EXCELLENT pastas & dishes, and perfect for a night out! Reservations are highly recommended - we came on a Friday night during the off-season and had about a 25 min wait still. Via Vecchia was definitely worth the wait, and this was one of the most surprising restaurants during our trip. We ordered the brussel sprouts, grilled octopus, campanelle, and radiatori. The brussel sprouts was the one dish that I was most hesitant about, seeing that it was paired with a blueberry agrodolce. Not a typical combination, but this ended up being a favorite. The sweetness & tartness of the sauce worked SO well with the sprouts - it's an excellent dish. The octopus had the perfect char, and all of the flavor pairings were really cohesive. I had never heard of either of the pastas, but I loved the textures of both. The campanelle with nduja cream was delicious, but did get to be a little heavy about halfway through. Radiatori with bolognese was a classic but well executed dish. Service is attentive without being overbearing. Prices are super reasonable. read more

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Note: if you come in the winter (which includes March) there will be no ivy growing on the building . The Inside is gorgeous. The mocktails and cocktails are truly inspired. The food was very small plates for the price. You'll leave feeling not stuffed, just right. But the American in you will feel like you may not have got your moneys worth. They didn't offer Parmesan and I felt our food looked different than the picture we had seen. Service was fast and kind. What did bother me was that despite the fact the place was mostly open, they sat everyone right next to, practically on top of eachother, and this definitely made things feel less intimate and more like a crappy Applebees. It was Good, I would come back, but rarely. read more

At a recent Yelp event several people shared that Via Vecchia was their favorite Portland restaurant. With so many restaurants to choose from, this piqued my curiosity. We went on the Friday night of Portland's Beatles weekend and were happily surprised to get a table without a reservation. We went early, around 5 pm and were promptly seated at a lovely table near one of the front windows, with a view of Central Provisions. They have maintained the beautiful brick and large glass windows expected of and Old Port restaurant and have enhanced the space with unique accent pieces, including a beautiful antique chandelier that just above our table. The restaurant was tastefully decorated for Christmas with garland and large red baubles. Our waiter was a true pro--he made us feel welcome and was well versed with the menu. He asked about any allergies or dietary restrictions and quickly pointed out all of the vegetarian items as well as items that could be made vegetarian. The service was attentive without being intrusive. I had the lumache, and my friend had the squash risotto--both were fantastic. We also both had a seasonal cocktail, they were attractively presented and delicious. Via Vecchia is on the expensive side of Portland restaurants but is definitely worth the treat. Thank you for a great meal--I look forward to returning. Although things worked out without a reservation this time, I'll be sure to make one next time. read more

I don't remember much else. All I know is the Campanelle pasta was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. So flavorful, al dente. We also got the risotto with scallops. I want to go back to Portland Maine just to eat here! read more

Dillon was a terrific server. He timed our food courses to arrive perfectly. The salads and appetizers were amazing. We had both regular and gluten free pasta dinners and desserts. All of it was delicious. We cannot wait to go back again read more

I wanted to love this spot but it felt overpriced and overhyped. Don't get me wrong it was excellent, but Portland is filled with fantastic restaurants and this is just one of them. It wasn't a standout for me despite some very high notes. It was pricey, so I had high expectations. The hot and dirty martini was the best anyone in our group had ever had. The ambiance was super cool, I love the decor although it was a little dark, hard to read menus. Staff is super professional and knowledgeable. Best Caesar salad I've ever had. Food menu was a bit limited. Bolognese pasta was very lacking in meat, it was a like a sauce with a suggestion of bolognese. The chicken and gnocchi dish came with about 4 gnocchi. Really enjoyed it but don't know that I'd come back. read more

