1001 14th St NW

So, my friends and I were in DC for the Pride Parade and..... got hungry! We didn't want to miss any of the parade, so by the time we actually decided to find food, we were hangry. When I first saw the sign on this place I thought it was the Hamilton restaurant. But, it's the Hamilton Hotel. The Via Sophia is the restaurant located within. I was surprised that we were able to find a table as soon as we walked in! WINNING. But I was also thrown off by the plastic cups in which our water was served (when we finally got service). I was parched, and could see the water, but nobody was assisting. My friend finally asked if they were short servers to which the reply was that our server became ill and had to go home. I finally got some water only because I asked one of the servers standing by. There were several standing close, but nobody wanted to help. It was weird, like they were all confused for something. Finally a woman arrived to take our order (Shrita). I asked her name (twice for clarification) and she seemed offended. Actually, her whole vibe was, 'I'm too good to take your order'. She was messing up my pride energy! One of my friends asked for an Old Fashion, but when she found out it would be in a plastic cup she canceled it. Why can't we get a glass? Because we're not using glasses now. Hmmm.... But, EVERYBODY was drinking out of plastic cups so, I'll go with it. Weird tho.... We ordered. Shrita had to come back for clarification because she didn't write anything down. Why? The bar tender came to save the day. I guess the manager was sensing our mood and had him take over. Much better. He was very attentive and actually saved this review. The food was delicious! I can't even tell you what everybody had because I was so hungy. I had scallops and they were perfect. The asparagus was crisp, but cooked. Yummy. Oh, and the calamari was different than what I was expecting, but in a GOOD way. OMG, and they had octopus. My partner get it any time we can find it on a menu. It wasn't the best we've had, but it was good. She also had mussels and my friend had a shrimp pasta. The meal was actually quite good. AND we were hungry so it was the perfect combination. I like finding a spot I've never been to before and it's actually GOOD!

If you're looking for fine authentic Italian cuisine in DC, look no further. The pasta here is exceptional--perhaps the best I've had in the city. From the moment you step in, the elegant and upscale atmosphere sets the tone for a delightful dining experience. Our waiter promptly greeted us, provided excellent service, and expertly explained the menu. The warm, soft bread served at the table was a lovely start. I ordered the Bucatini pasta, and it was absolutely delicious. For dessert, I had the tiramisu. While the espresso flavor overpowered that of the mascarpone, it was still enjoyable. Overall, a wonderful experience for anyone craving superb pasta.

Visiting a friend and we tried via Sophia We tried the grilled calamari and bucatini carbonara Grilled calamari - I honestly liked this dish a lot more than I thought I would. First time having 'calamari' grilled but it was well seasoned and the cabbage added a refreshing crunch Bucatini - this surprised me as well. The pasta was perfecto! Noodles were aldente and I really liked them, and the light sauce was great Parking was not bad granted there was a parking garage underneath Overall - not a typical place I'd pick but I'm glad we tried it because it was a great time!

This restaurant is located in the historic Hamilton DC hotel near Franklin Park. It is a trendy Italian restaurant. We started with the Grilled Calamari appetizer that was a different take than the usual fried version you usually get. For our Entrees we got the Bucatini that was a carbonara style with shrimp as well as the pappardelle with rabbit. Both were smaller portions but still filling. They both were decently flavored but nothing amazing either. Desserts were tiramisu and zeppole. The tiramisu was classic and tasted good. The ricotta donuts were good, but simple, nothing special. Overall it was an ok meal. Not amazing, but not bad either. I do agree with the other reviews that said the food pace can be slow. We waited over 25 minutes for our appetizer and the server even came over to apologize for how long it was taking. But service was friendly and attentive otherwise.

It is lovely setting in downtown. We tried several appetizers - lasagna vegetarian small rolls is amazing. With eggplant - I can eat another 3 easily. Then we tried the pizza funghi - love the crispy dough. Mushrooms tasty - no tomato sauce. Highly recommend the pizza - had it as appetizer. Final course was chicken marsala. A unique implementation. Mushrooms on the side. Grilled onion and grains. Chicken breast and leg with skin. It is well prepared but not my preference or what I expected. Nevertheless great chic dish. Service was ok.

