I really liked my meal here but the servers are what made the experience so pleasant. Hats off to Iduna. The braised beef boneless short rib was tender. (Had it not been, I would have sent it back like that Italian mafia guy from The Office.) Speaking of office, there is a speakeasy behind some of the book shelves. Cool little vibe they got going on there. read more

Varia - This is the braised beef boneless short rib with potatoes and spinach or something. I ordered a water to drink and thought they paired well. - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

First few times I went here. I really loved it. My husband and I made reservations to see Frank sings Frank for date night. Our server was fabulous. His name was Jasper I think? Anyway, we ordered the whipped ricotta, which is like a Brulé on top... That was beyond way too sweet for us to eat. I ordered simple spaghetti with meatballs and that red sauce was horrible. My Cosmo was not even good. Our table was wonky... I was sitting so low that I had a hard time eating because the table was so high... The chair that my husband was sitting in was broken... I felt like we were sitting in a walkway. Nothing about this night was good except for Frank and the server whoever that was We will not repeat. read more

Varia - Frank and my husband - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This is one of our favorite Italians places. The squid ink pasta is delicious. My husband got the braised beef and he enjoyed it. He said it was very tender. For the drinks, I would recommend getting wine instead of cocktails. Their cocktails were ok but nothing special. They have a wine selection of wine. The service was excellent They have live music on some nights which is lovely and romantic read more

Varia - Squid ink pasta - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Hubs and I came here for an after-performance snack and were seated in the lounge. The hostess was very friendly and was still seating past 9:30 (much friendlier than the hostess at Saltine just below them) and there was live music, which was a nice touch! I ordered the arancini which was good, but not wow. It came on a bed of some kind of sweet rice? Not sure what it was. I ordered the East of Jalisco and hubs had the Secrets and Whispers or something like that. Both drinks were very good! He ordered a pizza which was honestly just a big miss. Not enough sauce and the flavor was quite yeast-y. The interior design is quite odd. It has too much going on. Worth checking out if you want a later evening experience! read more

Varia - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We had tickets to a show nearby and we were a little pressed for time but the staff was able to accommodate us very well. We started out with the Cesar Salad and an order of the Meatballs as an appetizer. They were kind enough to split the salad for us and without having to ask, always a nice touch. The Cesar Salad was delicious, the ingredients were fresh and the croutons were clearly made in house. The meatballs were flavorful and tender. They were served with a dollop of whipped Ricotta and a generous amount of marinara, the basil sprig was also a welcome addition. Everything worked well together and we enjoyed the dish. We also split the Rigatoni Bolognese and again they split the order for us. It was served piped hot and it was delicious. The service was excellent and we were able to get in and most importantly, out in plenty of time to catch our show... read more

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The aesthetics of this place were beautifully done. The red piano and the entertainment was next level. The light coming in from the glass windows just lit up the whole restaurant. They also offer a private dining option in their back private bookcase. I didn't like my food here unfortunately, the pasta was too dry. The portions are perfect for light eaters. The wine however was amazing . The service was quick and reservations are a must if you want preference in seating. Overall a great experience for date night or birthday dinner. read more

Varia - My favorite outfit - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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We came in for dinner one weeknight and the hotel was really busy, as there was a conference being hosted, but this restaurant was steady, but not busy. The décor is really interesting, as it has a secret dining room behind a bookcase and all of it is beautifully assembled. Menu is decent, with many typical Italian favorites. Starting with their arancini, it was decent. The temperature was warm, but not as hot as it should've been considering we expected it to be freshly fried, plated, and served. The jam under it was a little too sweet as well, but the texture and flavors were decent. Next up was their Cesar salad. This was my starter salad and it was quite substantial. The lettuce was great - very fresh and crunchy! The dressing was excellent, clearly made in-house and it was so very tasty. The combo of both was excellent! Lastly, I chose their chicken marsala for my entrée. It was plated quite nicely, looking very tasty. The chicken was breaded and appeared lightly fried, as the batter flaked off. The sauce was a little too sweet compared to my liking... I realized that marsala wine is sweet, but this might have been reduced or sweetened a little too much. The greens were inedible - they were way too vinegary. I took one bite and choked trying to swallow it down. Their crispy smashed potatoes were very nicely done. Overall, this entrée was just 'ok' but nothing special, which I found disappointing, as I could have ordered a pasta instead. Service for our dinner was nice and friendly. Prices are on the high end for the quality of the food preparation, which is also disappointing. So, over the past couple of months I've been to Norfolk twice and last time ate at Saltine downstairs in this Hilton and this time ate upstairs at Varia and both menus are amazing, service was adequate, and execution was lackluster - This tells me their food program is poorly managed. I left out the review of my dinner guest's pizzas... They eat got a pizza and each was completely over-cooked!!! I like char'd crust on brickoven pizza, what I saw (and what they explained) wasn't a simple char, it consisted of hard, over-cooked cheese and toppings and frankly if I got either of those pizzas, I would've sent it back. Given the absolute beauty of these eateries and amazing menus, they need to work on the management component and they'll have truly amazing joints, but not until then. read more

