VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar
Italian restaurant · Naperville ·

VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar

Italian restaurant · Naperville ·

Wood-fired pizzas, Italian sharing plates & full bar with outdoor seating

VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null
VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar by null

Information

916 Illinois Rte 59, Naperville, IL 60540 Get directions

$$

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Information

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916 Illinois Rte 59, Naperville, IL 60540 Get directions

+1 630 453 5200
vaisnaperville.com
@vaisnaperville

$$ · Menu

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Dec 16, 2025

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A lively, family‑run standout for scratch pastas, wood‑fired pizzas, and shareable plates. Widely praised and voted Best Italian Restaurant by Naperville Magazine four years running; known for visible support of local nonprofits and school events.

https://napervillemagazine.com/best-of-naperville-2024/
Italian Restaurants in Naperville (2025)
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VAI's Italian Inspired Restaurant Kitchen + Bar

Sin

Google
We recently visited Vais to celebrate a belated birthday for our son, and wow—what a delight from start to finish! The moment we walked in, the cozy, warm, and welcoming vibe made it feel like we were settling in for something special. The food? Absolutely superb. Our family covered a good range of the menu: the chicken parm was a crispy, melty masterpiece; the blackened salmon with risotto was rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked; and the Cajun shrimp brought just the right kick. The only tiny miss was the pasta that came with the shrimp—it leaned a little doughy, but that might just come down to personal preference or the type of pasta. For dessert, we ordered a delicious cheesecake, and to top it all off, they surprised the birthday boy with a sweet birthday treat on the house—a thoughtful touch that truly made the night feel extra special. Even though the place was packed, it never felt overwhelming. No shouting across the table, no elbow-to-elbow chaos—just a lively, comfortable space with great energy. We even managed to snag some pretty decent family photos despite the dim lighting (a birthday miracle!). Overall, we had a wonderful experience, and Vais made our celebration feel genuinely memorable. We’ll definitely be back!

Dimoko K.

Google
Vai is now my favorite Italian (inspired) restaurant! For appetizer we ordered the Spicy Soppressata + Honey Neapolitan Pizza. I think this is my favorite pizza ever! The crust is thin and garlicky. Soo good! For dinner we ordered the following from the Fresh Pasta selections: - Vodka with steak. It's served with stripped and toasted prosciutto it's freaking delicious! I never had anything like it before (I'm Asian). - Four cheese ravioli My daughter, who is a picky eater, liked it! And my husband ordered the Chilean Sea Bass from the Bigger Plates selections and complained how small the portion of the fish was but after licking the plate off commented how full he was! They're all amazing! I highly recommend this place.

Naina D.

Google
I came to Vai’s before and tried their wild mushroom pappardelle which was AMAZING and I celebrated my birthday too now! Their service is immaculate regardless of rush hour and the taste is exceptional! We were a large party and ordered their margherita pizza, pesto and chicken pizza (chicken removed), and their 4 cheese. I had to get the wild mushroom pappardelle once again! 10/10 must try best Italian food in the local Naperville area!

Marianne - I.

Google
Vai’s is one of my fave restaurants. Always good food and service with the personal touch of the owners stopping by to say hello. Our server Nicole was engaging and on top of everything. We went to dinner with another couple last night. We brought a couple bottles of our own wine, but Vai’s makes a tasty cocktail and does have a good wine list. The four of us shared three starters, the burrata, the wagyu carpaccio and the grilled octopus. The burrata was outstanding, creamy cheese on top of perfectly grilled bread. The carpaccio was good, could’ve done without the pickled onions. The octopus was a miss. Totally surprised as I order it most visits and it’s amazing. This time it was dry and chewy, however the crispy potatoes and haricot verts were perfect. For dinner, my husband had the short rib rigatoni. The pasta is made in-house and my husband loved the creamy sauce and meat tenderness. I had the grilled romaine salad and the asiago gnocchi appetizer. The salad is so tasty with the crispy pancetta and fried leeks. The gnocchi are “pillows of air,” as owner Pete described it. He was right - light as air! We were so surprised to receive two complimentary desserts at the end of our meal. That’s the kind of place this is, though. Customers are important to them! They brought us Sandy’s white wine cake and a salted caramel budino. That white wine cake was friggin’ amazing!! It’s Sandy (one if the owners’) family recipe. I wish she’d share!! It was a delicious evening! Highly recommend Vai’s.