I had a nice dinner here yesterday at Via Sophia! Every dish was good, with some real winners mixed in. The fig bruschetta was good, except for the soggy bread. The whole branzino was stunning and perfectly cooked. I love a good pasta dish, and the bucatini obviously included fresh handmade pasta. The tartufo was a deliciously rich dessert. Overall, pretty good food! I wish the restaurant wasn't so loud- I hate having to ask other people to repeat themselves over and over again. Our server also got a little busy and was hard to find at times. She had some great recommendations though! Via Sophia seems like a great choice for some solid Italian food.

Came for brunch because I couldn't pass up the $40 value for an appetizer, entree and dessert but I think you get what you pay for! The restaurant is nestled at the Hamilton Hotel and I loved that they provide high quality service from start (with coat check) to finish. However, I feel the high quality ended when it came to the food. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and it was presented over hard which was a major let down for my meal. The Arancini wasn't anything worth mentioning and the Tiramisu felt like a cake drenched in coffee - it overpowered the dessert. I may revisit to try their pizzas which they are known for but based on the brunch I'd suggest to pass.

Had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner at Via Sophia. On this night, they only were doing their prix fixe menu (I believe). It was four courses for $69, which I thought was pretty good. The ambiance was beautiful yet simple. The staff were nice and the service was good. Wasn't big fan of the ahi tuna (this was my first time ever having ahi tuna). It just wasn't for me. The truffle risotto and shortrib tortellini was SOOOOO GOOD! Literally a 10/10. We wished the portions were bigger because it was that delicious. I'd definitely come back for those. The NY strip and halibut were good but didn't wow us. For dessert, we tried the budino and tiramisu. The budino was good but the tiramisu was absolutely delicious. We also really enjoyed their drinks.

Stopped on the 14th to try their Valentine's Day experience and what a lovely one it was. Things I enjoyed: - The price was incredibly reasonable for the quality and quantity of food I received. - the service was really great from beginning to end. Even though the kitchen got a little backed up (it was packed in there), the staff made sure to check in and even offered my a complimentary mocktail! - okay, food items I enjoyed (all very good with a great flavor profile) - Tiramisu - Halibut dish (so delicious) - short rib tortellini A few things to note: it can get loud and I personally feel that the mocktails are a bit overpriced considering there's no alcohol (but I think that's now a new industry standard). I would for sure come back to try more of the menu!

This place had such lively atmosphere on rainy evening. The waiter was professional and generous with bringing us extra wine sample for us to taste even though we ordered a couple of different kind. We had a few antipasto dishes, salad, and two main dishes to share among three so that we could have well balance variety on the table. The waiter brought clean plates at the perfect moment even though we didn't request. Everything was flavorful, not over salted, meaning dessert tiramisu was excellent as well.

When you're in the area, Via Sophia must be on your list! Their lunch special is a value that absolutely cannot be beat. My friend and I had a delicious meal, which began with a perfect burrata. Ask the server for bread early--you'll want some delicious focaccia to pair with the perfect cheese. Our mushroom bisque was rich, hearty, and tasty as heck! Our entrees were also pitch perfect, especially the hearty tagliatelle. On a rainy day like today, it absolutely hit the spot. We ended with the strongest tiramisu I have ever tasted in my life. Wow, was that coffee flavor pungent! I feel like I might not sleep tonight lol. Our waitress was very kind, and the atmosphere was awesome too. Our waters were CONSTANTLY refilled--greaEven though food took a bit to come out, the experience was great start to finish.

Came here with coworkers and we were absolutely taken aback by how beautiful the restaurant was. They also have a separate speakeasy/cocktail bar area. Service was also stellar. Despite it being a busy lunch/rush hour time, our server was very attentive. I decided on the salmon salad, others had pasta and pizza. Unfortunetly I only captured our appetizers as the first bite of the entree had me in a chokehold lol. Great place. Would definitely come back for happy hour or date night

Service is great The 3 course lunch special for $25 is worth it Then the bill came and it had $36 extra added $16 wine tax $20 liquor tax on ONE DRINK that was $15 and this was LUNCH. Manager said that normal

I am picky about food and this was delicious. The pastas and duck and pizza were perfect as were the appetizers. Service was excellent as well and it was lovely sitting on the outdoor porch. Nice and quiet and pretty.

My last night in DC and my daughter's boyfriend birthday we wanted Italian. Love the atmosphere where we sat next to bar with soft music playing. We had a Fantasma Viola (I love empress gin) and then shared our normal bottle of a cab. We started with amazing calamari with red pepper cream and yogurt which was so tender and really delightful. We also had the Steak Tartare which came with a salad and bread which also was very tasteful. For dinner we had the NY Strip, the Salmon and the scallops - all amazing. Our service was very prompt and our server provided us constant guidance. My scallops were so tender and came with spinach and amazing sauces. The Salmon and steak received rave reviews from my other two. What a great ending to my trip!