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While staying at the Main hotel, my husband and I decided to check out Varia's happy hour. Luckily it was early so we were able to get a table near the live music. We ordered drinks off the happy hour menu. My husband got old fashion and I got the champagne cocktail, we both enjoyed our drinks. The bread the servers bring out was warm and flavorful. My husband doesn't eat pork so we got the VERDURA E PRIMAVERILE pizza and added cheese. The pizza was cooked well. Defiantly a great spot for date night or ladies night. read more

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Love this place! I come here with my friend all the time and we are obsessed with their Caesar salad. I always get mine with chicken added. I have had their chicken parm as well which was also phenomenal. Always amazing service and I love the live music they have. read more

Varia - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Went for dinner before our musical. Definitely a great date night spot. Looking to try the speakeasy next time. Tried a few dishes...I will definitely be back for more of the ricotta brulee. A good mix of sweet and salty, the oxtail ravioli is a no go for me. O think I was looking for a west Indian oxtail taste forgetting that's not this atmosphere. read more

Varia - Whipped Honey Ricotta Brulee - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Thought I'd try something new for my birthday. Very good waitress, the food was just overall disappointing (meh taste and wayyy overpriced). Also a wine tasting event was going on so it was very loud and hard to hear the people at my table. More of a bar vibe than a restaurant. read more

Varia - Radiatore - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We came to Varia for my birthday dinner, expecting a special, memorable evening. While the food was good, it wasn't anything particularly standout. Unfortunately, our experience was significantly disrupted when the fire alarm went off for over 20 minutes. The lights were turned on, live music stopped, and the entire atmosphere changed. Shortly after the first alarm ended, a second alarm went off, making it impossible to fully enjoy the dinner or the occasion. What was most disappointing was the lack of acknowledgment from management. Given that this was a celebratory dinner and the disruption was prolonged, we hoped someone would at least check in or recognize the impact. We chose not to complain at the time (because our server was very sweet and obviously stressed), but left feeling let down. The food was fine, but the experience as a whole fell short; especially for a birthday. read more

Five stars for service! Two stars for the food. We had high expectations, but the food did not overwhelm us. We ordered an array of appetizers and mains. Heavy on the garlic and not much else. Maybe, we caught them on a bad night? Samual was stellar in his delivery of descriptions of the menu items, an easy going personality that put us at ease and prepared us for a relaxing evening. We would give Varia a second chance because of him. read more

Hi!! We staying at the Hilton for the weekend and Came here to say with Mrs Yelp for a belated birthday dinner. I really like the ambiance. Right lighting, the set up of the tables, the cozy bar- oh a piano and a live singer at the right volume. Service was spot on. Mrs Yelp had the rigatoni bolognese and it was very very good. I had the chicken parm. Good but not as good as her plate. Ate at the bar- had a perfect view of the kitchen and pizza oven- smelled great. Next time I plan on getting the chicken Marsala. Very nice spot. Good place for a celebration dinner. We'll be back.. read more