Dale P.

Google
My girlfriend wanted to go to sister restaurant Entourage, but when they were busy, we went to this favourite instead. First of all, great service from Eva - we never wanted for anything the entire time, and she arranged a tasty birthday surprise for my girlfriend before we left. Thanks Eva! We split an order of arancini to start. The tomato sauce wasn’t too overbearing, and crispy onions were a nice touch. We inhaled them. I got the Prime Burger (minus the tomato and onion) with the parmesan truffle fries. The fries had a slight flakiness to them and melted in my mouth. I got so engrossed I forgot about my burger for a moment. Rookie mistake - great flavours, and the crunch of the toasted bun added textural interest. The aioli wasn’t too messy and rounded out the flavours. McDonald’s this was not! My girlfriend got the wild mushroom papperdelle. I would have helped her but I was stuffed. Drink wise, I found plenty of N/A options besides pop, but opted for Stella Artois 0.0. My girlfriend had a cocktail and an apparently delicious red wine named 309. All in, reasonably priced.

Shaun S.

Google
I recently threw my husband’s birthday bash at VAI’s, and it was an absolute blast! Tara was our go-to person for planning and menu ideas. And on the day of, the food and service were top-notch. We’ll definitely be back for any future gatherings, big or small.

Ashley R

Google
We had such a great experience at Vai’s in Naperville this past weekend! We decided to try a new place for our anniversary, and we were so impressed! Our waitress was super attentive and made us feel really taken care of the whole night. They even surprised us with a complimentary dessert for our anniversary which was so kind. The food was delicious, and the cocktail I had was amazing. Yes, it’s a little on the pricier side, but honestly worth it for the quality and overall experience. Definitely a spot I’d recommend for a special night out, and we will for sure be back!

Ap V

Google
Maddie our waitress was the best. Very attentive and polite. The food was delicious. We started with the truffle fries, and the four cheese flatbread. Our entrées included the special blackened shrimp dish, roasted salmon, chicken marsala, Long Island steak, and pork. The only thing is I ordered my steak medium well, and would recommend instead ordering it just medium. The dessert was divine…the chocolate pecan cake. highly recommend this place.
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Connie C.

Yelp
We went to Vai's on a recommendation, and it was phenomenal. Every single dish was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were incredible. The manager even came by to check on us and personally invited us to their Anniversary Dinner, which made the experience feel very special. Although it's a fairly large restaurant, it still feels family-owned -- the service is attentive, and the food truly feeds the soul. Overall, it was the best restaurant experience I've had in Naperville. We'll definitely be back. Highly recommend -- you won't regret it!
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Steve K.

Yelp
My wife and I had a birthday party to attend (in the same area), which thankfully was in Naperville and of course had to come back to VAI. Though they have plenty of seating, I do recommend a reservation as this place is very busy and had plenty of parties going. Since we are part of their email list it was made even better by their offering of $25 off purchase of $75 in your birthday month or $10 off $60 purchase or more the month after (pretty sweet!). Additionally, they were so kind as to send a complementary white wine mini cake for dessert. Was really yummy! We tried some different items this time. My wife had Chicken Pesto Woodfire Pizza which she raved about. And I had the Pork Shank.the provide a large knife but didn't know why, considering it was fall off the bone tender. Maybe for the fire roasted asparagus? Also came with cauliflower purée which was so much better and tastier than mash potatoes. Bravo! Maddie, our server was wonderful. Bright, engaging, informative, attentive. VAI has a star! The owners or managers (not sure which) also visited to ensure everything was to our liking and only added to Maddie's care. If you haven't been to VAI, it's a must try. If you have, you understand why.
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Dan A.

Yelp
We got here around 5:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and they were semi busy. Good sized dining room and Bar with indoor fire place, a good amount of outdoor seating and a fire pit in front. We weren't too hungry so we decided to order a couple of drinks to start. Got the "It's Delicious" (Gin Cocktail) and it was tasty but a little too sweet for me. For snacks it was the Campari Tomato Burrata Caprese (wood grilled tomatoes-yes!), Fritto Misto (just right fried Calamari, seafood and veggies-delicious!), and Wagyu filet sliders (tasty Beef with pesto aioli). Service was fast and friendly. By the time we finished around 7, they were busy. Voted Best Italian in Naperville for a few years and for good reason. We will be back for lunch/dinner.
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Charese M.