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Very busy, noisy, crowded restaurant. Really beautiful decor. Food was okay (the Lolla Rossa Salad was delicious) and the cocktails were fine. We drove here from Brooklyn to celebrate my wife's birthday. My issue is that although I made reservations six weeks ago, we were not seated at a table. Or at the large, spacious U shaped bar in front. We were escorted down a hallway and seated at the back bar, which was very cramped, on high metal bar chairs, which we found uncomfortable. The guy next to me had his phone propped up on a water glass and his laptop open on the bar. So silly. My wife and I found the three hour drive to Portland earlier that day easier to sit through than the 75 minutes spent at that bar... read more

Via Vecchia - Lolla Rossa Salad - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Gorgeous spot for a birthday dinner! We were seated by the window in the front that we had been walking past for the entirety of our trip. Romantic and classy ambiance with a modernity that is reminiscent of the history & old world Italy. Loved the menu and drinks. My mussels were the best I've had and creatively presented in a way that you can't find just anywhere. read more

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We were able to able to walk in without a reservation and was seated in the front window. The atmosphere was so beautiful and fun to people watch. Definitely artsy/moody/dark vibe. They had indoor and outdoor seating, tables, bar, and booths. Stellar service from the staff, our waitress was attentive and gracious. The food came out fast and the drinks looked really fun. However, wasn't the biggest fan of the drinks or the food - not saying it was bad! What we ordered was the focaccia bread (star of the show), peach bruschetta, and the chicken. Overall, if I was to come back I might try a pasta. Thanks for having us! read more

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This place is fantastic! What a great vibe. Spacious, yet feels very intimate. The meals are top notch. Try the whipped ricotta! And we struggled with the wine selections, but our server broke them down for us into comparable tastings, which seemed above and beyond. So we tipped her well. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Via Vecchia is a wonderfully charming Italian restaurant located in Portland. Nestled at the corner of Dana Street, it is in the perfect location. There's a section near the restaurant where you can sit in chairs and relax after shopping. After eating several lobster rolls, my friend and I were excited to try an Italian restaurant. Via Vecchia offers small plates. This was allowed us to try several plates from the menu. On a Saturday evening, Via Vecchia was packed. We were glad to have a reservation, which was honored on time. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and matches the greenery on the outside. There's several bars within Via Vecchia, which add to the fun and vibrant scene. I truly felt like I was inside an Italian villa. My friend and I shared the meatballs, aranchini, and the Campanelle pasta which included shrimp and vegetables. All plates had a nice spice to them. We also shared a salad. Between two people, this was more than enough. Our cocktails were divine. I loved the presentation of my aperol spritz. We needed our meal with espresso. Thank you Via Vecchia for making a great first impression! read more

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Delish!!! Last night here in Maine and honestly this is the best Italian food we have had in a long time. I told my boyfriend now when we want Italian we will have to fly to Maine... We had no reservations and called prior to going. The girl said to just come by and they will see what they can do to accommodate and when we arrived we were seated at the bar in the back of the restaurant. Gorgeous interior and watching our bartender make drinks was seriously a treat- she was cranking out one gorgeous drink after the next! We started with the focaccia, whipped ricotta and the meatballs. Yum! I don't think I need to say much for these dishes other than get them all and smear that bread in the sauce and top it with the ricotta- they are just meant to all be eaten together- trust me. The bucatini... melt in your mouth sweet manilla clams and the pasta was perfectly al dente and that sauce- I could bath in it- ugh sooo good. The agnolotti... honestly I wish I could've tasted it but I was so engrossed in my dish that I couldn't tell you and well my BF is handicapped in describing food but he said it was delicious so I will go with that! We finished with the ricotta cheesecake. Gorgeous presentation just like the restaurant- not too sweet, so delicate and if we were home we likely would've licked the plate clean but we aren't animals so we refrained. Don't skip on dessert- trust me just take the plunge! We will back- thank you Portland and Via Vecchia for giving us the delicious ending to our trip xoxoxo read more