Already dreaming of when I'll come back. This restaurant had the most delicious warm bread, as well as the best espresso martini I may have ever had. Their dessert menu was impressive as well. I ate here twice for dinner it was that good! the parfait for breakfast was also a 10/10

We decided to check out Via Sophia today for lunch! Mainly because of the $25 lunch special. It comes with soup, an entree (salad, sandwich, pasta), and tiramisu. Add $5 for wine. We made a resy and was seated immediately outside. The patio is covered and sits away from ppl walking on the sidewalk. Our service was great, and we were checked on by staff throughout our meal. The artichoke soup was delicious. They were accommodating and removed the pancetta garnish from mine. The Salmon Ceasar Salad was a nice portion. The pickled onions were a great addition. I really would've loved some bread to go with both my salad and soup. They give you a large piece of tiramisu. Enough for two people. It's pretty sweet and I couldn't finish it but it was good. Of course, I opted to add $5 Chardonnay! That sounds like a good time to me! It was a nice lunch and great for a spring day in dc.

Stayed at the Hamilton for a few days so I had to try the restaurant. Went during happy hour & tried most of the stuff on the happy hour menu. My favorite was the burrata with pears & sweet potato. I was a bit spectacle about it but once you try it all together, all the flavors mash up together & go perfectly. The eggplant was also great but I wasn't a fan of the chicken croquettes or gnocchi. The drinks were great I had a few espresso martinis & enjoyed my time. Love the setting very nice bar doesn't get too crowded so it's nice you can actually enjoy the place & have good conversations. Didn't get to try any of the entrees but lovely place.

Authentic Italian experience and made me remember my time in Rome. Food was perfectly cooked and tasty. Drinks were a little overpriced, but overall, it was a great time.

We were intrigued by their $15 bottomless brunch and decided to give it a try. There is an option for a prefix menu which is $39 and you pick one item from each section, plus an additional $15 for bottomless mimosas. The other option is to pick one item from the pizza or brunch entrees plus the $15 for bottomless mimosas. The prefix would be best if you're in the mood for more food. If you prefer just one entree then the second option is best. I ordered the Finnochiona pizza which has sausage, caramelized onions, confit fennel, bufala mozzarella and chili flakes. It does not have the typical tomato pizza sauce. It was ok, I think the caramelized onions made it too sweet and I wish there was more sausage. Other dishes my friends got were the shrimp and grits, via burger, BEC, avocado toast pizza, and eggs Benedict. Most people liked their dishes, but nothing really stood out as amazing. For bottomless mimosas, our waiter was really good with bringing more as we finished, however they weren't that strong. Finally for dessert they have two options, tiramisu or the budino. I got the tiramisu. A good way to end the meal. Overall it was a good brunch, didn't think anything stood out for me to come back, but it was a fun experience.

Butternut squash soup was great and smooth served by the table. Pizza would definitely recommend had good crust and sweetness to the sauce. The pasta was really creamy with umami flavor from the mushrooms. I was indifferent about the tiramisu. The fried doughnut balls were great hot and the butter sauce was good

Please note I am giving Via Sophia a solid 3.5/5 rating. I went for brunch with a friend yesterday. I had really high hopes but left disappointed. Here are my pros and cons! Pros: I absolutely loved the atmosphere. It was giving chic, modern and contemporary. It was a total vibe! You get your own personal carafe when you order bottomless mimosas... And it's only $15!!!! I live for bottomless mimosas and this is the most inexpensive pricing I've seen in the DMV as of late. Our server was nice and personable. Cons: I felt that my food left much to be desired. I ordered the Avocado "Toast" Pizza. It was pretty bland in my opinion. I also would have expected more avocados as opposed to just 4 slices. Their tiramisu which is one of my favorite desserts was also just OK. Keep in mind Via Sophia is still in the process of figuring out their brunch since they just started offering it a week ago. All in all, it's still a vibe. If anything, the bottomless mimosas are totally worth it!