Yelp
The food in this place is five star!! I simply don't have one complaint! I made a reservation for my husband and I for 7:15. We walked in at 6:50 and we were being lead to our table at 7:20. The restaurant is modern, open and welcoming. The lighting fit the atmosphere perfectly. Upon sitting down, we were greeted by our waiter within 2-3 minutes of sitting down. His name was Trey and he was awesome! Trey was knowledgeable about each section of the menu and gave the experience and confidence necessary for us to trust his word. We started off with drinks and the zucchini fries! Omg! The aioli sauce and the flavor packed in the fries were a match made in heaven! My husband and I had to make ourselves stop eating them so that we would have room for our entrees. I ordered the Braised Pork Shank on a bed of mashed potatoes with asparagus. Just see the photos....it tasted as delicious as the photo. Wanted to try the Parmesan aioli sweet corn and this corn made me put my head down on the table due to awe! I could have eaten the corn all night. Wow!!! My partner had the Herb Roasted Chicken thighs and Gnocchi. The gnocchi itself was cooked to perfection. I have to say, we paid for my meal with pure joy and satisfaction. We can't wait to go back!!
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JoAnn R.

Yelp
We arrived about 15 minutes before closing after attending a funeral, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. They kindly seated us in the patio room. In the rush of closing, there was a bit of a mix-up--communication between the host and waitstaff slipped--so it took a little while to get our orders. The owner came out personally to apologize, which was incredibly thoughtful. She brought us two complimentary appetizers--Zucchini Frittes and Asiago Gnocchi--and both were absolutely delicious. The wine list was excellent as well. I had the four-cheese ravioli--amazing! My husband ordered the fettuccine Alfredo, which he liked a lot, though he thought the noodles were a little firmer than he prefers (he's picky!). I also tried the cheesy noodles and they were killer good. Despite being the last table on a rainy weeknight, the service remained excellent throughout the evening. We're so grateful for their warm hospitality. Highly recommend dining here.
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Don M.

Yelp
We went to Vai's for our anniversary dinner, I was not disappointed, we had the spicy shrimp for our appetizer, this dish is a must the flavor's explode with each bite, we really loved this, we also had the crab cake this dish was very good there was chunks of crab meat throughout I think this could be one of my favorites, then we had the hanger steak I had mine medium rare and it was done perfectly, it was so tasty I would definitely order this again, we also had a crème brûlée for dessert absolutely delicious, the servers were wonderful and very helpful about explaining and recommending dishes for you to try, if your looking for a nice place to go out for dinner I would recommend Vai's it's a place that covers all areas, intimate, casual, outdoor seating and a huge bar, I will definitely be going back.
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Olga W.

Yelp
I didn't have many expectations going into VAI's for a girls' night out, but I was pleasantly surprised! The restaurant was completely packed on a Friday night, which is always a good sign. We only had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated, and that was the only minor downside of the evening. Our server was fantastic--super friendly, upbeat, and full of great food and drink recommendations. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! The atmosphere is a little on the dark and dingy side, but honestly, the amazing food and outstanding service more than made up for it. VAI's is the perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. I am already looking forward to visiting this restaurant soon!
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Teri M.

Yelp
6:15 reservation on Thursday night. Seated immediately. Place was packed! Prompt greeting by our server, Mary Kate. We ordered chicken parmesan and chicken marsala. Both were absolutely phenomenal. Service was impeccable. Love this restaurant. The food is some of the best I've had. I highly recommend Vai's.
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Mud B.

Yelp
This place is really good. Staff is great! The food was wonderful! Bathrooms were clean. The whole restaurant was clean. Went on an early Saturday night. Started at the bar. Great selection. I got an ice cold draft beer and the wife got a great mocktail. The bar staff was working their asses off. We had 6 in our group. 3 different apps and all great! Everyone loved their meals and their desserts. My wife absolutely loved the polenta and incredibly tasty delicate meatballs. Only negative is how loud it was. I realize it was Saturday night and it was super packed, so I'm not holding that against them. Still a great experience.
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Pamela L.