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Attended a pharmaceutical dinner, and everything was absolutely delicious. We were seated in a private room at the back, which made for a nice, private setting. We started with the rice balls -- they were a great opener and tasted amazing. Next came the Caesar salad. I wish I had known it included sardines; I wasn't a fan of that addition. For the main course, I had the salmon, and it was cooked perfectly. However, the wine was seriously overpriced -- I ended up spending $65 on two glasses, only to find out later that the bottle retails for $17. Definitely a steep markup, but that one's on me for not checking the price beforehand. Overall, the staff was incredibly kind and attentive to our entire group. read more

Varia - Tuscan wine - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Varia is a wonderful Italian restaurant in the heart of Norfolk. It is located in the Hilton--sometimes restaurants in hotels are suspect, but this is definitely worth a visit even if you are not staying in the hotel. It feels both luxurious and comfortable. Before getting into the food, one unique feature is that the have enomatic wine system. That is, they have 28 bottles that are sealed that you can do a variety of pour sizes. You purchase a wine card, then help yourself to wine. This was a lot of fun and we felt it was worth. The food was really great. We started with the half board of charcuterie. In particular, this had some very good cheeses, but a well-balanced mix. For the main course, I had the cioppino. This was outstanding. The base was this saffron risotto that soaked up the seafood flavor and was incredible. The portion size was a little small, so I just wished there was more of it. The seafood itself was flavorful and cooked perfectly, particularly the scallops. I tried some other dishes as well. The gnocchi was great, with really good flavor (and that portion was good). I also tried the chicken parm, which was also incredibly tasted, particularly the sauce. I was too full for dessert, but very pleased after a great meal read more

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Food Unfortunately this was just a wine night for us, so we didn't try any food. Service I booked a reservation on open table and was seated immediately when I arrived. Our sever was nice and attentive. Ambiance This is a beautiful wine bar with live music on the weekend. There was a singer and piano player the night we went. The wine selection wasn't over the top, it was just right for me. Oh, I must not forget the wine selection on tap upon entering the establishment. I will be back to enjoy more wine. read more

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I had such a great experience here! The food, the service, and ambiance were all stellar. I tried the grilled octopus. It was actually good though I was thinking it wouldn't been more like calamari, just grilled. I also had the brussel sprouts, which were excellent!! The Parmesan cheese and honey was the perfect complement to the sprouts. I had the primavera as my meal, thought gluten-free so they made it with risotto. I added a chicken breast, which was very flavorful. It was yummy!! The veggies were sautéed, the risotto was velvety without cream. I also had a really good Pinot Noir, and a glass of a pink moscato. Audrey was our server; she was great and answered all of our questions about the menu. I can't wait to go back!! read more

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Love varia and the beautiful scenery. We went for the NYE dinner, and it was truly amazing. The ribeye was one of the best I've ever had. The service was wonderful, and the sommelier selected the perfect red to go with our meal. Loved everything about our experience!! read more

Varia - Ribeye - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Lovely dinning room, however the chef must have been on vacation. Out of 6 people, 5 of us were very disappointed. My meatballs were dry & uneatable. read more

Hubby and I had a date night here on a Saturday late evening. We actually stayed 2 nights at The Main because of a marriage conference, so it was super convenient. We had reservations for 8 pm, and it was pretty busy. Minutes upon entering, we realized it was a Ring Dance night for a local high school. We were shown our table immediately and it was just absolutely gorgeous inside. The high ceilings were just eye catching with the elongated beautiful drawn back curtains. They had live entertainment, and this man was singing classic jazz like those from Sinatra. He even came to me, to our table, and started singing. My husband and I ordered: cheese and charcuterie board (half), Caesar salad, panzanella salad, braised beef short rib entree, and the chicken marsala. Everything was amazing. The service was wonderful. Our server was great! The charcuterie board was delicious. My Caesar salad was perfect! It even had a small anchovy on top. And my braised boneless short rib dinner? AMAZING! This was wonderful! It was super tender and packed full of flavor on top of pecorino polenta, mushroom ragu, and greens. Unforgettable!! Hubby loved his salad with melon and prosciutto and also his chicken marsala. We were very impressed and satisfied completely with our evening here and cannot wait to go back!! read more

