Even on a rainy Saturday, they were still welcoming and amazingly quick with food and drink. The entrance belies the spaciousness within - a high ceiling with modern lighting fixtures above. I enjoyed it so much by myself that I set up a meetup for my dining group the following week. We sat in their back room, and everyone enjoyed the various menu options. They also bring in Italian Gelato, which they sell up front to take home or eat in house. I've had several different dishes, and they are all amazing. The wine list is not huge, but covers the basics and has some great options for every palette. read more

Vici Ristobar - Food and friends - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I took a chance at trying this place and I am sure happy I did. The atmosphere is beautiful with nice pictures and greenery. They have both booths that are very comfortable and tables that can be pulled together for a group. I took advantage of a lunch special and had a meatball sandwich with salad. Yum! The sandwich could have used more sauce but the huge meatballs were wonderful. The salad was so much better than other places....real greens, tomato, cucumber and OLIVES! It was tossed with a super dressing. The service was excellent and both ladies that were working checked on me often. One of the ladies was a bad influence when she told me about the dessert choices. Everything is made in house except the gelato. I chose the cannoli cheesecake! Wow!!!!! It was awesome! Clean, comfortable, great food and prices. I have found a place I will be coming back to when in the area! read more

See all

If loving Vici Italian Restaurant is wrong, I don't want to be right. From the first bite, it was clear this place understands Italian food the way it's meant to be understood -- with flavor, heart, and zero restraint. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs (extra sauce, because I have values) along with a side of Italian sausage. The meatballs were unbelievably fresh, tender, and perfectly seasoned -- the kind that make you pause mid-bite and reconsider every meatball you've ever eaten before. The sauce was rich, comforting, and unapologetically delicious. If Nonna approved it, I'd believe you. The Italian sausage was phenomenal -- juicy, flavorful, and the perfect companion to an already outstanding dish. We also shared the carbonara, which was everything carbonara should be: creamy without being heavy, deeply savory, and just downright indulgent. Adding the blackened/grilled chicken was a game-changer -- perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. I would come back just for this dish alone. And now, a standing ovation for April at the bar Her drinks were outstanding, but the espresso cocktail? Absolute perfection. Balanced, smooth, and dangerous in the best way. She knows exactly what she's doing, and it shows. Vici isn't just a meal -- it's a full that's-amore experience. Incredible food, fantastic drinks, and the kind of place that immediately earns a spot on your "must-return" list. Already excited to go back. Until then, I'll be dreaming of meatballs, carbonara, and espresso cocktails. read more

Went there for the first time for a Post graduation party for my Oldest Nephew...Food was great...had a Pasta dish and shared later some of my Mom's seafood dish...All was delicious...Staff was friendly though we did get there quite early so we were there for a few hours but had a great time..Not on my usual traveling route but to hope to make a return trip.....Good times had my old and we all tried to give great advice to my Eldest Nephew as he heads off to College... read more

They are still open and excellent!! Gia was my server who was sweet, kind and didn't bug me( I dined alone)! The Chicken piccata was excellent! Two well cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, lemony moist, perfect. The potatoes were really nice and the green beans were a surprise. Enough food for left overs. I love their bread and olive oil for dipping. I had a nice glass of wine. Could be a bit bigger pour for $11 but otherwise nice choices for wine! Lots of Italian wines. I had the carletto Montepulciano. Low tannins but nice smooth Italian wine. read more

Vici Ristobar - Chicken Piccata - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Got chicken parmigiana and it was good. I paid extra for sauce i did not get. But yes they charged me. It was good, great? Eh, not so sure for 25.00 take out dinner read more

The pizza at Vici was incredible! The crust was thin and crispy, with the perfect balance of chewiness. Topped with fresh, high-quality ingredients, the flavors were authentic and delicious. Gotta love the flavor the prosciutto gives. A must-try for pizza lovers! You also get a loaf of bread which has some nice seasoning. The Caesar salad had some great taste but some of the lettuce could have been fresher. The staff were very friendly. Ambiance is nice, it a nice place for a date or a slightly larger party. Prices are relatively reasonable. We would come back. read more