Yelp
Good atmosphere with a covered outdoor patio that was busy but service did not suffer at all. Staff is on point with water refills, recommendations, grabbing dirty dishes, etc Our food came out looking good and tasting delicious. We went for Mothers Day weekend and were excited to go here since the other reviews were great. I got the surf & turf special & it was cooked to order perfectly. My husband got the chicken pasta dish & it was spicy , pasta cooked great & chicken moist & flavorful. Tiramisu was smooth creamy & would get every time! Can't wait to go again to try more delicious food! Go check it out over a chain restaurant!
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Christina K.

Yelp
Never had a bad meal here and service is always great, even with larger groups! Love the short rib rigatoni and the mushroom pappardelle
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Marianne D.

Yelp
Vai's is one of my fave restaurants. Always good food and service with the personal touch of the owners stopping by to say hello. We went to dinner with another couple last night. We brought a couple bottles of our own wine, but Vai's makes a tasty cocktail and does have a good wine list. Our server Nicole was engaging and on top of everything. The four of us shared three starters, the burrata, the wagyu carpaccio and the grilled octopus. The burrata was outstanding, creamy cheese on top of perfectly grilled bread. The carpaccio was good, could've done without the pickled onions. The octopus was a miss. Totally surprised as I order it most visits and it's amazing. This time it was dry and chewy, however the crispy potatoes and haricot verts were perfect. For dinner, my husband had the short rib rigatoni. The pasta is made in-house and my husband loved the creamy sauce and meat tenderness. I had the grilled romaine salad and the asiago gnocchi appetizer. The salad is so tasty with the crispy pancetta and fried leeks. The gnocchi are "pillows of air," as owner Pete described it. He was right - light as air! We were so surprised to receive two complimentary desserts at the end of our meal. That's the kind of place this is, though. Customers are important to them! They brought us Sandy's white wine cake and a salted caramel budino. That white wine cake was friggin' amazing!! It's Sandy (one if the owners') family recipe. I wish she'd share!! It was a delicious evening! Highly recommend Vai's.
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David R.

Yelp
Found Val's on Yelp and the great reviews are what brought me here. Popular dinner spot on a Wednesday night as the parking lot and restaurant were full which is another sign that I chose the right place. In addition to the restaurant they also offer outdoor seating most likely just seasonally. So many unique dishes on the appetizer menu made it difficult to pick just one. My server recommended the Compari tomato and burrata caprese so I went for it and I'm glad I did because it was amazing. The bread had a slight char on it, the mozzarella was piled on and the cherry tomato's with the balsamic poured over the top all worked perfectly together. I've been on the road eating out at similar type restaurants all week and that was one of the best things that I ate all week. I would come back to have that again. For dinner I had the Chicken Milan which was prepared well and tasted good but not good enough to order again. Shout out to my server JP for the great recommendations and the outstanding service.
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Cathy H.

Yelp
I see why Naperville residents are keeping this place a hidden gem! I don't give many places 5 stars but VAI.....job well done. For both experiences we were seated in the bar area, but the first was at a small highboy table awkwardly placed in the bar area. We didn't complain because they were accommodating (remember this wasn't our first choic This review is based on 2 visits. My honey and I stopped in at VIA's for the first visit a few weeks ago and only because the place we went to first had zero reservations or bar seats available. I ordered the spicy sopprasata and honey neopolitan pizza and he had the VAI prime burger. Delicious The pizza was a perfect mix of sweet from the hot honey and spicy from the sopprassata. My honey's burger was deliciously seasoned and cooked perfectly. Paired with the Parmesan truffle fries....yummers!!!! Our second visit was just as sweet. It was lunch time when we arrived. My honey order their cheesesteak sandwich with their Parmesan truffle fries and ordered the spicy sopprassata with hot honey (yes it's my fav!) They never disappoint! Check them out!
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Daniela A.

