor. If you are going to run the front of the restaurant, know your stuff. Food was very good. Place was out of some beer and several wine. How do you run out of Merlot or Pinot Grigio? Have someone run to a liquor store and grab a few bottles (again back to running front of a restaurant and basics 101). Place is way too small and tables too small and set-up in odd areas (outside bathroom, in corner by back room, etc.). There is no where to stand and wait for a table since we couldn't be seated until our whole party was there (when place was empty). Will need to move and work out kinks in order to sustain. Dining out is about the whole experience- not just the food. This place misses several marks. read more

excellent excellent italian. Authentic and welcoming ambiance with great food. Bustling environment you will be sure to have fun and enjoy approachable delicious italian food! read more

The first time here, a party of 3. We had the fried calamari, which had the tentacles,( not a fan) I would have preferred them cooked a little more. Also shared the meatball appetizer. This was 3 medium size balls which are homemade, very good, had a dollop of ricotta on top and very tender and flavorful. Wife and I split the homemade gnocchi, they were like mini clouds with a light Pomodoro red sauce, very good. My son had the 12 oz bone-in sirloin, a little pricey at $41 but it did taste great. We will definitely be back to try more on the menu. read more

This was a great Italian meal! Soft lighting, not to loud or busy, and a smaller place. The food was amazing but had a smaller menu to chose from. Drink were also delicious!! Amazing and attentive service! Food came out relatively quick without sacrificing quality! Had a delightful dinner! read more

My wife and I heard about Vanda and made the trip to try Vanda after hearing how good it is. And we were not disappointed! Everything was fantastic and our server, Nick, made sure we were well taken care of. read more

I have eaten here a few times and have always been pleased. The chef specials are a bit different then what I would normally order but all-in-all you will not regret dining here. Oh, and the desserts are fantastic! read more

Wanted to like it but food was just okay. Price of special - vs what you got was a shame. Service was just Barely okay as well. Unfortunate! read more

Was excited to try this place and took my husband out to surprise him. I made a reservation for 6:30pm and arrived 10 min. early. Was told that a table was being prepared. After standing inside the door for 20 min and being ignored, we asked about the unoccupied table nearby, we were told they could not give it to us because they were going to need it for a large party arriving at 7pm. They then said that they were waiting for a couple to finish but they had just ordered cappuccinos and that they had arrived late. After standing and waiting for another 10 min we decided to leave. We were never offered chairs at the bar which were available or an apology. We were tired of standing after 30 min. in front of everyone and were very embarrassed and uncomfortable. We will not be returning read more

Small venue but the food is very good. I recommend trying it, it can be loud but fun, order the bread it is so yummy.

I did not expect perfection from an Apponague round-a-bout adjacent restaurant but Vanda delivered. I've driven by it a hundred times and noticed that the parking lot is always full. We booked online at 6 for an 8pm reservation through their website and were seated on time by a very friendly and accommodating hostess. The salad and soup course, focaccia and the homemade pasta were above par and after 2 espresso Martinis and olive oil cake I forced my self to take an hour walk when I got home. So delicious, so worth it and we will keep going back until we have eaten our way through the menu of mains. I'm not overstating when I say- Better than any restaurant on the hill, IMO. If you are into fantastic service ask for Mark. read more

Tonight was our second time visiting Vanda. Our first visit was quite pleasant and we thought how nice it is to have a new place to visit. The food looks delicious and we enjoy the eclectic drinks. However, our second time there, the bartender lacked professionalism and was quite rude. We had dinner elsewhere and stopped in for a cocktail. As our drinks were getting low, she asked if we wanted something else and the man whom I was with said that he would have another in five minutes. She then told us that she has to let us know what we are doing because there are people waiting in a not-so-pleasant tone. We have had many culinary experiences all over the world and never has anyone said such a thing. So disrespected! read more

Great service and great food for a new restaurant. Be sure to visit and enjoy their wine and food in Warwick, RI.