Vici Ristobar - Prosciutto Arugula Pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The restaurant is very nice the staff is great the biggest problem was food quality... we came to the restaurant for my daughter's 11th birthday she wanted Italian so we picked this restaurant the wife and I order the short rib pasta because I love short ribs and the meat was tender but no flavor and the noodles were chewy which was a real disappointment since the meal is about $30 a plate my daughter tried the chicken Alfredo which she didn't like very much our son had the shrimp Alfredo which he wasn't a big fan of read more

See all

The food is OUTSTANDING. My Italian husband and I are originally from NYC. He grew up on the Lower East Side a stone's throw from Little Italy and his family had traditional Italian Sunday dinner at his parents house each week. I know my Italian food. The pasta here is made fresh, as is the mozzarella and the delicious bread which is served as entire loaves. The eggplant in the eggplant parm was fried nice and crispy the way my husband and I like it. The linguine in the white clam sauce was cooked perfectly al dented. The rice balls were large and tasty. Our friend loved the Rigatoni a la Vodka. The food here is as good, if not better, than any we had in NYC and better than any Italian restaurant we've been to in the 17 years living here in the Triangle. There's plenty of parking because it's in a shopping center. My only suggestion is that the menus are very difficult to read, especially when you're a senior, because the print is black on a dark green background. Ditch the dark green for a color that contrasts with the print. All in all, I would give this restaurant 10 stars if I could! read more

Proof that not all the best restaurants are in downtown! Vici is a monthly date night spot for us and we always love to bring family and friends here as well. I especially love their gluten free options which can be hard to find when it comes to Italian food. They also do half price bottles of wine on Mondays so obviously we take advantage of that too! Not to mention the service is always great! They do get busy on the weekends and Mondays so make a reservation if you want a booth! So happy to have Vici in our neighborhood area. read more

See all

I had reservations for a Saturday night and the place was hopping. It was my first time here and the ambiance was nice. The staff was friendly and attentive. I just didn't think the food was more than three stars. The short rib pasta was just OK. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing but think that for the price the value lacks. Probably not on my go to list. read more

We love this spot, our local go-to for Italian. Local and welcoming, the service has always been friendly and accommodating. Favorites: Vodka Pasta Chicken Alfredo (ask for some "zest" on the chicken) Pizza looks good, but we always go with our pasta! Not much luck with the fish dishes in the past, but perhaps we just had a bad experience... proceed at your discretion. Great wines, some craft beers on tap, and good old fashioneds... very much worth a try to see if this spot is your vibe! read more

Vici Ristobar - Garlic cheesy bread... always great here! - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The calamari was a big dissapoint. Loved the 1/2 price bottles of wine on Monday. Would give smaller portions on entrees and less $$.

