Vaccaros Trattoria

This was our second visit to Vaccaros, our first was for a birthday, and last night we met with family & friends. Who knew Akron’s hiding a real gem here?! The atmosphere hits perfectly: warm, welcoming, with the right amount of cozy charm. Staff always exercises friendly attitude & prompt. On our first visit, I ordered the filet & swapped sea bass for salmon, and that pivot paid off spectacularly. Last night, I went for the 1957 rigatoni and grabbed a tiramisu to go. My spouse, creature of delicious habit, had the lobster fettuccine both times and hasn’t looked back. If you’re after a truly authentic Italian experience, make Vaccaro’s a priority stop in Akron.

I am writing regarding the catering at Vaccaro's, NOT the restaurant. The restaurant has superb food. We were planning my son's rehearsal dinner and started working with Bradley's Catering. Somehow, that was linked to Vaccaro's. The communication with Bradley and Raph from Vaccaro's was AWFUL and practically non-existent. Bradley scheduled a tasting at Vaccaro's for us. When we arrived, it was apparent that Bradley (who we had not met and never met) had not informed Vaccaro's of our tasting. Raph handled the situation with professionalism even though it seemed as if he was caught off guard. We selected our food choices and Raph said he would send a quote within the next day or two. After two weeks, I had to send an email asking why I hadn't received the quote and asked if they (Bradley and Raph) would prefer to not do our event since it was a small gathering and involved approximately an hour of travel. At this time we were less than two months from the event and I was willing to go elsewhere, no hard feelings, if that's what they preferred. Bradley called me and said they were busy and they did have us on the books, etc. Two days later I received the quote and it did not have the correct food. Items (chicken and wine) were completely missing and the appetizers were wrong. I emailed back and pointed out the errors and asked for a new quote. I waited another two weeks and received NO COMMUNICATION from either Bradley or Raph. (Even though Raph had handled us with professionalism while in his restaurant, he did not pay enough attention to the details to get our food order accurate and he didn't care enough to respond to me.) At this point, we were one month away from the event. I went elsewhere. Of note, Bradley emailed me SIX DAYS before the event, asking when he could talk to me regarding the details. I told him due to not getting answers about the quote and not getting an accurate menu, we had gone elsewhere. He did not reply. He did not take any responsibility for his lack of communication. If Vaccaro's wants to maintain a good reputation with catering, they better disassociate themselves from Bradley's Catering. If you have a small catering event, I'd recommend you go elsewhere and not bother with Vaccaro's. It seems like they're only interested in big parties.

Went here recently for a family members birthday dinner (about 10-12 people). While the evening started off pretty well, after we all ordered our food, thats when it fell apart. We waited over an hour and a half after ordering our food before it came out. In this time, other parties that came in, were served their orders and left before we even had an update on our food. Upon receiving the food, most members of the party complained about the food being cold. Some members of the party ordered food that was never served. Over the hour and a half wait, our waiter only came by twice, telling us its almost ready (the last time it still took 20min for the food to arrive). We were served no bread the entire time and had to eventually ask for it when the food finally came out. After receiving the food, my dish was not worth the $$ or wait for what I received. I got a make-your-own pasta bowl and they made me the wrong pasta. The sauce was watered down and it felt like eating something from Stouffer's instead of a nice Italian restaurant. Bottom line is I had a horrible experience at this place with how the service was, the wait for our food, and even how the food tastes. Im not sure if they had a new chef, they were having a bad day, or what....Your experience may very but please think twice before coming here.

Everything about Vaccaro Trattoria was excellent. The food, the service, and the atmosphere were all great. The food — the bread and the salad were good. The pasta and the steak were excellent! The service — staff quick to assist and courteous. The atmosphere — elegant. A place that feels accessible but sophisticated.

My wife and I had a reservation for our anniversary dinner at 6:00. We did not get seated until after 7:00. There was no room at the bar. We stood for an hour at the front entrance waiting for our RESERVED table. The owner was well aware and although apologetic he had over booked at our expense. I guess “RESERVATION” has a new meaning at Vaccaro’s.

Excellent Italian cuisine. Everything is homemade daily and you can tell by the quality of the food and the pride in the staff. The pasta was excellent and a very different experience than you'll get from an average chain restaurant. I would highly recommend this restaurant not only for the food but also for the environment and experience. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Wine list is extensive if you choose to buy a bottle. The real question is why wouldn't you buy a bottle?! We went on a Monday night so there was no wait but I would guess a reservation is recommended to ensure seating.