I love Varia!! If you haven't been then you've been sleeping on it!!! You can head to the bar at any time as long as there is an open seat. You'll be greeted by the bartender, Angel! And he is in fact a real angel! The ambiance is cool, upscale, relaxing. It's nice to dress up a little and go out. You'll find they have an awesome happy hour from 5-7pm and you'll also find they do live music most evenings. It's awesome piano music, saxophone, and singing. Very relaxing. The food is awesome!!! Not too expensive for the over all experience. You can come here and then head up to Grain if you like to stay out later, since Varia closes at 10pm. Check it out! Quit sleeping on it! read more

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I had really high expectations for Varia but sadly it did not meet them. My server, Shay, and the live music the night I went were really the saving graces. I really love Italian food but there were many moments here that confused me and left me feeling disappointed... I loved the taste of our appetizer. From the first looks of it, I thought it was rather small... because I was sharing it with a friend, we were curious to why it came in 3 rather than 4, especially if you want to share it. But nonetheless, it was a nice start to our meal. The heirloom tomatoes were soooo fresh! My friend ordered the chicken Marsala. I ordered the spaghetti carbonara but without the guanciale and with the herby grilled chicken as an enhancement. I did enjoy my pasta! It was creamy and a huge dish. My chicken didn't come out with it because the chef forgot it but eventually it came and it was paired nicely with the carbonara. My friend's chicken Marsala looked so questionable. The plating did not make it look appetizing. But also, the taste was not there. I tasted it to confirm that my friend wasn't going crazy... it really didn't taste like anything. Absolutely no flavors there. The woman sitting next to us felt the same way... both of them ending up asking for their dishes to be taken back. My friend didn't lose hope and ended up trying one of the specials that night, lobster risotto. He got lucky and the lobster risotto definitely saved the day! However, he didn't feel that it was priced fairly considering the amount you get. We ended the night with espresso martinis and tiramisu, kind of becoming a tradition to end dinner with... but we were sad to find that their tiramisu was not up to our standards. there was absolutely no cake in it? I would like there was like a teaspoon amount of cake and it was all the way at the bottom rather than layered between cream and espresso. Just not what you would expect when you say you want tiramisu... Anyways, vibes are immaculate here. I just wish the food matched the vibes. If it did, we would easily become regulars here. read more

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VARIA is an extremely beautiful restaurant! I love it here. I've never been in before because I thought I needed a reservation, and it turns out that I did not need a reservation. I walked up to the bar and sat down and met Angel, the bartender. I tried a couple different drinks, including the apeorl spritz. The ambience of this restaurant is very fancy and upscale. You don't have to dress formal, but I would recommend dressing at least business casual. They do a free wine tasting on Wednesdays during happy hour around 6 o'clock. Every day Tuesday through Friday is a happy hour between 5 PM to 7 PM which is really awesome. I headed there the other night and I got two appetizers that were only six dollars each on happy hour. I was full! They were delicious There is live music Thursday through Saturday in the evenings they play saxophone and piano and it's just a really wonderful peaceful vibe! I like to head there and then go upstairs to the fifth floor to go to Grain because Grain is open late read more

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The red piano great entertainment. I didn't like my food here unfortunately, the pasta was too dry and flavorless. The portions are were very small and the price didn't match at all overcharged . The service was quick and the waiters were great. We were celebrating 25 years of marriage this was not as great as we expected. read more

We went here to celebrate the new year before seeing a show at the Wells theater! For an Italian restaurant it was modernly decorated which I appreciate! The short rib was top notch and the noodles cooked perfectly, company had the Chicken parm and bone in pork chop! All really delicious, we all had wine that was paired perfect! Would be back. read more

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The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the very nice Hilton downtown. I was seated quickly in their dining area. The cushioned seats sit very low, and the table sits high, so eating was a little tricky. After ordering, the waiter gave me complimentary bread with oil and whipped butter, which was amazing. I ordered the gnocchi with herbed chicken, which was also great and creamy. The ambiance is nice with live music while you eat, but it can be louder than expected in a dining setting where you would want to talk with others at the table. read more

This pasta is incredible with the flavor profile is very flavorful and delicious 10 out of 10 read more

