We made a reservation for the Chef's Experience, which lets you sit by the open kitchen and watch the staff prepare the dishes. My 10 year old was really excited about it. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we arrived around 7:25. When we got there I noticed the table near the chef's counter was still occupied, but we weren't too concerned since the party already had their to-go bags on the table. About 15 minutes passed and they ended up ordering dessert (slowly), so it became clear they weren't leaving anytime soon. The manager offered us a different table and apologized, but Lola had been really looking forward to the chef's seating since that's specifically what we reserved. In the end we waited about an hour, which was frustrating, especially since the other party could clearly see we were waiting. Overall it was an awkward situation to be in. That said, the staff handled the situation very kindly. The manager offered Lola a tour of the kitchen and the chance to meet the chef. My daughter was a little nervous and wanted me to go with her, but it seemed like the invitation was meant just for her and they didn't want adults in the kitchen (I get it!). The manager noticed she was scared and took her hand and walked her through the kitchen which made my daughter feel at ease. It was a thoughtful gesture and they were incredibly apologetic the whole time. Again, it was just an awkward situation overall. Plus we were starving. The food, however, was fantastic. The pasta was made from scratch and tasted incredibly fresh. The eggplant parmigiana was excellent, and I especially loved the "Via-misu." Despite the long wait, the staff was so kind and apologetic that it actually made us want to come back and try the experience again. read more

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Via Vite is an Italian place right on fountain square in Cincinnati. I really enjoyed everything I had here! For appetizers, I had their arancini, veal meatball, and octopus. I really like the arancini and meatball but did find the octopus to be overly salty. For entree I had their bone in short rib and a peppered pinwheel sausage as a side. I really like both, but my one knock on it was that the sauce used for the short rib was pretty strong read more

Via Vite - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Had dinner with friends while in Cincinnati. There were so many amazing options on the menu and our meal was so amazing, I decided to try my luck at the bar the next night, we had reservations the first night! I did get a spot at the bar and service was outstanding!! They are so busy there but your wouldn't know it with the service! Super nice and attentive and busy! I love that the owner/head chef walks around and chats up the customers. Really makes you feel special, but he did it with everyone!! I asked a server for her favorites and she said the gnocchi with salmon.... So I went with that because I had thought about it the day before. It doesn't usually come with salmon but that was a great suggestion, I loved it. The bar tender suggested a Chianti, it was awesome!! Then some customers were raving about their espresso martini so I tried that and it was also great! Next time I'm in the Cincinnati area I will eat here again!! Delicious food, excellent service, a kitchen that cares, and amazing food! Do it!! read more

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We chose the NYE four course special to try this restaurant for the first time. Big mistake. Doesn't stack up to Alfio's or Sotto. For the price point we will never go back. Three stars for good service and ambiance, 0 stars for food with some appreciation for the cocktails. The appetizers were ok but nothing we would order again. SPINACH & RICOTTA "GNUDI BURRO E SALVIA" - mushy balls of spinach with a chewy cheese crisp. ARANCINI "CACIO E PEPE" - they were crispy but the sauce wasn't very good. TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE & CAPPELLETTI - bolognese tasted a bit watery, the truffle on the other dish smelled pretty bad but tasted better than expected. Unfortunately the smell was just too much so we did not finish. Kinda made me queasy. The focaccia was decent but a bit chewy. BEEF FILET with parsnip purée - apparently house temp is medium rare so expect a cold center steak with little flavor. I have food aversion to meat that is cold in the middle so i could not eat it. Management did check on us and i politely let her know my steak was cold, so she did apologize and have it cooked to medium. Our server brought my new steak out and said "my manager went to war for you over this steak" so it sounds like the kitchen didn't like a customer requesting medium. I appreciate the management for taking care of that though. The purée on the plate with the steak was very sweet, we did not like it. The sauce was peppery which was ok. The meat had no flavor at all. I like a salty steak or some kind of seasoning but it was very bland, even with the sauce. Disappointing even with the remake. They did bring us champagne for our wait on my steak which was a thoughtful gesture. WINTER PEAR MARTINI - was actually pretty good BLUSH & BRANCH SPRITZ - was also good but the martini was better TOASTED "MANHATTAN" - was disappointing, but i did eat the marshmallow! It was weak for a manhattan. VALRHONA DARK CHOCOLATE CRÈME BRÛLÉE - was fine but we don't particularly like brûlée. It tasted like chocolate pudding. RASPBERRY BAVARESE - I did not like this. It was like a raspberry mousse. Tasted ok when paired with the chocolate brûlée but I couldn't eat it as is. Overall the food was very disappointing, especially for the price point. We've spent less at Alfio's for a much better tasting meal. The service was great though. Over $300 for two people, I will never recommend this restaurant. read more