We had a small family party so they seated us in a side room, even though they had a large group coming in a couple of hours after we arrived. It was perfect for us and I could hear (I wear hearing aids). We finished up in time for the staff to get ready for the incoming group. Perfect!

Had a birthday dinner here and the food did not disappoint. The atmosphere was elegant and the food was delicious. Waitress was patient and we had a great family dinner.

The food is excellent. I haven't had anything bad there. It can be $$$$ but well spent. Service is great but you really should have a reservation.

No seafood in the seafood dish. The sauce tasted burnt. I've never ever in 69 years saw a seafood dish with a heavy tomato based sauce. This $36 meal was worth $15. There was not sauce on my husband's meatballs. The people handling the bar never once asked us if our food was OK or if we needed anything. While I've been there many times in the past, it has definitely gone downhill. I understand the restaurant business is tough. If you can't do it right, don't do it at all. Don't go here for good food; they don't have any

This was absolutely the worst place I've ever ate in my entire life. Do not recommend me and my fiancé are a younger couple and there was an older couple there around their 30 to 40s, and they got checked on a total of 13 times while we got checked on once we waited 45 minutes for our bread and another half hour for our food. We ordered the food as soon as she came back with our drinks if you are not high stature, and do not know the owner I do not recommend this spot, very expensive. The food tasted like water absolutely no intricate flavor on the bright side the ambience was halfway decent. So an end result if you are not older or don't know the owner I wouldn't bother going.

Been dining here for years and can't say enough about it! The food and service are always excellent. The owner, Raph, is visible and obviously takes pride in what he does. Also nice to see his daughter, Isabella, taking an interest in this family business:) The renovated bar and outdoor patio are nice additions. Try the homemade pasta and or share a pizza--you won't be disappointed!

Came for a recent weeknight dinner with friends and enjoyed the experience. Arrived in time for a few drinks at the bar during Happy Hour and they did a nice job mixing cocktails for us. We then moved to the dining room for our meal. We started off by sharing a mixed greens salad and then an order of calamari. The squid was served battered and very crispy with a side of garlic aioli for dipping. I had my go-to Italian dish, the chicken parmesan. It was large enough for leftovers to make it home...a very hearty plate! Would look to come here again in the future, if we were in the area.

Hands down best "traditional" Italian I've had in Ohio. Despite the random location, the ambiance was incredible too. Very intimate dining, perfect noise level, service was great, high quality food. Everything really blew us away. I had the lasagna and my boyfriend had the pasta platter, so we got to try several sauces. The vodka sauce was a winner for sure, but their red sauce was unbelievably flavorful. We enjoyed every part of our dinner and can't wait to go back!

Overpriced food, small portions, and snooty service. The only positive? The food actually tasted good. The overpriced entrees come with nothing - no bread, no salad, no sides. If I'm paying $26+ for a small bowl of pasta, you'd think they could toss in a small side salad and free bread. Sorry, but I prefer a cozy mom and pop Italian joint where the portions are generous and the servers are welcoming and attentive. I won't be back.

Jeannie I. Went to a 90th birthday party on Saturday, and Trattoria Vaccaro catered it. OH MY GOODNESS!! Excellent food and such sweet servers. I am Italian so was so pleased with the authenticity of flavor. Fresh and tasty. We are from Canton but still considering using them in the future. Keep up the good work. Loved it!

My husband and I pick a restaurant each week for a "date night". We spend time looking at reviews and going through the websites before we decide. Sometimes we look for a dive, sometimes a specify type of food we are craving, or we may drive an hour away for a place looks extraordinary. On Tuesday morning, after looking at their website and seeing the low lighting, the ambiance and pictures of the food, we decided to stay closer to home and try a restaurant we have passed by many times, but never tried. I made a reservation for Friday night at " Vaccaros Trattoria". WHAT A MISTAKE! We arrived at the restaurant 5 minutes before our reservation. We stepped inside and the hostess then turned us around and took us back out to the front entrance/hallway. It was lit up brighter than a superstore with stark white walls, dirty cracked concrete floor, dirty red and black door mats and windows into the parking lot (no curtains) so each time a car pulled in the headlights were annoying. Meantime the parking lot lights constantly glared through the windows. Bulbs hung from cords and the heaters overhead would turn on from time to time with a whine, as it was cold due to the constant opening and closing of the door, which was about 4 feet from our table. You won't see any pictures of this on the website.... I asked about being reseated inside and was told that the seats were assigned when you booked the reservation, so all tables were taken. So, no matter how early you arrived or when you booked, they decided where to seat you. No notification that you really weren't inside the restaurant, but in an enclose entrance and not even a classy one and no ambiance. We thought about walking out, but decided we were there and would make the best of it and try the food, maybe it was worth sitting at the worst table in the restaurant. Unfortunately, that was not the case. We both order pasta. The meatballs were very good, but the pasta was overcooked, mushy and it was either broken before cooking or it just came apart due to being overcooked. The Bolognese sauce was pasty with no sign of meat in it. Very disappointing. The tables in this area should never be reserved or at least not reserved without the customer knowing what they are getting. They should be held for walk ins only, that way the customer could accept the seating or not. The only nice thing about the restaurant was our server. We tipped her accordingly as no server should be punished because of the short slightness of an owner.