Yelp
Made the reservation the night before for 6:15pm the following day and I'm glad I did. We were seated fairly quickly and the restaurant was packed and very lively. It was a bit loud inside but definitely not the restaurants fault. Our server came by to bring us water and the menus when we were seated but about 20 minutes had gone by before we saw her again. Definitely not her fault, it was clearly busier than the restaurant anticipated so I think they were bit short staffed, again not the restaurants fault, just remember to be patient! We heard this was the best Italian food in Naperville so we were excited to check it out for ourselves! We ordered the Arancini al Forno and Wood Grilled Romaine Salad for appetizers. The Arancini was topped with fried onions which added a nice flavor to the arancini. The sauce they were in was also very nice, not too sweet or bland either, very balanced. The Arancini had the most perfect crunch when I bit into it. They were fried perfectly and had a decent flavor. I will say they'll had way more cheese than risotto in them which kind of over powered the flavors.. I have had better but they were still good. The Wood Grilled Romain Salad was really good. The lettuce was still crispy and had a really nice smokey taste. It had delicious dressing and toppings in it. A great way to start the evening. For entres, we ordered the Vodka Pasta,the Spicy Chicken Tortellacci, the Short Rib Rigatoni, and the Pasta Bolognese. All of their pasta is made in house and are very fresh. The best one I have to say was the Short Rib Rigatoni, the Short Rib was tender and added such good flavor to the pasta. The pasta served with it were enormous which required you to cut into it before taking a bit overall an amazing dish! The Vodka Pasta was okay honestly, the pasta served with it was pretty thick and I dont think it was cooked all the way so I taste more dough than the sauce in the pasta.. The Spicy Chicken Tortellacci had jalapeños in it making it pretty spicy but the bell peppers soaked up a lot of the sauce and flavor making for a really nice and fresh dish with a bit of heat. And the Pasta Bolognese was honestly the best bolognese I've ever had. It was well balanced, not greasy at all and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Truly an incredible bolognese! All the pastas were served with two slices of garlic bread which were nice to eat with the meal and good for soaking up sauce. Over all it was a really great meal, I wish I had gotten a different pasta in the Vodka pasta but really with the way everything else was just so delicious, I could only give this restaurant 5 starts, they deserve nothing less!
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Mark E.

Yelp
Came back to celebrate my birthday and everything was just as sensational as my first visit. Our waitress Jazlyn was amazing, and all our plates looked and tasted fantastic. VAI's is quickly becoming a family favorite and deserves all the praise it gets.

anthony c.

Yelp
Update: Gary thank you for your response. You may want to retrain ur staff because they definitely said 18% gratuities was required. The food is very good, no doubt it just seemed like in the past when we dine in the portions seemed larger
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Hayley H.

Yelp
I hosted a private dinner event at VAI's and can't speak highly enough of how great everything was. To the original booking, choosing a menu, to the event itself: everything went smooth and felt so personal. The staff I worked with to set up the dinner and the staff that helped us that night were so understanding and went above and beyond to ensure a great event! On top of that the food and drinks were amazing. We had family style apps and salad, everyone was able to pick an entree from a list of options, and assorted desserts. All of my guests raved about how great the food was! I would love to go back for a normal dinner service, but to anyone looking to book an event in one of their private dining spaces - do it!
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Gavinsidekick H.

Yelp
I find the food here at VAI's to be constantly good, recently I tried a couple of specials, The east coast Wood fired oysters, these were amazing, excellent size and taste. I would sure like to see these more often. Now here's where I took a big leap, Japanese Wagyu NY Strip steak Tartare. This was just amazing, just so tasty. Another gem. A place where I know I can get good service, good food and meet nice people.
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Shannon M.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I came here recently for a nicer dinner out. It's good that you can make reservations because this place was very crowded! We were sort of in the middle of it all, at a table that backed up to another tier of diners behind us at tables in a very low "balcony" area (when we were all seated, my head was about at the level of these other people's elbows). There are also booths that would have been a bit more removed from other diners. Our waiter kept a good eye on us but seemed rather harried because it was so busy and at one point was roped in to something with another table and a manager. Nonetheless, we had good service for him. The food was generally good. We started with pillow-soft gnocchi, probably the best I have ever had anywhere. For our entrees, my boyfriend got the four-cheese ravioli, which he thought was delicious. I got the day boat scallops with risotto; the scallops were nicely cooked, not tough or overdone, and the risotto had a good flavor, but there was SO much oil/sauce in it that it was just drowning! I don't know if it was added at the end as a plating touch, but because there was so much it ended up burying the unctuous texture that risotto is known for, so the whole point of the dish is rather lost. I'll actually be back in a few weeks because my best friend had already planned her birthday dinner here before we went out to dinner this night, so we'll see which is the better experience.
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Rick N.