We had a lovely dinner at Via Sophia -- authentic Italian (not Italian-American) cuisine with a pleasing, low-key ambiance. Service was attentive, professional and kind. I ordered the tagliolini, which is a pasta dish with gulf shrimp, basil and tomato conserve. There was just the right amount of sauce to the pasta, which was perfectly al dente. I also appreciated the moderate portion - you don't need a huge amount of pasta to feel sated. My husband ordered the salmon, which I believe came seared, and was paired with asparagus and morel mushrooms. He said the salmon was cooked perfectly, not dry at all. The restaurant was busy but the noise level wasn't too high so you didn't have to raise your voice just to converse with your dinner companions. This is a "grown-up" place -- ideal for a celebratory dinner or a business dinner. A note on the bathrooms: There is one in the restaurant. But if it's occupied, you need to go through the restaurant to the hotel lobby (the restaurant is part of the Hotel Hamilton) and down the stairs to the other restroom.

Had a terrible experience with the manager of the restaurant. He yelled at us 3 times and made us feel unwelcome. It felt abusive. I was literally shaking after the encounter. I am staying at the hotel and wanted to grab food from the restaurant downstairs, excited it had a good rating / menu. Needless to say, I won't ever set foot in this restaurant again. Otherwise the rest of the staff was really nice and the food was good. They seemed somewhat scared of this manager too. Not sure his name but he had long hair and very big / imposing. I was there with another woman and a baby. He probably wanted to feel important by yelling at two women or not sure why he acted like that.

So yummy!!!!!!! Very fast service. The waiters are super efficient. Your food arrives fast. I had lobster risotto and I would recommend it to anyone in the universe. Hands down- the bomb.com. Gooooooooo now!

A beautiful atmosphere inside and outside. We had a large group and they handled us really well. Quattordici zero proof cocktail / mocktail- Highly recommend. It was refreshing and sweet but not overly sweet. Great option if you don't drink alcohol but still want to have a cool drink like those who do drink. Cacio e Pepe - The pasta was cooked well and a nice light, tasty option. Tiramisu - The coffee flavor isn't as strong as a prefer but still overall a great dessert.

Good food,great service relaxing atmosphere. Very accommodating. We asked for separate checks for a group of six and they were very happy to do it for us.

It's been a long while since I enjoyed a fancy dinner without our kids. To make this dinner even better, I was enjoying it with fellow passionate educators from around the country. We even had our own special menu for this occasion. Everyone at my table ordered the burrata as an appetizer. This was the first time I had burrata paired with beets and onions. The earthy taste of the beets paired nicely with the creaminess of the burrata. For our second course, I had the rigatoni with seafood. The rigatoni was cooked al dente and the sauce with seafood brought out the freshness of the pieces of seafood. The highlight of my meal was the grilled fish course. The crispy skin on the fish was as good as expected. What blew me away was how juicy yet flaky the fish was despite being on the thin side. I highly recommend it. From our special menu, we could choose the Budino or the Tiramisu. I am normally not a tiramisu kind of guy but ordered it based on the manager's recommendation. To my surprise, I was the only one at our table who ordered the tiramisu. It was moist and flavorful but didn't stand out too much for me. However, I still enjoyed the entire piece. Although I am not a regular beer drinker, I like beer menus that feature a variety of draft beer options from local breweries. At Via Sophia, the draft beer menu featured beer selections from nearby states such as Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. If you enjoy supporting local breweries, check out their beer selections.

Weekday Lunch Review $25 for soup, entree (salad, sandwich or pasta) and tiramisu. This is a great deal because the entrees are ~$19, so why not?! I don't remember what the soup was, but it is green and tasted great. For the main, I got the Rigatoni Alla Norma, typically $18, which has eggplant, tomato, chiles and garlic. It was delicious. I was a little worried that I would order pasta and it would be simple, but it was really good with large pieces of eggplant. The tiramisu was great and a large piece.

We came here for dinner and we're delighted. We started with the burrata--loved the addition of melon, prosciutto and mint. The calamari is delicious too; I love that it's grilled rather than fried, and very tender. For dinner, I had an amazing lobster risotto. My family had the pork belly; bucatini with fennel, shrimp and saffron; tagliatelle with bolognese; and we finished with tiramisu and budino. My child loved the tiramisu. I loved the budino, dark chocolate with hazelnut and praline. All of the food was excellent. The service was prompt and charming. The restaurant with lovely. We had a marvelous time and enjoyed all of the food.