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Sat at the bar for a strong 6 minutes without a greeting or offer of water or anything while watching at least 4 servers in the well and a female bartender grab a bottle right in front of me and not acknowledge me at all. As someone in service I expect better. Although food is a treat I would expect better service. read more

After nearly 20 years, Via Vite still delivers. I'm between 4 and 5 stars here. Maybe another good visit will bump it to the next level. Our table had the short rib pappardelle and the lasagne. Generally agreed that there was a little too much bechamel with the lasagne, but the short rib pappardelle was fantastic. We had the prosciutto service, focaccia and the arancini for starters, and all were excellent. The Caesar salad was a little watery - like the lettuce was washed but not really dried. Our server (I think Beth) was perfect. Attentive, well versed in the menu, and quickly resolved a minor issue with the check very helpfully. The rest of the team was great too. If it was just for service, it would be 5 stars for sure. I look forward to returning! read more

Via Vite - Short Rib Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The service was good, but the food was okay. The eggplant parm costs $25, but is just the eggplant - there is no accompanying pasta. This is overpriced. And it tasted just alright. I also got their Tiramisu dessert, which tasted off and I could not finish this. I don't think I would return. read more

I live in LA, and I come here for work, but imo , this place has thee best bolognese I have ever had. Hands down. I have been here four times in the past two years, I will pay money for someone to best me on this. read more

I celebrated my 50th birthday at the Chef's table. From the moment I walked into the venue, the vibe was amazing the staff were awesome and welcoming. I enjoyed a sidecar cocktail (or two), the risotto-lamb meatballs appetizer and the seafood risotto as my main entree. The food was pure perfection. My only feedback relates to the Chef's Table experience. Chef is awesome. I would love to see him interact with the table, even if just introducing himself and his dishes. Overall, my guests and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Cheers! read more

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This experience was top notch from beginning to end. Elegantly casual, this would be great for gathering with a friend or out on a date. Warmly greeted and promptly seated, the server, Griffin, informed us that he was in training. He let us know that he and David (trainer) would be taking care of our table for the evening. This was my first visit, so I had many questions which they happily answered. Everything on the menu looked spectacular, but I was able to decide on the tagliatelle with Bolognese. I make my own Bolognese at home and I've tried it at several restaurants over the years. I must say that this was my absolute favorite! The portion was perfect; not too small and not too big. I still took 1/3 of at home as I couldn't possibly leave without trying one of their delicious desserts. The dark chocolate crème brûlée with candied hazelnuts was perfection. It is extremely rich so I would suggest having a coffee with it or sharing with another individual. You get an adorable little reusable bag to take home any leftovers which I appreciate. I will definitely be a repeat customer. read more

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Really enjoyed our time here. The place is cute and welcoming, right by the fountain so cute. The service was great and very knowledgeable. Food was very well balanced with flavor and sauce. Great menu with a lot of choices. I am a very picky eater and was able to find a great variety. I think this place is nice for variety of occasion. read more

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An amazing atmosphere which we were welcomed in at the door. Seated quickly since we had reservations. An excellent server who always had a smile for us. Our food came Out and it was amazing and huge portions as well. Many of us took some home for another day. It was a great experience and I would surely go back. read more

What a great Italian spot right by fountain square! I had the crispy gnocchi and my date had the pasta vodka one. And we had the via misu which was so good!! Definitely will be back read more

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We were a party of eight to dine before seeing Hamilton at 8pm. We had reservations at 5:30pm. Imagine my surprise when Chef Christian Pietoso himself opened the door for us and shook our hands! We were seated upstairs. Our server, Priscilla, was attentive, gracious, and on-the-ball explaining everything and getting our meal timed perfectly so as not to be rushed before the show. Chef Christian came by again during our meal to see how everything was tasting. Nice touch. I am an avid picture taker usually, but because we had a large group, I didn't want to be weird and take pics of everyone's meals. Suffice it to say that everyone in our group loved their food and drinks. It is so great that they offer half orders of their dishes, so we enjoyed many items on the menu. Personally, we ordered the Gnocchi, the Short Rib Pappardelle, and the Chicken Milanese. The gnocchi is a must order, the short rib pappardelle had so much succulent meat, and the Milanese was perfectly cooked and garnished with a generous amount arugula, tomatoes, and vinaigrette. All the plates were empty at the end of the meal. It's been a while since we have eaten at Via Vite (we usually go to Nicolas and Forno), but after this experience, we will return more often. Highly recommend, especially if you are going to see a show. They have the timing perfected. read more