Cannot say enough wonderful things about the food, ambiance, drinks, and service at this restaurant. Best pasta we've had in the Akron area- We came to celebrate a birthday and the staff was amazing and called us quickly after we left to let us know we left our card!

Back again last Saturday with a party of seven. Everything. from the roasted pork loin special to the chicken Parm, the salmon ,rigatoni, and my fave the Papperdelle bolognese with meatballs - excellent. Our server Tracy great job.

Classic authentic Italian with fresh yummy pasta! Wine selection especially their Super Tuscans were great. This was our 3rd time coming w a group and the service was impeccable. I tried the veal Marsala and substituted the risotto w the fresh linguine and ate every bit of it. Everyone else enjoyed their meal as well. The bruschetta and calamari starters were good too. Oh--and the freshly made grilled Caesar salad w fresh anchovies were a treat! Great do casual or fancy night out. Every town needs an authentic Italian restaurant like this.

We dine here several times a year and the food is consistently great. I've tried most of the menu items and find every dish well prepared and delicious. The service is always friendly and efficient. Vaccoro's has a good ambiance for dining with friends for conversation and laughs. We always enjoy our experience here.

One of our favorite places to eat. Their pizza has ruined me from eating anyone else's. Karen at the bar makes to BEST Espresso martinis. Lovely restaurant and staff.

Real nice place! Karen at the bar did a great job and the food was delicious! I had the pappardelle and bolognese sauce with meatballs. The pasta and sauce was great! Two things I would point out, the meatballs tasted and looked institutional like Cisco, and the only bread they had was focaccia, hate it. Good Italian place should have good Italian bread or rolls.... Just me. Great place, great people and good food!

One of our top favorite places to dine. We eat there on a regular basis and are never disappointed. The Papardelle bolognese is so good as is the lasagna, the pizza, I can go on-and-on throughout the menu.

Wow! Went looking for pizza and stumbled upon this restaurant which was a bit higher end dinning then I was looking for but best Chicago style pizza. A must try!

We were surprised the food was not up to par this time. Normally we enjoy our meal here at Vaccaro but this time the red pasta sauce was bland. We were also surprised by the additionail charges for bread and a few shavings of cheese on our side salads. The atmosphere and service were good but we couldn't help feeling nickled and dimed when we left compared to our past experiences here.

Food has always been great, atmosphere is an awesome dinner spot, service is great. When in the area for business, I often go here with my team mates.

So, it was a 4 for food quality and taste. Take prices into consideration maybe 3.5. We started with a seat in the hallway/front porch. Not the ideal seat in the house. Every time someone opens the door temp drops 10 degrees. We're treated by a friendly waitress and brought our drinks promptly. The bourbon list was almost double what some of the prices should be. You can't charge $18 for a pour of a $37 bottle. Silly. Anyways, the calamari was really good. Breaded but VERY tender. Wife had gnocchi with fennel sausage and she said it was great. I had the Nonnas eggplant parm and it was different but very creamy and tasty. We wrapped it up with a piece of cake that was delish. Theee downfalls-wife asked for a 6 ounce poor of wine and the waitress brought her a 10oz poor. When my wife mentioned "it looked like a lot" waitress stated thought you said 10 and then carved is the extra $6 for it. Second the seating, would have definitely rather been inside. The inside, though in kind of disarray, sure looked cozier than the porch. Lastly, pricing is a bit much for what you get. $180 for two people demands 4 star service and ambiance. This was not par to price. Although the food was good I can think of 50 establishments I'd rather spend $180 on dinner.