Yelp
Slowest service in Naperville. Been waiting over an hour for our entrees and still a no show. Can't comment on the food since we haven't gotten it yet. Skip this place
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Maggie M.

Yelp
Amazing food and drinks. Friday night was packed. We had made reservations in advance. They have a nice fire pit in front to keep you warm on cooler nights. The patio was open and is perfect on warm nights. Inside has dim lighting great for a date night. Black booths and brown wood tables. Came here for a girls night. Had ordered a few small plates to share. Had the whipped ricotta and honeycomb, which was very light and sweet. Maryland style crab cake, which had chunky pieces and isn't fried or crispy on the outside if that is what you were expecting. Was still delicious with a small little arugula salad next to it. Wood roasted mussels were delicious and served with toast to soak up the yummy sauce. Spicy peppered shrimp had a small kick and paired really well with the polenta. Very filling. My main dish i got was mushroom pappardelle. Lots of mushroom with thick noodles in Parmesan cream. Had toast to dip and into the sauce. Couldn't stop eating it. Also had the white sangria. Very light and had fresh fruits in it. Dessert had the Expresso martini. Went down very smooth and wasn't too strong. Well to me it wasn't. My friends ordered some desserts for all the share. Creme brulee had a hint of lemon and very creamy. Tiramisu very light and had the right balance. Wasnt too heavy on the alcohol flavor.
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Micah K.

Yelp
After a long drive, my sister and I had a taste for some great Italian cuisine without making the drive into the city for my favorites. This was a good find! Large, beautiful place with great service and friendly staff, I knew we had come to the right place. We were hungry and sometimes that can cloud our judgement but our dishes were almost lick the plate good! The burrata was amazing and our entrees continued the trend. Paired perfectly with the dry wines that were recommended, everything combined for a meal that hit the spot. Great Italian restaurant for the burbs and overall as well!

CS L.

Yelp
Waitstaff is phenomenal! And, the dishes are originally flavored (exquisite would be better to describe them), presented professionally & well-proportioned! Will definitely come back to Vai's for the whole incredible dining experience again!
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Kassandra M.

Yelp
My sisters and I came here for a nice night out and we are so glad we did! This was our first time trying VAI's after hearing lots of good recommendations. We went in on a busy Saturday night at 6, so I would strongly recommend making reservations. The hostesses were delightful and seated us right on time in a cozy booth. Despite how lively the restaurant was, Jake, was very friendly and didn't miss a beat! Even though the restaurant was super busy, we didn't feel rushed for one single second! We finished our meal and closed the bill out then sat there for another hour and a half! While we sat there talking and enjoying our time, Jake continued to keep our water glasses full! Now that's what I call great service!! We will most definitely be back again.
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Carly C.

Yelp
VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville has to be one of the best eateries I've ever visited. It was recommended by the great staff at Halo Heat Sauna across the way. Vai's modern take on Italian cuisine, emphasizes freshness and creativity. I appreciated the range of flavorful dishes, inventive pasta and delightful desserts. I went for salad, and ended up trying at least 5 other things. My family and I couldn't get enough!
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Jolie R.

Yelp
I have no idea why this place is rated so high. I have tried this place twice to see if it would change my mind. The food was not good. We ordered the short rib rigatoni & it was sour. We also had the cheese pizza which was bland. Reading through the reviews seems like the food is inconsistent & maybe we just had 2 bad experiences. It's not worth the cost.
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Audrey H.

Yelp
Vai's has always been a neighborhood favorite and now that their open Monday's I'm ecstatic! Went with friends for our monthly girls night out and everyone was so happy with our choice. We ordered the burrata with fresh pesto, roasted cherry tomatoes. We added the prosciutto for $4 and the extra taste brings the appetizer to a perfect bite. Sorry we attacked that before I could snap a picture. We all ordered the salmon with mushroom risotto and veggies with a touch of arugula. Each of us got different temperatures on the salmon and each order was perfectly cooked. Service was attentive , and while the server offered wine samples to make our bottle selection, they did not pour second glasses past our first one, which I was a bit disappointed by.
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Shary E.

Yelp
Place is very cute with both inside and outside dining available. Service was terrific and they had gf options that turned out to be delicious. Had a salad on a pizza crust that was not on the menu, but they were happy to create and the crust was GF and it was awesome. Will definitely go back.
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Kate H.