My favorite Italian restaurant in Cincy (yes I would choose this over Sotto and Pepp). It is definitely more expensive with the pastas averaging probably $10 more than other places, but to me it's worth it. My favorite is the carbonara and this is the only place I've found here that has other than VV Italian. I recently tried the eggplant Parmesan and it is good as well. I prefer the carbonara but would get the eggplant if I wanted something more filling, because the carbonara dish is pretty small. If you want to try multiple items, they do offer half portions in some of the pastas! I feel like this is underrated and if I had to guess it's probably due to the atmosphere. It's more of a fine dining atmosphere compared to its trendier competitors. The drinks have always been good. They make a good expresso martini and had a great raspberry version at one point that I wish they would bring back. And last but not least, they could cater to my husband's extreme food allergies (including dairy, wheat, egg and nuts). Our last server Kelly was amazing, very knowledgeable, and always there when we needed her without being overbearing. read more

Via Vite - Allergy filet, half carbonara, and eggplant parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We were heading to the Aronoff and stopped in for an early dinner. Tried the daily special salad, the Wednesday pasta trio for dinner, and 2 desserts . Everything was delicious. David our server was fantastic. All the staff we encountered were very attentive. Even the chef brought out our meal and presented it to us. They care very much about what you like and include a survey with your bill that they ask for honest feedback for. read more

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We reserved the chef's table, and overall the experience was just okay. Nothing in particular stood out. When we placed our orders, several items that were repeated back to us never arrived, and it felt like things were being forgotten throughout the night. We also didn't receive menus for quite a while because they had overlooked them, and even after politely asking for cloth napkins, they still weren't brought to the table right away. The ambiance itself was intimate, and sitting next to the kitchen was a unique, one‑time experience. However, based on the service and overall flow of the evening, it's not something we would choose to do again. read more

Via Vite - Spaghettini Arrabbiata - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati has a magnificent restaurant scene so we chose to come here for my birthday. Via Vite was my choice for my birthday dinner as I wanted Italian. The food was spectacular. It was a Tuesday evening so it wasn't particularly busy. We chose to sit at the bar because that where we enjoy sitting. The portions were huge. The ambiance was gorgeous. The service was terrific. Totally recommend this restaurant. read more

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In the Queen City with a couple dozen family members and this was the spot we selected for our opening night dinner. Given the size of our group our three courses were set with a limited number of options per course. I selected Stracciatella Panzanella for my salad, great taste, loved the bit of heat on the finish. My main course was their Tagliatelle Bolognese, wonderful sauce fully complemented by the beautiful pasta noodles. Flavorful dish and it was nice and hot. Final course, a vanilla risotto, absolutely delicious. The two ladies that took care of our group did a stellar job. Wonderful evening, wonderful meal, everyone raved about their particular selections, though I'm sure my were the best. read more

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I dined here for the first time with a group of 6 and everyone seemed to like their selections of food, antipasto, main meal, drinks and attentive service . I enjoyed the arugula salad and the Italian beef slices . read more

Via Vite - Arugula salad - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great food and service. We went before a show at the Aronoff. Our server was nice and attentive. Food was delish. read more

Via Vite - The arancini appetizer. So yum! - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Take -out was the way to go on a crowded Saturday. My pasta was spectacular; Brussels sprouts were similarly great. Wish I didn't live 250 miles away. read more

TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE!!! The best I've ever had. In Cincinnati for a business trip. Found Via Vite on Yelp close to the hotel. Did not disappoint. Everything was incredible. Highly recommend. read more

Via Vite - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We've been to Via Vite multiple times and have never been disappointed. The cocktails and food are delicious, making this a great spot for birthdays or other celebrations. The lemon drop martini and the arancini are both incredible. It gives the feel of a high end restaurant without entirely breaking the bank. read more

Via Vite - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

An oldie but goodie that I recently rediscovered. So many tasty items on the menu, but due to some food restrictions, I tried the salmon and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and preparation. We had a large party, but got our food quickly. The upper level overlooking Fountain Square is bright and airy, perfect place to sit. It is important to note, this place offers several gluten free options, nice to be able to sample pasta even with compromise. read more

Via Vite - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

If you're looking to experience a culinary theme park in your mouth, Via Vite will take your taste buds to places you didn't know they could go. The food was absolutely incredible. Via Vite is one of my wife and I's favorite date night spots. We celebrated our anniversary and we loved the food, service, and ambiance. The service was fast, friendly, and attentive. The ambiance was warm, elegant, mature, and friendly. Would highly recommend if you're looking to have a delicious meal and celebrate life in good vibes. Without a doubt, you will enjoy the food, the drinks, the service, and the experience. read more