Varia - This raditore pasta 10/10! Pesto and sausage are insane flavors! Incredible - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The food and ambiance was good, but our waiter, Steven, was not very friendly. He rushed us out after our first plate of the breakfast buffet by bringing the bill and never checked back up on us. Also, my second coffee was full of coffee grounds. read more

My wife and I were looking for a great place for a Romantic dinner. We found it here. The mood and atmosphere was amazing. The entire staff was amazing. Our waiter was very attentive and offered several good recommendations for wine and food. The food came out really fast. Appetizers and making dishes were outstanding. We will definitely be back for more food. read more

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So the service was excellent. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. The food was decent. This wasn't the best Italian meal I've had but it wasn't bad either. My biggest hang up is the ambience. If there is live music and you would like to save your hearing ask for one of the tables in the far front of the restaurant. Some of the chairs are a little awkward as well. They have soft wingbacks that make it hard to sit up to the table. The place is very pretty though. Wine and cocktails were all great. Worth giving it a try but not my favorite for Italian read more

Varia - Menu - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Very beautiful place! Many romantic style seating areas for you to enjoy intimately or with a group! Reese was a wonderful waiter offering many on point recommendations and bringing his lively energy to the evening! The food was vibrant and delicious!! Highly recommend the artichoke and octopus for fun appetizers also read more

Varia - Rigatoni with pork and veal - delicious homemade pasta perfectly al dente. - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Beautiful date night! We both ordered something different than we normally do. When we lifted the forks to our mouths we looked like we were making love to the food. Closed eyes and a mmm... in the end. Had the nicest wait staff, our waitress name was Ashley. Got our food quicker than expected. We got the coolest seats, so we could see all the food/pizza getting made. They had a live saxophone player We will be back again Oh ya! They have a side party room hidden behind a bookcase with the entire ceiling done in mirror tiles. I want to find an excuse to have to rent/use it. read more

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My boyfriend (now fiancé) came here to celebrate a special event :) It was a perfect place to have a romantic dinner and the restaurant has special couple booth seats, where you're not staring at other people, but a beautiful bookshelf. We went on a Friday because there was live piano music. You do have to make a reservation here a week or so out in advance. You can park at the parking garage that is only a block away from the restaurant. None of the food was disappointing, and there were so many intriguing dishes from the menu, we had to order them all. Little warning about the Pera E Cipolla pizza: you can taste the gorgonzola in some bites, so if you aren't a bleu cheese fan, this pizza isn't for you. Also, for future customers, I thought the Italian wedding soup was a bit salty, but if you like it like that, then I highly recommend getting this as an appetizer. I also would like to hype up the Whipped Honey Ricotta Brulee. The focaccia was very fluffy and warm. It went along very nicely with the Ricotta, and the pickled vegetables were a nice fresh cleanse to the palette. The waitress was so sweet and took a picture our special moment. I would love to come back to have another romantic dinner here. read more

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If you're looking for a eclectic atmosphere, amazing hosts/servers, and high quality Italian cuisine - this is a must if you're near downtown Norfolk. 2nd floor of probably the best downtown Hilton hotel I've been to (mind you, I haven't been in any rooms, just the dope a** restaurants lol). It's on the west side of the second floor. It was a little chilly, but not too bad, so I'd bring a jacket to be safe than sorry. Greeted by the hostess and was taken around the restaurant, semi circle layout. Inner circle is a bar with and open-view kitchen/pizza oven - nice touch. They have bookshelves as decorations but it feels very elegant. The live piano player probably helped a lot with the romantic ambiance lol. Thursdays are ladies night - some happy hour drinks specials. But we missed it, getting there an hour before closing. Our server was great. We got the octopus, Brussels, Marsala, and cioppino. Octopus: 4.5/5 - perfectly cooked; very juicy and tender. It was amazing because the seasonings were light, which was actually refreshing so you could truly enjoy the octo. However, I do like a little more flavor/seasoning/sauce that give the dish more character and creativity. Some of the best octopus I've had - barely missing what I would prefer. Brussels: 4.0/5.0 - they're not your soft sprouts; they've been fried and are appreciably crispy. They come with some fillings sauce that complimented well - Mayo based I assume. I would get again. Cioppino: 4.8/5.0 - CHEFS KISS. Born and raised on the west coast, San Francisco Bay Area, cippiono is one of those dishes I'm a snob about. A lot of restaurants do too much (intricate flavor base) or too little (no flavor at all). This dish, at Varia, was the best Cioppino I've had in Norfolk so far. The tomato based flavor on top of tasty risotto was something to admire. They allowed the seafood, which was perfectly cooked, take limelight of the dish. I love when a dish complements itself with each bite. If you love all things seafood/shellfish, you should thank yourself after you order this. Chicken Marsala: 3.0/5.0 - this dish was OKAY. Chicken was cooked well, sauce tasted like Marsala, but it was bland overall. It's always best when the chicken can be cut easily. It wasn't tough, but we've had better. Will be trying other dishes next time. I recommend smoking or rotisserie-type "melt in your mouth" type chicken and finishing in a skillet with Marsala. Paired wine: Sav blanc with Cioppino and a Pinot nior with Marsala. Overall. I will be back and I am looking forward to another good experience. I like how I didn't feel rushed even though we arrived later in the day. It's private and you'll definitely impress a person who loves ambiance + Italian food. read more