We enjoyed our dinner at Vici Ristobar. The pastas were great and so was the service. I give this place a solid four Yelp stars. Vici opened in December 2021 in the Hope Valley Commons (Harris Teeter) shopping center on 54. My wife found Vici on Yelp. At the time, it had a perfect five-star average rating with over 20 reviews. We were both skeptical of the high initial rating, but walked away happy and satisfied with our experience here. If you're familiar with this shopping center, Vici took over the space previously occupied by Tre Forni: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tre-forni-durham. Vici is from the same owners as Vivo Ristorante Pizzeria in Raleigh (https://www.yelp.com/biz/vivo-ristorante-pizzeria-raleigh) and Vieni Ristobar in Holly Springs (https://www.yelp.com/biz/vieni-ristobar-holly-springs). Vici manager Chris, who also helps run Vivo and Vieni, said Vivo, Vieni, and Vici are references to Caesar. I know Caesar's saying as "veni, vidi, vici," meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered." I then told Chris about the old, popular Italian restaurant in Atlanta (where we're from) called Veni Vidi Vici: https://www.yelp.com/biz/veni-vidi-vici-atlanta-2?hrid=PiUQ6ufjsZQftrG7InLE0w. I appreciated how Chris came to our table, as managers typically do, to check on us (in addition to our wonderful server, Gabriella H). Chris didn't recognize our faces and asked if it was our first time. We did think it was a little weird when the older lady hostess asked us if we had a reservation. This is a casual restaurant, it was an ordinary Thursday night, and there were several empty tables for the duration of our visit. Gabriella was awesome, A+. Turns out my wife and Gabriella know each other through their shared lab at UNC. The dishes came out fast. I also have to mention that my wife and I like Vici more than the much older and established Italian restaurant in this neighborhood, Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pulcinellas-italian-restaurant-durham. Not that Pulcinella's is bad (it isn't), but both the food and service we experienced at Vici were better than what we experienced at Pulcinella's. Below is a list of what we ordered. Along with the types of dishes offered, it should give you an idea on pricing. Along with Italian apps, salads, entrees, and desserts, Vici also serves Italian soups and pizza. Pizzas, a calzone, and a stromboli take up a good portion of the menu. For drinks, they have cocktails, a decently-sized wine list, beer, bourbon, whiskey, and more. "Ristobar" = restaurant-bar. Antipasti * Bread service with herbed olive oil (complimentary) * Burrata with Truffled Oil ($12) - fresh mozzarella stuffed with stracciatella cream over vine-ripened tomato and house crostini wedge Soups & Salads * Vici Famous Chopped Salad ($12) - chopped mixed greens, cucumber, olives, red onions, and roasted artichoke hearts, house balsamic Fresh Pastas * Spaghetti Carbonara ($18) - sauteed pancetta (pork), sauteed onions, vodka, tomato sauce, cream, Parmigiano Reggiano * Braised Short Ribs with Pappardelle ($26) - braised beef short ribs in a rich savory veal demiglace and fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano Dessert * Ricotta Cheesecake dessert ($8 per slice) The pastas were excellent and so was the Chopped Salad. Everything else was A-OK. The bread service was nice. I liked how they presented the pieces of bread split on top. Both the bread and oil were flavorful. The bread was soft and appetizing. The herbs/seasonings in the oil were a nice touch. We love burrata and thought Vici's Burrata with Truffled Oil was good, but not great. The burrata itself was fine. Fresh, delicious. However, the truffle flavor was barely noticeable. Still, I'd order this dish again. I love burrata that much. The "Vici Famous" Chopped Salad was sizable. Also fresh and delicious. My wife and I split the salad and it was plenty of salad for the two of us. For groups that don't eat a lot of salad, Vici's Chopped Salad might be able to be split among three people. The Spaghetti Carbonara was extra rich and creamy. Very good. I could taste the dense, heavy calories with every bite. But seriously, this was one of the most memorable restaurant pasta carbonaras I've had. It might be better described as "carbonara in an extra rich and creamy sauce." It was definitely wet and saucy in this sense. As a fan of creamy pastas/pasta sauces, I liked it. The Braised Short Ribs with Pappardelle were terrific. For this dish, Vici gives the option of pappardelle or gnocchi for the pasta. I like gnocchi so I was intrigued having it with short ribs, but I also like pappardelle and thought it would be the "safer" option. According to our server, it's also the more popular of the two for this dish. The dish was incredibly tasty. The ribbons had wonderful texture and the beef was tender and delectably savory. The Ricotta Cheesecake was good. Par for the course. Tiramisu and cannoli were the only other two dessert choices. read more

See all

my server, very friendly, establishment is clean. I had the spaghetti, fresh fried marinara, lunch special and it was very good. Good portion sizes. the tiramisu was fire ! I'll be back to try the gelato! read more

Vici Ristobar - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

A great place for hearty home-cooked pasta and meatballs. The sauces used are very rich and well seasoned, and the quantity of food usually allow for leftovers (aka a delicious lunch the next day). I would definitely return! read more

See all

Always my to go place for Italian food. Came here on a holiday night but late, glad they still have tables! I absolutely love the pasta here. Never can get enough of its bc the food here was so fulfilling, I had leftovers. Service was great. I had the appetizer here too but all I remember was he beef pasta. It was so good! It is a big restaurants with plenty of seats! read more