$15 bottomless mimosas is really all I gotta say. You can't beat that deal lol, and I made sure to indulge of every bit of the 2 hour maximum lolol. The place is super cute and located inside the Hamilton. The waiter was great and our food came out in a timely manner. The food was delicious as well! They have a nice size menu but, We all got the steak, eggs, mushrooms, and potatoes. Everything was cooked to perfection and I didn't have any complaints. I'll be back because I want to try their burger lol, in addition to the bottomless mimosas.

The food was amazing. We had the fig Rochetta, summer salad and scallop so amazing. And we had a birthday and they brought tiramisu . So good!

We came to this restaurant after a visit to see Drunk Shakespeare. It's a hotel restaurant that has a cozy modern vibe. We were seated quickly and the server was amiable. The food is very tasty but the portions are tiny. The service was okay, but the one stall bathroom had a hidden door pretty much inside the dining room. People were coming in from outside to use it, creating a consistent line that didn't let up the entire meal. For this cost, I'd expect to not eat inside what was essentially a public restroom. I don't feel it's a bad restaurant, but I would not plan to return.

I was truly WOW'd by this restaurant. My friends and I came to eat to celebrate our friend's birthday. To share, we got the foie gras, octopus, and bruschetta. The octopus was DELICIOUS! Definitely one of my faves. I decided to order the clam linguine. The pasta was perfectly Al dente and the flavor was so good! My boyfriend got the tagliatelle which was delicious. I kept sneaking bites from his pasta all night. And of course, I had to get some of the potatoes which was good too. This was a pretty solid restaurant. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our dishes. The service was amazing!! Our server was attentive and was so nice. He made our evening so special!

An excellent spot for business lunches; even though it's attached to a hotel, I wouldn't recommend it for families with kids. Sleek, modern decor. The dining room was wide open when I arrived at noon on a Thursday, but was packed in 30 minutes. I've now been twice, and I get the same thing every time: the salmon caesar salad, because the salmon is large and perfectly cooked. They have a 3-course lunch option for $29 if you want an appetizer and dessert. If they have happy hour deals, I'll have to come back again.

The pasta was incredible and our server recommended great wine to go with it. I can't remember our wine but hopefully your waiter will know. The service was great as well. The ambiance was cozy but high end at the same time. Will definitely come back.

Located in the Hamilton Hotel, Via Sophia offers a lovely osteria-menu for dining. The menu is Italian mostly and there are some great choices such as the burrata, fig bruschetta, Parma pizza or classic margherita, and the NY strip steak. Service is good, attentive considering it gets a little busy with the typical hotel and after work crowd.

Autumn garden was amazing! So delicious, tasty, and quite filling actually. I was starving when I got to the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised to find the salad appetizer filled me up more than halfway. Then I was definitely stuffed after having my actual entree, which was ricotta ravioli. SO GOOD. And incredibly rich and flavorful--so flavorful that it made the small portion feel huge and satiating. The parmigiano topping was so sharp, tangy, and salty, complementing well with the softer subtle flavors of mushrooms, pasta, and ricotta cheese filling. The pasta texture was perfectly al dente, and there was pesto too, which added even more exciting, complex flavors to the dish. Honestly, this is probably the tastiest ravioli I've ever had. My friend enjoyed her tagliatelle pasta too. Ambience was beautiful and classy. Service was wonderful and attentive. Food is definitely worth the $$$.

I was pleasantly surprised by our lovely meal at Via Sophia. When we arrived, we didn't have a reservation so they sat us outside (it is winter) but it was pleasantly heated and a nice closed space. The fish was very tasty and well cooked, and the Bucatini Cacio y Pepe was standout.

Food was absolutely delicious, and the service was excellent! I took all chef's recommendations and I couldn't be more happy about it.

My boyfriend surprised me with dinner here for a late Valentine's Day dinner and this placed exceeded my expectations. At first, when I looked at the menu I was a little nervous as the options seemed limited & I couldn't find an appetizer that was simple enough to my liking. I decided to give it a try anyway and when we first arrived, I was like "oh great! It's connected to a hotel which means it's going to be average food at an overpriced rate." So I was skeptical...again. Finally we ordered the appetizers (steak tartar & mushroom burata) and WOW!! They were absolutely delicious and full of flavor. For mains, my boyfriend ordered the NY Strip & I ordered the Tagliatelle (beware of the small portions for the pasta!!!) and they were both spectacular!! The restaurant had a great ambiance to it (think very young sleek hotel bar) but the only thing that is gonna make me doc some points is the service. Our waiter was super nice but it took awhile to put orders in & then it was some extended time before the food arrived. Overall, great restaurant & I can't wait to come back and try the $15 bottomless brunch!