Via Vite - Salad with sweet baby tomatoes, cucumber, onion, cheese, and croutons - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I waited too long to book Valentine's Day Dinner but Via Vite had availability at the time which we needed. They offered a prix fixe menu of 3 courses for $70. I booked for 7:30. We arrived a couple of minutes early and were informed that some tables were being prepared. After about 10 minutes, we were called to be seated. We walked upstairs and had a table inside surrounded by 2 walls of glass. It was interestingly different. Our server informed us that there was a wine pairing option for $30. My husband and I both added that. My husband reminded me that we had been here once before and that I hated it and said we'd never return. I wanted to go in with a fresh slate and was confident that this time would be better. The bread came out quickly, followed shortly by our appetizers. I had the potato leek soup with fresh black truffle on top. I LOVED it!! However, they paired it with a red wine that did not complement it well. My husband had the beef tartare. He asked for extra crackers because it was only served with a couple. The next course for me was the beef bolognese, which was good but did not sit well with my stomach that night or leftovers the next day. My husband got the risotto and didn't say much about it. Our main entree consisted of the filet and lamb shank. My husband said that the lamb shank was dry because it was quite overcooked. My filet was the opposite. Less than medium rare. The grilled artichokes were weird with it and the wine that was paired with it, I didn't end up drinking. I made the joke that the sommelier must have already been drunk when working on this menu. The pairings were strange and I do not recommend it. We skipped dessert here and instead walked into the best Italian restaurant in town for their ricotta donuts to end on a high note. read more

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In the Cincinnati for work with a strong craving for lasagna! Thank you, Yelp, for pointing me to Via Vite and lasagna Friday. Once I checked into my hotel, Via Vite was a short walk with bar seating. Since I looked like a hobo after traveling, I opted for the bar. I was greeted by the bartenders when I sat at the bar. Everyone was super friendly. I started with a mocktail. It was so refreshing! I could taste the ginger and lemon. For dinner, I ordered the Brussel sprouts and lasagna. The lasagna is only available on Fridays. It's sold until it's gone. Omg! So worth it! read more

Via Vite - Lasagne Friday - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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What a great experience. Went down for #lightupthesquare and had dinner prior to the tree lighting. Everything was great, from the hostess who offered to check our coats, to our server Derek? to the manager who checked on us a few times. We went with the recommended entrees by our server and was fabulous. Homemade pasta is hard to pass up. The bread, the drinks, the vodka pasta was great. Will definitely be back! read more

A good experience! Went here for a friends birthday and had a wonderful time. The service was attentive and friendly, and the environment was nice. It is not too fancy, but some people were dressed up. I think you could get away with wearing jeans and a nice shirt. The food itself was very good. I tried everyone's dish, but mine was the favorite. I highly recommend the Lumache alla Vodka the sauce is absolutely perfect. read more

Via Vite - Aperol Spritz - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Amazing! Went here with my parents over a year ago and it was one of the best restaurant experiences I have ever had. The food was delicious, a perfect Italian restaurant that was the perfect amount of upscale to not be too expensive or too fancy. The service is what made this place. Our server was chatty and kept good conversations and we eventually were able to meet the owner and head chef who was very nice and passionate about the restaurant. This is amongst my favorites in Cincinnati! read more

Good place for Italian food in downtown Cinci. We came here to celebrate my sister's birthday. We needed a place with good food that was also kid friendly. As a bonus, it was walking distance from our hotel. I made reservations on OpenTable. My sister arrived before us and was seated immediately by the window with a good view of the square. They have a decent wine list and cocktail list. My sister had an Italian mule, and I had a sip. It was good. My husband and I shared a nice bottle of Italian red. We started with the fritto misto and the prosciutto. Both were excellent choices to start the meal. For my main, I had the lamb shank. It was huge! It was not piping hot and a little too salty, but it was still delicious and tender. The polenta with it was very cheesy. My husband had the pasta alla vodka, and he thought it was good. My daughter had the spaghetti pomodoro, which she liked. My son had the tagliatelle with bolognese and a meatball, and the serving size was huge. My sister got the veal on special, and she said it was good. As it was my sister's birthday, they brought her some zeppoli with various dipping sauces on the house. The Italian donuts were a little gummy on the inside, and the dipping sauce that I tried was too sweet. As the meal was so huge, we did not order a separate dessert. Service is friendly, but the restaurant is not a place for a quick meal. read more

Over priced. Underwhelming. Not worth the $. The table bread, almost always free elsewhere at Italian restaurants, was @$8 for 4 pieces! A 1/2 side of Pasta ONLY was $10. Made the dish go from $25 to $35. Really?? read more

Celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary here last week and the food was fantastic. I ordered the lamb shank, my wife went with their homemade crispy gnocchi (she's always on a mission for truffle), and we shared the Dark Chocolate Crème Brûlée for dessert. She raved about the flavor of her gnocchi, and the lamb shank was done perfectly. The creme brûlée was terrific as well (served with a chocolate spoon as well). Our server was great, and the food came out super quickly. The clientele spanned a wide range with some like us, celebrating a special occasion, others most likely having a business meeting, and some dressed casually there to enjoy some delicious food. It's refreshing to have an environment that fits any occasion but doesn't sacrifice on service or flavors. read more

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This was my first time back to Via Vite in years and I was pleasantly surprised, my husband and I really enjoyed our experience ! We were seated on the terrace which was perfect on a semi cool summer evening before going to see a show at taft theatre. I enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay and my husband had the primavera old fashioned which came with a honeycomb stir stick! I would say the wine prices were a little high since they were 5 oz pours. For appetizer we ordered the cacio e pepe Arancini. Pretty filling app, easily shareable. Came with 4 Arancini balls. Would've loved more sauce on this. For main entree we shared mama's eggplant parmesan and charred broccolini. This was a generous slice of eggplant parm, really tasty. The tomato sauce is so fresh. The broccolini was okay, tasty but not super memorable or out of this world. If you like some added spice order the Calabrian chili oil on the side. Was great on the eggplant parm. The desserts sounded great but we were stuffed. We did order drinks though. I had the espresso martini and my husband got the house limoncello. Both delicious . The espresso martini was velvety creamy. Overall had a great experience. Would be a good pick before a show or just for downtown dining. Service was also great! read more

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My daughter and I ate here before going to the aronoff. This place is so fantastic. First of all the smell when you walk in is phenomenal. They are making the pasta and you can watch or sit at the table by it. Our waitress was sweet and explained a lot to us. I got the eggplant Parmesan. It was thin not too much cheese. So good. One of the best I have had. My daughter got the pasta fagoli which was rosemary pasta with cannelloni beans She was in heaven. Can't wait to go back. read more

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We flew into town late due to airline craziness. It was a longer travel day than expected. We asked the front desk upon checking in for a restaurant recommendation nearby. She sent us to Via Vite stating it was good and still open. We walked over, it took just a few mins, and they greeted us kindly. While waiting to be seated we glanced at the menu online and noticed it was closing time. We were going to leave since it was less than 15 mins to closing and they still offered to seat us. We chose to sit at the bar so they could clean up the tables. The bar attendant (Presley) was FABULOUS! She provided excellent recommendations. We ate the gnocchi and added sausage as well as the bruschetta with ricotta and fig. For coming in literally at closing we were not rushed with decisions and even offered the dessert menu toward the end. The portions were smaller than we expected for the pricing, that is the reason for the 4 star rather than 5. read more

Via Vite - Empty, closing time. - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Incredible food and service. Top bites were the Octopus, Lamb Shank, and Gnocchi. Our waitress made incredible recommendations. White tablecloth vibe read more

Havnt been to Via Vite in years but decided to go with my friend for her birthday and it was so good! The service was great and the pasta was amazing. We got the vodka pasta and the valentines special which was a pesto heart shaped pasta. Would definitely go back and recommend to anyone else! read more

I was staying downtown, got in late, and was on the verge of hangry. A close friend of mine that lives in Cincinnati said that Via Vita was a gem of Italian food so I went with it... especially after seeing the great reviews. I walked over to discover a rather swanky spot. I noticed the logo lit up on the carpet as I headed through their covered entryway. Once opening the door it was bustling, seriously a packed house, on a cold and snowy Tuesday evening. There were giant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a fancy bar. I let the host know that I was there for a pick up order and they directed me to the bar to get it. That was a bit of a challenge but luckily another staff member noticed my confusion and grabbed my order. I wish the host would have just gotten it for me instead of having me stand awkwardly next to diners as I tried to catch the bartender's attention. Anyhoo, I ordered the classic Caesar salad and the handmade crispy gnocchi. Now, I got this to-go, so I expected the presentation to be messy and it was. But that didn't change how tasty it was. The salad was ok. I would have preferred the lettuce be cut up into smaller portions but that's pretty specific. The gnocchi was down right delicious and I would order it again in a heartbeat. It came in a creamy cheese sauce with chives and truffle and the portion was perfect. It was very decadent and filling. I would totally return for a special occasion or date night, but definitely make sure to make reservations. read more

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