Yelp
Arancini al Forno Parmesan Truffle Fries Wild Mushroom Pappardelle Day Boat Scallops + Risotto This is a really classy place - lots of fires and dark wood and a very inviting atmosphere. Not stuffy at all. It gets really busy though so make sure you have a reservation for dinner. Putting aside the truffle fries all of this was outstanding. This is maybe the best arancini I've ever had. Definitely a place to add to my regular rotation.
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Anne F.

Yelp
I have eaten at Vai's many times, but had my work holiday party there this past December for this first time. Saying it was a hit was an understatement. EVERYONE raved about the food and the service!! Working with Tara was effortless, she has all the good ideas. They liked it so much we are booking it again for our 2025 holiday party. It was a great evening, and a memorable one at that. Thank you Vai's. Anne
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Madhav B.

Yelp
The food is very good, try the ravioli. Service is very good, lots of people here, and the outdoor seating area has good vibes.
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Chris M.

Yelp
Rigatoni with sausage and shrimp and a house salad was perfect. The pasta had so much flavor - Italian smashed sausage and large plump shrimp, spinach, crushed red pepper and tomatoes for a bit of kick and the house made rig noodles tossed in a full flavor cream sauce not too heavy but held all the flavors. Let it cool a couple minutes to thicken up. Started with a house salad - all sorts of surprises in that as well. Enjoy!
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Anuj S.

Yelp
Good dinner place. Just went there. The place is pretty nice and it was pretty packed for a Monday night. Service was ok. We sat at a high top in the bar area. Food was also ok. The crispy eggplant small plate was good. Nice and crispy. With some added marinara sauce it would be been a great eggplant parm. Then I had some penne vodka with gf pasta. The pasta was ok, but I'm just glad they had a gf option. Thanks for being thoughtful for peopes' dietary prederences. The vodka sauce was good. Probably would've been a stellar pasta using normal pasta. Lastly, the margarita pizza was kind of ok. The eggplant was the best thing we had, for sure. These 3 things and just a diet coke was like $75, including tip. A bit high, but these days it's like whatever on prices. Overall price was decent for 3 people with 2 entrees.
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Carina J.

Yelp
Had a reservation on a Saturday early evening. Kitchen was a bit slow but my meal was very good. The pasta portions were a bit small. The teen girls were all still hungry after their pasta portions and had to order more food. The placed two pieces of bread with the pasta which seems to be "filler". Our server was good. They were incredibly busy and had a sea of people when we exited just after 7pm waiting to be seated. Would highly recommend reservations. Their cocktails were very good. It was quite loud and a bit difficult to have conversations across the table with our party of 6.
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Anusha D.

Yelp
Tried this restaurant on a Friday night. The restaurant was super busy. We had prior reservation so I would recommend to have it done in advance rather than walk in. We started off with Crispy Eggplant Fritti and Campari Tomato + Burrata Caprese which were just delicious. For mains, we then had Zucchini Aglio Olio and Lobster + Shrimp Rigatoni which were tasty as well. Our server was super polite, warm and friendly. This restaurant is family owned. The ambiance was great. I would highly recommend this place! MUST TRY!
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Jaslyn S.

Yelp
Delicious Italian food, beautiful casual to date night restaurant. Things a place you can go with friends to catch up, family dinner or date night. Lots of options for food. I would suggest a reservation as it does get busy. Ordered the Parmesan bread as appetizer and the short rib and rotini entree. The short rib pasta was so dam good, from the short rib to the sauce it was amazing. I loved it and the bread app was really good too. Had excellent service and was able to sit with friend and catch up on a Friday night. Will be back for sure
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Priscilla R.

Yelp
First, I don't show for a reservation late, but we had a reservation and were running late, but they still sat us fairly quickly. Our server was really friendly explaining about their drinks that change monthly in honor of a disabled person. I think this month is autism and sales of them go towards a charity. I thought that was kind of cool. I looked over the menu and expected it to be pricier for some reason. The atmosphere inside can be somewhat loud inside or out on the patio. One thing, I don't care for is to be cold in a restaurant. This one was comfortable. I didn't order an appetizer. I ordered the chicken Parmesan and it was really good. The rigatoni rigatoni noodles are over sized and cooked al dente exactly how I like them. The chicken was good too and it was fresh mozzarella on top. My friend ordered a gluten free pizza made from a cauliflower crust. I was only able to eat half of my food and wrapped the rest to take with me. I didn't get any dessert. Their menu is pretty extensive. I probably would go back again and again if I lived in the area to try everything.
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Ruhi P.