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Here's the problem with this restaurant... Whoever designed it needs to have their stylistic head, examined... Their decor, chairs style (low sitting couches), and table height is totally out of proportion. No adult can sit anywhere in this restaurant, except at the bar on a barstool. The couches and low sitting chairs with opposing high or low tables that are either above your chest or make you have to squat down so far you can't get in that you can't get out. The food is in consequential if you can't even sit there to Eat!!! read more

Varia is located in the Hilton in Norfolk, VA. We were so excited that a restaurant was so conveniently located in our hotel during our stay. But that's only the start! From the ambiance, the comfortable seating and live piano music (amazing!) it was such a relaxing dining experience. Our server Samuel was wonderful throughout our night. He was helpful and very attentive. The entire staff was truly great at Varia. It's so refreshing to have a great dining experience with excellent staff while at a hotel. Great job Varia and Hilton for this gem of a restaurant. Let's not forget about the food. From the wood stove pizza to the unique Italian inspired menu items it will be a sure hit with your party. Just don't make the mistake we made and order everything on the menu. It all is just too good! read more

Varia - Honey Ricotta with Focaccia - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Our waiter, Logan, was great. However, the food was horrible. The lobster risotto, my friend and I split, and was charged $2 to split it. We didn't ask for that. The tagliatelle is a super small portion. The place is not worth it. read more

Varia - The tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We went here for Ladies Night on a Thursday and we loved it!! Service was slow due to an employee shortage, but our waiter was delightful. He worked with us to split up our bills and he was always smiling and helpful throughout the entire experience. Their Ladies night specials are out of this world-$2 bubble, $4 wine and $5 select martinis! I had the peach martini and it was absolutely perfect. In addition, they had $10 pizzas! I had the Vesuvio with sausage and pepperoni and it was really good. There was also a piano player that night and having the live music really completed the experience! I would highly recommend trying Varia when in Norfolk. read more

Varia - Vesuvio pizza - Italian Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

A group of us ate here last night. A note right off the bat, they will only seat you if your entire party is there. Of course members of our party were very late, but Kaylee took care of us. The restaurant had a live piano player/singer. There was talent, however, the playlist needs to be expanded and the music itself needs to be upbeat at least every three songs. As for the food, I started out with the fried ravioli and it was pretty good. I also tried the house Caesar salad, it was a little overdressed but good all the same. I got the NY strip steak with asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes for my main. The steak was perfectly cooked, however it wasn't a very good cut and had multiple spots that I had to pull out of my mouth. The asparagus was nice, but they hadn't cut it correctly at the bottom. As for the potatoes they were creamy and paired nicely with the meal overall. For dessert I order the Nutella crack pie. One, there was no Nutella, it had a hazelnut cream and hazelnuts which were tasty, but no Nutella. There was also no strawberry compote or pretzel crumble. The pie itself was sticky and at times could barely come off the spoon. Our server Kaylee was fantastic! Hard off to her, especially with our difficult crowd. read more

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