Love this place! Their pasta is so fresh and delicious...you can absolutely tell it is made in house. The bread they bring to the table is excellent as well (and I'm a sucker for some good bread)! Parking is easy and service is attentive but it does get busy so I would recommend a reservation if you go for a weekend dinner. They also have a pretty successful to go business if that's your jam. Definitely recommend if you want some fresh Italian grub :)

I'm giving a 4 star but it's a stretch. It's a super cute place cozy, family but high in restaurant. In another room was a super cute large bar. It's not a cheap meal - for two it was $148 with a very basic house red wine, two salads, and two entrees and splitting a dessert. The pasta is made there which I love but missed flavor in the sauces. The chicken w ravioli delivered but the pasta with vodka sauce that lacked flavor and presentation was underwhelming. The red pepper flakes and parm brought to the table gave it some flavor but without it a very dull dish. I expected their sauces to be amazing but nope. For a spendy, white table cloth restaurant it lacked those special touches you'd expect. Like the plating of the entree, the full flavor in the sauces. Pasta served without a pasta spoon. The cheese should be freshly grated and high quality which this didn't seem to be. No fresh pepper offered nor salt and pepper on the table. I get it these are bonuses but when spending extra dollars you expect these things. The server was a very nice young man but unable to describe the dishes beyond what he liked so perhaps we missed ordering their better menu items. But we will give it another try. I'd love the environment and it has potential to be fabulous by kicking up the flavors and the details of a fine dining experience.

The food was outstanding, I started with a salad and had Sea Bass. The service was outstanding and her recommendations were spot on. The atmosphere, music, and overall environment was perfect. No time to take photos of my food as it was outstanding and I took no time to start eating.

I ordered the linguine and clam sauce and it was so salty and not very much linguine. So disappointed. Complained and didn't get any satisfaction. We won't be back.

EXCELLENT evening here last night (9/30). Came in alone for some wine and a quick bite, sat at the bar. Despite being surrounded by regulars (who were also so kind and welcoming!) Rosie the bartender had time to chat, welcome me, and made sure I had everything I needed. She deserves ten stars on her own! Excellent service all around Wine list was incredible, although I would've liked to see more Italian wines by the glass. The short rib arancini should NOT be missed, along with Nonna's wedding soup. The bolognese was also PERFECT. Highly recommend if you're in the area.

The food was not to my liking..... disappointing .... I went there about a month ago. When we got out we both agreed the nicest part of the restaurant was the gentleman we sat next two.....

The fact that the owner knows my cousins means they eat there too much but I totally get it lol. Delicious food nice mood lighting and great hospitality. I wish I had a pic but I was hungry and forgot. Next time I'm in town I'll be back.

If you are in the area .. this place is not to be missed . Tuesdays .. half price bottle of wine .. who doesn't love that ?? The banana pepper appetizer was outstanding .. pepper was tender and delicious .. filling was delightful and sauce was to die for . Homemade pasta with meatballs and bolognese was absolutely amazing as was the homemade rigatoni with fennel sausage . The focaccia bread with infused olive pile was so flavorful . I laugh at the comments some yelped made that the food takes too long .. it's homemade and that takes time .. that person needs to eat at Olive Garden because they obviously know nothing about food or what it takes to make pasta and sauce . Service was just as amazing as the food . Highly recommend !!

The food takes way too long to come out of the kitchen and more than half the tables were empty. 30 minutes for our appetizers: stuffed banana peppers where a 3/5, way too much meat as a filling. The mozzarella sticks looked good, my wife like them and I thought they were fine but nothing special, so I will give a 4/5. One hour later... the pizza came out and was really good, a spicy sausage pizza (5/5) but the kitchen forgot to make it and our chicken Parmesan (2/5) came out very cold with the hot pizza. I know the chicken parm is good since my parents brought leftovers of it home and it some how was hotter than what we got at the restaurant. Sitting outside it seemed like our waiter forgot us the whole time and the table next to us was empty and not bused for over an hour. People from the inside of the restaurant thought it was ok to smoke cigarettes 15ft from us and there was an ashtray 4ft from us, so gross. Overall, for the price point it was weak service and bad execution. I know they have good food for the area but this experience did not show that. I am not coming back anytime soon, maybe for pizza to go. For messing up our order they still made us pay full price!! I think it's 3.5/5, rounded down for a mediocre experience.

Great food and bottle of wine Very relaxing feeling in the dining room Great service Nice saying hi to the owner

Vaccaros is a gem tucked away in a strip mall conveniently located off 77. On any given night you will find owner Raphael cooking or mingling with his guests. Homemade pasta, fresh seafood, fabulous desserts!!! YUM! We had a group of 8 .and stayed for over 3 hours sharing stories, food, and wine!