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Decided to come here for my moms birthday. I had made reservations about 2-3 weeks out for an outdoor table. After reading many reviews and watching many tik toks about people raving about this place, I definitely wanted to check this place out while visiting Portland. In my opinion, this place is definitely overhyped and overpriced. We started with the focaccia bread. It was good, but nothing amazing. My mom and I each got a vodka pasta dish, I wish they had more options for protein like chicken, salmon, or shrimp, but the only option was 3oz of lobster for $32 or the meatballs on the appetizer menu. Again, pasta was okay, but nothing to make tik toks raving about this place. I might be a little spoiled having grew up in Chicago so I know good Italian. Overall, very underwhelmed with this place and having spent $200 I would have expected to have some protein with my meal. Don't believe all the influencers pushing this place out. read more

What an amazing place to eat at! you can tell the care and passion put into every dish. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the flavors were rich and authentic, and every bite was absolutely delicious. Cozy atmosphere, amazing service, and food that feels like it came straight from an Italian kitchen. Highly recommend if you're looking for something yummy, comforting, and unforgettable read more

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The service is wonderful here. Everyone is genuinely nice and attentive. This space _could_ be more pretentious but instead feels homely, like being in my living room of my NYC Brownstone apartment. The food is delicious. The Caesar salad was absolutely full of Parmesan cheese but not overpowering. And the focaccia! I wish I had a skillet to put a side of eggs and sausage next to it. It was so mouthwatering soft with the perfect texture. However, I ordered the Filet and I asked the waitress if I should get the filet medium or medium well. I wanted a little pink but no blood. My heart told me to go with medium, the waitress, who was lovely, said go medium well. Big mistake. And I blame myself. The steak was well done. My friend said, oh no. With that cut of steak, you never go medium well. It was a tough piece of steak. No surprise there. It reminded me of a time when my friend said, "oh i thought you said you like steak. Clearly, you hate it." The pasta was great but not for me. This restaurant is a whole mood. It's worth the visit. I didn't drink but I bet the drinks are done well here. read more

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I had a great experience here! Snagged the last available bar seat, quick note, the seats are planted, looked so silly trying to move my bar stool every time I wanted to move around. Not my favorite design style, everyone has a different way they get comfortable in a seat. Anyways, they had a really awesome mocktail menu, which was awesome. The bartender was so sweet and patient with me as the couple next to me, also sweet, were talking my ear off and every time I tried to place my drink order they would start talking again. So thank you to this bartender who was really kind about the wait! Anyways, I got a drink called Padre Pio, which had hibiscus, chili, ginger and lime, it was fantastic and they served it in an adorable coupe glass despite it being alcohol free, loved that. Their menu sounded amazing, pasta dishes, seafood options, meats, it was hard to choose and I just wanted something small because I was trying to check out as many restaurants as I could during my one night in Portland. I went with the Lolla Rossa Salad and holy moly I could not believe my eyes when it was served. It was a literal mountain of salad, mountainous, no exaggeration I was like, "Is this for me?" The salad was beyond incredible, one of the most perfect salads I have ever had and yet it was so simple. The lettuce was so fresh, tons of sesame seeds for an insane texture, garlic croutons, honey, some pecorino Romano, just fabulous. The restaurant is really cool, dark, moody lighting, huge bar, cool funky bathrooms. I just thought this place was awesome. Except the bar stools. read more

Sat at the bar which is always the best seat in the house. Here, they seat you at the bar so the seats can all be filled appropriately. I had an asshat FaceTiming his family loudly which was obnoxious and thankfully everyone else thought so too as they asked him to end the call or go outside. I had a Caesar salad and pasta with vodka sauce ! Both were on point Good 10/10 Service 15/10 - thanks for removing this asshat read more

AMAZING dinner and stellar service! We had a fantastic time here and really enjoyed our meal. The focaccia and whipped ricotta was fresh and very flavorful. The campanelle pasta was outstanding and the portion was much larger than I expected. I'm sad this place is far from home for me but I would certainly recommend others give it a shot. read more