So disappointed! Tasty food,but small portions, and very high prices. $5.00 for a cup of coffee!!! Never again... read more

Food is outstanding. It reminds me of a trattoria in Italy. Small but lively atmosphere. Excellent wine selection. Authentic Italian cuisine. read more

Nice quaint local eating establishment. Nothing fancy but the food is 6 star. Parking is tough as it's on a corner lot. Be careful going in and out. read more

Good quality food but small portions for the price. The homemade gnocchi were nice & lite. However the service was horrible. Waiter never told us the specials and never checked on us. Restaurant is small so I suggest making a reservation. read more

Excellent meal at Vanda - would highly recommend to all my family and friends. One of the best Italian meals I've had in a long time. Everything from the food to the cocktails to the service was fantastic. Great menu, tried many plates because we had a large group and each one was amazing - especially the house-made pastas. My family will definitely be returning. read more

After hearing so many good things about this place we decided to give it a try. We tried placing reservations but was only able to add our name to the wait list via their web site. When we entered the our name on their web based program we received a acknowledgement text back. As we were waiting i tried to call a couple of times to ensure that we were indeed in the wait que only to get an answering machine both times. After waiting over an hour for another text we decided to drive back over and see what was going on. The young hostess stated that the online system wasn't working and we would have to wait an additional half an hour. I politely stated "no" here is our acknowledgement text receipt and we will either be seated in one of your empty tables else we will go elsewhere. She then went to the manager whom decided we could be seated. After another 10 minutes we were seated outside. At this point we are basically starving and wanted to place our order. Once the wait staff finally came around to take our drink order, we also placed our food order. For drinks I order a Tito's club soda and splash of cranberry and my wife orders a Nigroni. I get a Tito's and club soda. I ask "where is the cranberry". the wait staff states it was her mistake and in-lieu of bringing my drink back she bring me a shot glass of cranberry. So now i have a full glass of Tito's and soda and a shot of cranberry. The apps were excellent The 2nd round of drinks they brought me out a Tito's and soda with a shot glass of cranberry. I asked the waiter "seriously." He stated he wasn't sure what i wanted. Then he should have asked. Now comes dinner (30 minutes after we finished the apps)- My wife has a salad with salmon. This is the first time i have seen the salmon served skin side up but what ever. The salmon was well over cooked but she managed. I had bolognese with Gnocchi, some how they burnt the bottoms of the Gnoochi. I mean chard burnt. How the hell do you burn pasta? So i start picking out the pieces that aren't burnt. Now i'm seating there with a half dish of burnt Gnoochi's. The wait staff never once during the course came outside until the end. At that point we had been at the table for almost 2 hours. They started taking the dishes away and then asked "how was it". I again politely said "it is burnt". (i wish i took a picture of the Gnoochi's because words do not do justice). The new waiter apologized and as you can see we are extremely busy and under staffed tonight. As i looking from outside into the dinning room I wanted to say "yes, i can see that in this Covid era you have a packed dinning room with people elbow to elbow and basically not following the Covid practice." Now I my view 2 skilled wait staff people could have easily handle the entire restaurant without missing a beat. So the excuse they were shorthanded was week. But if they were short handed why didn't the hostess or the owner help out the wait staff. The owner was at the bar watching dishes on tables pile and his wait staff running around like chickens with there heads cut off. Side note: the table next to ours had there credit card charged with another table's meal. The charge was only a few dollars more then their meal so they said leave the charge the way it was. Very unimpressed read more

Very good Italian restaurant, went with my wife, had a couple glasses of wine an appetizer, two pasta plates, gnocchi and a pasta dish, sorbet about 100 bucks. Recommended read more

First visit to vanda tonight and I have to say it's a terrific place to dine. Service and staff were very attentive personable and knowledgeable about cocktails and food . The food was excellent fresh and delicious. A must try for a great evening read more

Small intimate restaurant. Terrific food great staff. The menu had dishes I never had before. Loved the place.

One of my favorite restaurants in RI. Everything on the menu is delicious. The pastas are some of my favorite dishes to order. The focaccia is a must!! read more

Amazing food! Better than any I've had on federal hill by far! I'm very picky because my mom is from France and Italy so I almost never taste better food than hers, but this was great and will definitely go again! There is something for everyone (I'm a vegetarian). The waitress was super nice and funny and a great experience! read more

What a great experience! I had heard wonderful things so I was expecting no less, and wasn't disappointed. Patrick served me at the bar and suggested a terrific wine for me after I described what I like. I also asked his suggestions on dinner since I wasn't sure what to order, this being my first time in. The gnocchi was suggested and I went for it since I had seen reviews saying it was outstanding. It was. The $6 upcharge for the bolognese sauce was worth every penny. He also suggested the eggplant appetizer, which was just as amazing reheated the next day! I asked about the olive oil cake everyone raved about and was told it's the owner's mother's recipe from Italy. I understand the compote on top rotates seasonally; this was strawberry, and of course the lemon sauce with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Can't wait to return and try another awesome Italian dish. It's a slice of Federal Hill right in the heart of Apponaug. read more

Vanda Cucina - Eggplant with ricotta cheese, gnocchi with bolognese sauce. - Italian Near Me - Warwick, Rhode Island

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