See all

Another great meal. Our server, April, makes the perfect cocktail (yes, there's a bar). April adds to the dining experience because she's so attentive. Meatballs w Ricotta, Stromboli, pizza, it's all delicious. read more

Vici Ristobar - NY Style Pizza with 1/2 sausage, for which I couldn't take the pic fast enough ... it's that good!!!!!! - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food and service were great. The chicken Parmesan was cooked to perfection. The mozzarella sticks were so fresh. You haven't had a mozzarella sticks until you've had Vici. read more

Vici Ristobar - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Food was very good. Service was terrible. Got there at 6 PM on a Monday day night and it was not busy at all. We sat outside. Twice I had to go inside to ask for things. I was never offered a water refill the entire meal. My son's drink never came despite going inside more than halfway through the meal to ask for it again. Second beer took forever, and came when we were mostly done. To top it off, it was a mandatory 20% gratuity added. ETA:: The pizza menu is a bit confusing. They only have Medium pizzas. But their online ordering interface allows you to choose a large pizza, and large are priced differently than mediums so it doesn't look like a mistake. read more

The server was nice and the only reason I didn't send my pasta dish back to the kitchen. A simple tagliatelle mushroom in cream sauce was visibly lacking in effort and surprisingly tasteless. Chunks - not crumbled - Gorgonzola, a ton of cream that was hardly cooked and just poured over, and simple cremini and no other mushroom and the dish just looked like noodles swimming in a pool of cream w chunky cheese and no other flavor. And all this for a whopping $26! read more

BEST chicken Marsala & Chicken Picata in the triangle. The chicken parm was also unreal. Has the service is always lovely and the vibe feels so homey and welcoming. We love coming here! read more

My husband and I recently visited Vici for the first time based on all the positive Yelp reviews. I was a tad underwhelmed upon entering the restaurant - the interior is very dark, though not in a particularly cozy or intimate way, and far more casual than I was expecting. It just doesn't give the impression that a lot of thought was put into making the atmosphere inviting. Italian food is all about warmth and comfort, and I just wish Vici's atmosphere gave the same vibe. I'd also love for them to consider investing in more comfortable chairs. Thankfully, the food itself was pretty solid. We started with the fried mozzarella which was some of the best I've ever had. I loved the freshness of the cheese, the warm delicious marinara, and the fact that the breading was perfectly crunchy without being greasy. For entrees we ordered the lasagna and the rigatoni vodka. The lasagna was surprisingly light due to the difference fresh pasta makes. I really liked it. The rigatoni vodka was good, not great. The rigatoni itself was nicely al dente. The vodka sauce was very heavy on pancetta but light on other flavors such as garlic and onion; perhaps the addition of shrimp or chicken would have improved the overall depth of flavor. All in all, I think Vici has the potential to be a neighborhood gem, especially if they give the atmosphere and dining experience as much attention as they do the food. read more

Location chosen for our work group dinner. Amazing food, amazing portions, very good service. Will be back again for sure. Would've given it five stars, but the pumpkin cheesecake had very little flavor and chunks of unincorporated cream cheese throughout the slice. read more

Best Italian food since we moved here 13 yrs ago. Highly recommended by our daughter who lived in Italy, speaks the language and knows excellent Italian food. read more

Vici is new to the block, and it has good food to share with the community. Thank you to a neighbor on NextDoor for recommending this upscale place. Vici's interior is simple. There isn't a lot to catch your eye besides the wall decor. I think they tried to style it like a country restaurant right off the fields. It's hard when you don't have a lot of natural light to work with. Vici's entrees stand out. You have rich, hearty sauce, thick, doughy pasta, and an excellent bread and olive oil starter. I've been to other places (and to Italy itself), and I'm glad that Vici takes a homemade twist to Italian cuisine. I went simple with their fettuccine alfredo with chicken and Prosecco to sip on. I would recommend their Aperol Spritz for summer afternoons. Crisp and refreshing. I was well attended to by the staff, and the folks near me decided to pick on me for fun. It helped me end with a smile on my face. I'm down for more of this. read more