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We were really looking forward to trying this Italian restaurant. While we're not experts, we've eaten at many Italian restaurants over the years, casual, fine dining, and even in Italy, and we were excited to visit after seeing so many glowing reviews on social media. The good: the restaurant itself is beautiful, very spacious, and has a wonderful atmosphere. Service was attentive and kind. The drinks were delicious, the Caesar salad was excellent, and the cacio e pepe was quite good as well. Where we struggled was with one of our pasta dishes. While we understand and enjoy al dente pasta, what we received went beyond that, it was almost raw, with a crunchy texture that stuck to the teeth. We let our server know, and he quickly had it remade, which we appreciated. However, when it returned, it was still undercooked, even though we were told it was made "extra cooked." Interestingly, another pasta dish at our table (with the same shells) came out cooked perfectly, so it was a bit confusing why this one couldn't be quite right. In the end, it was just okay. Overall, we loved the atmosphere, service, and a few standout items, but the pasta left us disappointed. We truly wanted to love this place, but for us, the food just didn't live up to the hype. read more

Excellent service, delicious food. My entree was Lumache pasta with a vodka sauce, crispy cipollini onions, chili oil with whipped ricotta. Pasta was a perfect el dente and sauce was rich and flavorful. Highly recommend. The Burrata was fabulous , hits all notes, salty sweet savory . Focaccia very tasty. Outdoor seating was cozy. Heat lamps made dinner very comfortable. read more

Via Vecchia - Burrata and focaccia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Very busy and noisy. Cocktails and Caesar salad were excellent, the high point of the evening, it was downhill from there. Two of us had the Campanella with shrimp entree, the shrimp are tiny, almost invisible, about 1/4" and favorless (see photo) . Was surprised an upscale restaurant would serve shrimp that undersized without at least describing it as such on the menu. This is not what guests expect when ordering a dish with shrimp featured as the first ingredient. read more

Via Vecchia - Shrimp is smaller that a nickel! - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food here was fantastic. Great wine selection. Even the bread was a hit. Definitely recommend. read more

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Via Vecchia: Cozy, Inviting, and Delicious Via Vecchia is a lovely spot with amazing decor--moody yet welcoming, perfect for a night out. Make sure to make reservations on weekends, as it's on the smaller side and can fill up quickly. The pastas were outstanding, and the cocktails hit the mark. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The s'mores dessert was a fun, delicious winter treat to cap off the meal. Can't wait to come back! read more

Via Vecchia - Smores dessert - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great dinner with my husband, lovely atmosphere and attentive staff. We will definitely come back! read more

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This place came recommended by a friend once I told them I was going to Maine for a quick vacay. We were in town for the WineWise Boat and oyster tour. Although the resy was fully booked we tried our luck and walked in. Over the phone the hostess let us know they leave tables open for walk-ins even though the reservation list is booked. As soon as we walked up the food smelled Amazing. We had a wait of 30-40 min. The restaurant was packed and the decor was swanky. They played good music all night. Everything we ate was good. My only complaint would be one of the drinks they made used crushed sonic ice. I only like that ice for slushes. My favorite dish was the mussels. Definitely 10/10. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. It was so good we went twice while on our visit. read more

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We met some friends to catch up with after the holidays and my wife Michele found this spot we have been wanting to try. Reservations are a good idea. We went on a Monday night so it wasn't crowded but we can see where it may get packed. This place is a beautiful spot and a warm place to sit, drink, eat and converse with friends or a private place to dine. We sat in the front section and they have a back section as well. Drinks were amazing! I had the Romeo is Bleeding. Bourbon, Averna, Smith & Cross, Black Lime, Strawberry, Balsamic, coconut and clarified with milk. It was so smooth and delicious, I had a second one. 5/5 on the delish scale I had the Bruschetta. It was good, I love the mushrooms, I'd give it a 4 outta 5. The tripoline..... mmmmmm sooo good! Highly recommend. The portions are perfect and definitely a 5/5 in my book. Try them out, we will be cal for sure as their menu changes throughout the year. Staff are the best!! Highly interactive, helpful, pleasant and just Nice!!!! Strong work to Via Vecchia! read more