Love their freshly made angel hair pasta and bread. I've had it ordered for take out before but it doesn't taste as good as dining their when the pasta is just tossed in deliciousness.

Prices are not reasonable for product or service. I ordered a salad (a la carte, 10 bucks for a small), fettuccine Alfredo with fennel sausage (27 bucks). The wine was reasonably priced. The server forgot what I ordered and came back to ask. Then she forgot to bring out the bread she offered. My friend waited a long time to order a glass of wine because the server wasn't stopping by in a timely manner to see if we wanted more. My salad never came out. When I told the server she never brought out the salad, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't on the bill, she offered to pack it to go. Um, no. The fettuccine Alfredo was bland; I had to ask for salt and pepper. The fennel sausage tasted good, but the presentation was hideous: a brown log on a bed of white pasta. I'm willing to pay higher prices, but there needs to be a value for those prices. Maybe I would have enjoyed the pizza better, but not with that service.

Always enjoy eating at Vaccaro's. Food is consistently good. Staff is wonderful, friendly and attentive. We'll be back soon.

My friend and I enjoyed a leisurely dinner at the bar. The bartender was knowledgeable and very friendly without being intrusive. We enjoyed a nice Italian meat and cheese plate appetizer and salad. Let me cut to the chase... just order the Mike O'Donnel pizza. It's incredible!

Local Italian restaurant! Nice and quiet restaurant with good quality food. I have been here at least 7-10 times bc Its close to my home. The service is always welcoming and helpful. The food is tasty and fresh. I love their soups- wedding is usually home made and another my fav is ricotta stuffed eggplant! Besides, the restaurant has amazing desserts. I will be back- already thinking about eggplant...

In a strip mall off I77 but don't let that scare you. It's a nice Italian place with a lot of old family recipes My table has the stuffed pepper and raved about it We also got the 'best shrimp in the world'. It was good but not best The bread was amazing and the dipping sauce so good The pasta for main dish was good as well. So give this a try

We really loved our meal tonight! The service was timely and attentive to our needs. The bread was tasty even without the olive oil and herb dip. The salad and house dressing were excellent. We split the taster platter and it was plenty for both of us. The ravioli, stuffed shells, and lasagna were all very good and distinct from each other. The provided red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan allowed each of us to add to taste. We're only in the area for two days and we were discussing before we finished our meal how to modify our plans to eat here again tomorrow!

Awesome food!! Awesome service!!! Wish they would open a Resturant down in Canton Love this place!!

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I'm mad I didn't find it sooner. My dish of choice is their lasagna, by far the best Ive ever had.

Wonderful food and great service. We've ordered a family meal to go a few times since COVID hit and we've never been disappointed. The menu changes weekly as well as a few standards available all the time. I look forward to a future visit in person.

Great service and ambiance. Entrees were incredible. We got the eggplant dish and lobster shrimp pasta. Only thing we did not like was our appetizer, the trio sampler. Overall 5/5, food 4/5, service and ambiance 5/5.

Delicious Italian food! Excellent food, atmosphere and staff. Loved the salmon and pizza. Highly recommend! Planning on returning in the near future.

Had a birthday dinner reservation cancelled by the restaurant even though I had the reservation for 3+ weeks ahead of time.

Food was good and there is a wonderful atmosphere. Our server was friendly and she did a great job. My only real complaint was Kim. This nasty old woman was muttering slurs directed at our table while tossing around utensils as she set up the tables around us. Each time she was within earshot we kept hearing it. Her disgusting behavior ruined our evening.

Food was amazing, service was impeccable. We live an hour and a half away and I will be coming back up just to eat here!

My husband and I hosted a Anniversary party for our family and friends at this restaurant.. I can't say enough about the food which was delicious and plentiful.. The staff was excellent and very attentive to our guests.. The dining room was set up beautifully... The perfect venue for a small group.. I wouldn't hesitate to host another event at this restaurant.. Great job Vaccaro's...

First time here and loved everything from the food, wine , and service. Staff was extremely attentive to me and had plenty of other tables. 50% off bottles from 11-6 pm during happy hour! The appetizers and selected pizzas were phenomenal! Especially loved the Fra Diavolo pizza which had a nice kick! Don't come to Akron often but I'd definitely come back again!

Great food, great atmosphere! Highly recommend this restaurant. Simply amazing! Can't go wrong with anything from pizza to pasta!!!