Vici Ristobar - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Had the calamari appetizer and the beef short rib pappardelle. I tried some of my friend's margarita pizza as well. Calamari was yummy even with a bit too much salt in my opinion. Beef short rib pasta was tasty and filling. I had about half left to take home and I usually eat more than most people. Friend got the smaller Margarita pizza size and still had some to take home. Definitely want to go back as they have lots of pasta dishes I enjoy and some healthier salads options with some noodles as well. Seem to have pretty good wine selection, although did not get any this time around. read more

Vici Ristobar - Beef short rib pappardelle - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great lunch deal, generous portion, reasonable price, casual bar food vibe. It's usually really quiet (yesss) and slow (nooo) during weekday lunch hour with limited staff. Service seemed overwhelmed but friendly. read more

Vici Ristobar - Margareta pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

I ordered door dash as I just had my hip replaced. I ordered a pizza, spaghetti carbonara, and an appetizer. The portions were perfect and the food traveled nicely. I wanted enough for leftovers for a few meals and wasn't let down. The medium pizza was 6 slices. I got it with fried eggplant and was pretty crispy and good. The spaghetti carbonara was good and made for a good reheated meal. The buratta appetizer was yummy. Could have used some more balsamic, but was pretty good! read more

See all

So, I would give a 1 star, but the food here is VERY good. Everything else - including the inconsiderate owner - is terrible. We came from the hospital after my wife needed a stressful infusion and were hoping for a wonderful meal at a different restaurant. This was one of 4 or 5 Italian restaurants in the area, but the menu looked impressive, so we went. Everything... besides the food ... went downhill from there. The server was very pleasant but was COMPLETELY involved with her other tables. We had to wait for stuff for the bread, for cheese for the food after it came (while entrees were getting cold AND why was it not brought with the pasta??), for refills, for more bread (never got). It was ridiculous. We actually waited over 10 minutes AFTER finishing for her to stop back to ask for a box - which was a wait - and the check - which was a wait and... you guessed it... getting the receipt back was a wait. I told the owner and she gave excuse after excuse not caring that she wasn't taking ANY ownership (pun intended) for the situation. Even after I explained that the woman went to the other tables and skipped ours she doubled down on it just being busy. Don't care HOW good the food is, I will never be back to a restaurant where the management is THAT uncaring to customer satisfaction. There are plenty of other nice places to go to next time. read more

Loved the veal parm and homemade tagliatelle. So rare to get fresh pasta anywhere. The homemade lemon cheesecake was amazing too. Just a wonderful experience. read more

Okay I am so impressed! I was enticed by Vici's menu online, but I had my doubts about an upscale Italian eatery in a shopping center. But whatever preconceived notions you have, you can go ahead and throw them out the window, because this place is incredible! Vici Ristobar is upscale enough without feeling stuffy or pretentious, but still casual enough. We started out with some cocktails, I got the strawberry soda. A creamy, berry flavored beverage with lovely presentation and just the right punch. In addition to their signature cocktails, they also have a full bar, plus a beer and wine menu. I am a sucker for Arancini, I mean, who doesn't live cheesy fried balls of rice? I had to try the Sicilian rice balls and they were everything I could've dreamed of. The perfect crunch in the breading, paired with the creamy, cheesy, perfectly textured Arborio rice was the perfect explosive flavor combo. The red sauce that was served with it was the perfect complement, wow. A perfect sauce in my mind! Super fresh, not too herby, and just right acidity. All this topped with fresh basil, I could not get enough. It comes with two rice balls, a solid portion for $10. For my entree, I will never turn down a carbonara, so I had to order that. A more American take on it with salty pancetta, it was still perfectly creamy and had all the right flavors. I think this was around $18-20, but it was bigger than a "gourmet" style portion you might expect. We also had to try the short ribs pappardelle (can sub gnocchi instead) because it just sounded divine. Oh and it was. The short ribs were melt in your mouth, with a flavorful sauce that cling to the perfectly cooked noodles, and a dusting of Parmesan cheese with fresh basil. My taste buds were ALIGHT with this meal. We ALSO wanted to get a pizza. We got the carne, which had a nice New York style crust cooked just right. That same delicious, fresh red sauce from the rice balls, and absolutely loaded with meats. It was so cheesy and the slices were heavy from how much meat was on them. Epic. The service was friendly and prompt. I enjoyed literally every aspect of this meal to the fullest. Can't recommend enough! read more