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I was staying in Portland and selected here for dinner before seeing a show. It was a snowy Sunday evening and I was dining alone. The host was a bit snooty asking if I had a reservation and when I said I just wanted to sit at the bar, he had me seated at an end seat. This was the only down side of my experience here. I don't know why restaurant workers think ANYBODY would like that treatment. The restaurant never got full and neither did the bar. Otherwise, the experience was great. The bartender was cheerful, attentive, knowledgeable and efficient. I loved watching her mix cocktails! I advised that I was vegetarian and she was very helpful pointing out menu options for me as well as advising on what could be altered to make them vegetarian. I started with a glass of Valpolicella from there plentiful and interesting wine list. It was delicious, but not quite dry enough for me. I ordered the warm focaccia and olive oil and they were a delicious starter. Nice and flaky and the oil was very flavorful. For an entree, I got the mushroom tortellini. It was really incredible. Every bite was a joy! I was going to get a glass of the very expensive Taurasi, but the bartender had me try a sample first. I'm glad she did because it was just too much flavor for me! So I went with the Montecucco Rosso Riserva and it was just right. So even though my initial experience with the host left something to be desired, my overall experience was wonderful. read more

oh my goodnesss. So so good! Got a seat at the bar, and the drinks were amazing! The food was also very yummy, but did just take a little bit to come, but besides that, very very good! read more

Best Italian food I have had in Portland, really good ambiance and espresso martini. Service was great. Vodka pasta was good, would come back. read more

Via Vecchia - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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FANTASTIC establishment. We visited for drinks and appetizers a couple weeks ago. Definitely need a reservation if you want to confirm seating, OR get there early around 430/445pm. The drink I show here is the "Romeo is Bleeding" - which, as shown on the menu, sounds crazy, but is legitimately the best drink I have ever had. So light and multidimensional in flavor profile, the clarified milk added the most fun level to it as well. We had the burrata (so tasty), the meatballs (great, a little spicy if that's something you're into), and the focaccia (phenomenal). The bartender was so sweet and fun to interact with, not pressuring us or rushing us in any way, giving us the space and time to chat and enjoy our food and drinks. The space itself is positively adorable and you must at least walk by!! read more

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I truly wish I took photos of the food. I tried the short rib to start. It was so tender and so flavorful. It was served with zucchini caponata. Next I tried the campanelle with shrimp in a nduja sauce with white wine and sun dried tomatoes extra spicy. The flavor profile on this was great. I didn't want to stop eating it although I was getting full. This dish is not extremely heavy and a good portion. I also tried the pumpkin tiramisu which was pretty good as well. Not anything id rave about. But I enjoyed it for sure read more

Via Vecchia - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Loved the ambience in here. A really nice moody, upscale feel. Our waitress was excellent. All of the food was very delicious. Got the lumache for dinner, which I very much enjoyed. The tequila sunrise drink was awesome! Highly recommend trying this spot out! read more

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I took my husband to Via Vecchia for his birthday and it was a wonderful experience. We sat on the patio and were able to see boats and listen to live music from street performers, which made for a vibrant atmosphere. Our waitress, Tonya, was excellent. She made good recommendations and was very friendly. All of our food was delicious. For appetizers we ordered the whipped ricotta and short ribs. While they were both delicious I would definitely order the ricotta again, but I'm not sure if the short ribs were worth the price to me. For entrees, we ordered the Agnolotti and Lumache. I'd give the Lumache a 10/10 and the Agnolotti and 8/10. You get a lot more food with the Lumache and the flavors and textures mix fabulously. The Agnolotti was still very good, it does have a strong corn flavor which I think through us off. The more we ate of it the more we liked it! We will definitely be back for future celebrations! read more