I was in the area for a business lunch and my colleague reserved Via Sophia. I'm always excited to try somewhere new and Italian cuisine is a good choice to accommodate various dietary needs. Upon entry, we were greeted and shown to our table. Even without a reservation, it wasn't full around noon on a weekday. We ordered spring salads and pizza (Margherita and Fra Diavolo). We weren't wowed by our meals but appreciated the park view and prep time, especially being in between meetings. The positives were fast service, clean, outdoor patio seating. Overall, the visit was fine. It's an option if you're staying at the hotel or in the immediate area and want a bit of ambiance. That's all, short and sweet!

Can you say Linguini? Cus Via Sophia served it up on a beautifully for me. They definitely gave me all the feels for dinner in DC. Via Sophia sits inside the Hamilton Hotel and it's super cozy and chic. We went on a Friday night so it was really crowded, but that's okay because they were showing my friend Pais all the birthday love so it was worth it. Plus, it's so much better poppin bottles when you have an audience lol. Okay, now for my linguini. I always like saying it, but I never actually get it hahaha crazy right. But this time, I went for it and I did it. I was a little surprised to see the clam shells in the pasta, but that's linguini right. So my thoughts...(drum roll pleaseeee) VERY TASTY! I really enjoyed it and the clams were a wonderful touch. Would I eat linguini again? Ummmm, yeah lol I surely would. Shoutout to via Sophia! As seen on menu: Linguini Assorted Clams, Garlic, Chili Flake, Parsley, Olive Oil

Came for a work happy hour and have to shout out the staff for being so accommodating to our group. We had a small group at first but it kept growing. They were kind to allow us to occupy multiple tables and made sure we were close to one another. The drinks were yummy and cute. They do have a full bar so any drink can be made. The food was also great! Got the Parma pizza which was delicious! They are personal pizzas but can be shared if needed. All the food was freshly made and super yummy. They offered bread at the start which olive oil which was warm and fluffy. The ambiance was bright, cute, and fun. They also have patio seating that is covered if that is something you enjoy.

We booked this restaurant during our holiday D.C. trip. Ambience and staff fantastic. Varied menu options. Good wine options and nice bar. Everyone enjoyed their meal choices-even the teenagers. I had the duck-One of the better meals I've had. Only criticism is some meals came out little cold on temperature. Would've given 5 stars except for that. Will definitely eat here again if I return to D.C. Make sure you try the butterscotch donut dessert and the gelato is VERY good.

Admittedly, I haven't been for dinner, but Via Sophia (located inside the Hamilton Hotel) has a chic atmosphere and a nice pre-fixe lunch that has a variety of options at a reasonable price. The restaurant also has a good happy hour. Both the indoor and outdoor seating is inviting. Overall, worth a visit.

This place is beautiful. It's a cool spot to go to dinner. The food is scrumptious. It's sophisticated and fun. Great service helped to elevate our dinner.

Amazingly delicious cuisine at @viasophiadc !!! Loved the cod! And tiramisu!! Great service! Friendly Staff! Highly recommend!

Don't order the shrimp scampi! You are in Maine and expect the taco to have some great size shrimp and I got a bunch of little shrimp. I think they open a can of shrimp. It was a big disappointment! Service was ok we had to ask for water couple of times but I was ok w that. Everyone else's plates were good.

Via Sophia is really trying. It's a great looking modern space with a comfy bar and high tables, lots of booths and tables. We started with the octopus, which was a pretty plate and delicious. The restaurant actually gives you complimentary bread and olive oil - it's a really nice pre-pandemic throwback. The cons. Mediocre and unimaginative wine list. Clueless hostess who couldn't figure out if they had tables available. Short staffed. Our waiter rushed by to ask if we would like a dessert menu. We said yes. Fifteen minutes later he rushed by again to ask if we would like a dessert menu. We said yes. We really didn't mind since he was so obviously working hard. But by then we realized we didn't really want to wait around for dessert. The okay. Entrees. Duck breast crust was a little rubbery. Steak was good but nothing incredible. Dessert? Well, we missed it! Overall, next time I think I might just stop by the bar for a cocktail and the octopus and skip a full dinner at Via Sophia. It just takes itself a little too seriously for its food and service.