See all

Went Saturday night with family all dishes we're delicious and wine was amazing we will become regulars

Food and service are excellent. Lydia, our server, was prompt, personal, and attentive. I want her to be my server again! I plan to return!

Wedged in between Ruby Nail Spa and a strangely popular Smoothie King sits Vici Ristobar. I have been here three times and I can now report with authority that this is a fantastic spot! Their veggie pizza, penne a la vodka, sausage and peppers spaghetti, caprese salad, and Caesar salad are all outstanding. The pasta and sauces are all made in house and good god can you tell as everything is incredibly fresh and delicious! I am super sorry about the pictures- I can't seem to remember to take them before I eat. So you will simply have to make due with 1/2 a veggie pizza, most of a penne a la vodka, and completely imagine the caprese salad as it was eaten before a Yelp review was even contemplated. Ok so update: I forgot to mention that I got a cannoli to go. I've never really had a good cannoli which may lead you to ask why I'd get one to go and I'd tell you it's because I'm not a quitter. And I am glad I'm not because this is it. This is the cannoli I've been searching for. It was outstanding! I am sure I will return and try the cheesecake next....just to be thorough...not because I have a dessert problem. read more

Vici Ristobar - Veggie pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Another great meal at Vici. Once again, service is superb, and food is divine! Highly recommend to anyone loving Italian cuisine. We didnt get dessert, but people at the next table were swooning over the tiramisu! We left jealous about the dessert but very full and completely satisfied over the entrees :-) read more

Staff is very nice and professional food quality is top quality. You can tell they use very good ingredients to make the food taste well no ishere. Very nice place on weekends or during the week during the week they do a wine discounts. read more

Vici Ristobar - Famous grandma's margarita pizza - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is a solid Italian place. They're relatively new, so they have some kinks to work in their set up and service, but the food was good and we'll probably visit again. We got their arancini, meatballs, and calamari to start. The salad was good, the meatball and arancini were okay, and the calamari was REALLY good. I loved the spicy marinara it came with and it was one of the best calamari dishes I've had in a while. Would definitely recommend this. For my main dish I got the margarita and added sausage, pepperoni, and onions. The server said the medium was a personal pie size, but it's not and definitely shareable. We all had to take ours home. The pizza was alright, but actually a lot better when I heated my leftovers up in the oven at home. My partner felt the same way about her gluten-free pizza, although she really enjoyed it at the restaurant as well. While I'm probably gonna try the pasta next time, my partner said her gluten free pizza, she got the margarita as well, was the best she's had in recent memory by far and wants to go back just for this. Everything was reasonably priced, the calamari was $14 for a huge portion. Pizza was a little on the high side if you want to add toppings, but not bad considering the size. The service from our waitress was great. The only complaint, as I've mentioned, is that they have a few kinks to work out. We received two different menus at a table of three, we had to repeat requests several times to different people, and our table wasn't wiped off when we were seated. But other than these minor things, it was a good experience and I'd recommend trying it out! read more

Vici Ristobar - Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My husband and I dined in for dinner here. I tried a few glasses of wine, a moscato, prosecco and chianti. We started off with a caesar salad and complimentary bread. Next it was the lasagna for him and the chicken parmesan for me. We took a piece of tiramisu home for dessert. The food, wine and service were all really good. read more

See all

This is a very cute place! I have always had nice service, and the food is delicious. I have tried pizzas and salads and pasta, all are great. read more