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Fantastic all around. Great location and once inside wonderful ambiance. One of our party has celiac (allergic to gluten) and the waitress was super helpful explaining how they make gluten free work (they have gluten free pasta!). Almost all dishes can be made GF! Drinks: We got an aperol spritz and the St. valentine (nonalcoholic) for drinks. Aperol spritz was very good, as was st. Valentine (note: this drink's pomegranate taste was very strong, which we liked but if you're not a fan, try something else). Dinner: one got the bolognese (called radiatori on menu) and it was delicious, the GF pasta was some of the best we've had at a restaurant. We also got the lumache, which is pasta with their house vodka sauce, crispy cipollini onions, chili oil, and whipped ricotta on top. Soooo good! All portions were generous but not over the top/too much. Dessert: the flourless chocolate torte is GF so we shared that. Sooo good--the torte itself moist, salted caramel sauce and cacao nibs delicious, and mocha chip gelato to die for. Overall, just an outstanding meal and experience. Will be returning!! read more

Via Vecchia - Flourless chocolate torte - served warm with salted caramel sauce, mocha chip gelato, and candied cacao nibs - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Ah, Via Vecchia. Where to begin. Let's go with the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Good: It is a beautiful restaurant, especially by Portland standards. If you're a dude who wants to impress a new date, take her here. It's a lovely, beautifully-lit, and, yes, romantic date-night restaurant. Again, especially for Portland. The Bad: To be honest, the food is actually quite passable. Spectacular? Addictive? Memorable? Alas, no. But certainly not objectionable. It's just not SPECIAL, by any discerning diner's standards. And the price for such mediocrity? Let's just say the value is not great. As I've stated, the food is pretty okay. But for what they ask you to pay, it should at least rise to the level of truly fine dining, which it fails to do. The Ugly: Via Vecchia adds an extra service charge to every check, in addition to the cost of your meal, wine, tax, and tip. (!) They call it a "kitchen wellness" fee, or something like that. Anyway, it's not even a flat fee, but a percentage of your entire bill. (!) So, counterintuitively, the more you spend, the greater this extra charge. (!!) This practice is banned in many states, because it essentially constitutes deceptive pricing. Via Vecchia excuses it by saying "all restaurants do it", even though only about a dozen restaurants in greater Portland do it. In conclusion, if you care only about ambience, and not the quality of the cuisine, or the value you receive for your money, then Via Vecchia is the place for you. read more

Great food, very cozy atmosphere (could be loud if there are bigger parties around), great people and loved what we ordered and it was the best place to celebrate my birthday in style. read more

This is a nice spot with a confusing front door entry! Server was attentive, though not very helpful when it came to menu selections. Kinda had to coax her into telling us about the items on the menu. The focaccia is awesome, quite a portion (very filling). The pumpkin tiramisu is a definite win win! Plenty of small plate items and mains to choose from. Cozy atmosphere with large windows. Located just off commercial... I would definitely go again. Oh and did I mention they have a mock-tail menu??? read more

We sat at the bar, started with drinks, then meatballs, special type salad and the mussels. We couldn't decide which dessert to try so we tried 4. Great staff, not too loud and great interactions with other diners read more

Via Vecchia - 50/50/50 - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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First time here and it was delicious! It's such a nice cozy spot with great drinks. Our server was also very attentive and great as well! read more

Via Vecchia - Dessert - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I came here with friends for a nice dinner and Via Vecchia absolutely delivered! You for sure need a reservation and it seems they book up more than a week in advance. I was able to snag a late reservation on a Wednesday. Our server was CT who was super personable and helpful with recommendations! We decided to share a bunch of plates. We split the beef carpaccio, bruschetta, and polpo apps and then shared the summer agnolotti. Everything was very fresh, flavorful, and satisfying! Love the low lit, romantic ambiance as well. If you're in the mood for pasta I would definitely recommend a trip to Via. read more