Yelp
OMG. Came here for my sisters Babyshower, they have a nice party area which is private and a great location at the restaurant as it's adjustable for any weather changes. The food was beyond my expectations especially as someone who eats gluten free. I was offered gluten free pizza bread, pasta, ricotta fig bites and eggplant parm (made special to orders). The staff was incredible with keeping up with our large party, I would always spot a server when I needed something. They cater very well to the party; they have their own separate servers working just the party area. I will definitely be returning to try more of their dishes.

Cathy M.

Yelp
We had a bridal shower at VAI's in the patio, which was beautiful, and everything from start to finish was absolutely amazing! Tara, the event coordinator, was great to work with and made sure everything we ordered and requested went as planned. Sandra and Madison were our event hosts for the day and were incredibly accommodating with everything we needed. They were so attentive--ensuring that all our guests were taken care of, accommodating any special dietary requirements, and keeping beverages flowing. Thank you also to all the behind-the-scene teams like the chefs, bartenders, bussers, and staff whose hard work made it such a perfect day. The food, drinks, and desserts were exceptional. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The day was beautiful, and I didn't have to worry about a thing thanks to the way the hosts handled every detail. I recommend VAI's to anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience or a special event venue. Thank you again Tara, Sandra, and Madison!! I appreciate all your help.
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Courtney N.

Yelp
We ordered a $22 pasta bolognese and received 12 noodles. Easy math will tell you that is $1.83 per noodle. When I called and spoke to a manager all they were willing to do was refund the 18% gratuity they request to add to your to go order. It didn't seem fare to me to take that money from the staff. Don't go here hungry and do not waste your money at a restaurant that doesn't care about their servers or their customers.
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Steve S.

Yelp
We are regulars at Vais because they are always on top of their game from the hosts to the site managers. The food is imaginative, well prepared and arrives hot. Service is always friendly and clearly well trained. Site managers always stop by to check our experience and say thanks. They even go a step beyond by sending a thank you email the next day. This restaurant is always a winner in an ever crowded restaurant marketplace. There may be many other dining establishments, but none as well managed as Vais.
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Shareef Y.

Yelp
Really great food and service. Waiter was constantly paying attention and helped tremendously in picking out our apps and entrees.
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De'Laka B.

Yelp
The food was incredible. Love at first bite. I ordered Clean Slate Riesling and lobster shrimp rigatoni. Every bite was amazing. The playlist made the vibe hella cool. Kanye. Justin. Britney. Bruno. If I wasn't cold mature I would've sit outside near the fire. Excellent service. Excellent visual stimulation. The pic of my food is terrible because I was digging into it and forget.
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Franklin P.

Yelp
The food was excellent and the waiter was superb. The food came out in a timely manner, I definitely would recommend this place and will be visiting again.
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S H.

Yelp
Amazing food. Excellent service. Warm and inviting ambiance. So glad we found this restaurant for our evening. A great way to end the day.
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Adaora O.

Yelp
YUM! I am officially a new fan of VAI's. I've heard nothing but good things about VAI's from friends in Naperville and finally got to try it out for dinner on a Saturday night. My friend made a reservation the night before and there were only a few time slots left, so I definitely recommend making a reservation before stopping in. When we arrived and saw the full dining room and patio, I was both grateful we had a reservation and excited to see what all the hype was about. We were seated in the main dining room which was spacious and noisy as there were many other parties seated in there as well. Next time I visit I will request a table on the patio (enclosed and heated with fireplaces!) Service was great; our waiter was kind, personable, and made some great substitutions for my non-dairy and gluten-free preferences. He had the chef swap out the cream sauce for a lemon butter, and I did gluten free pasta. The lobster and shrimp was AMAZING! For apps we went with the fried calamari which also had fried shrimp and shishito peppers. I could probably eat an entire plate of it to myself, it was so good. Drinks were divine; I went with the #3: it's delicious and it did in fact live up to the name. My friend ordered a glass of red wine which was a bit of a disappointing pour (very little wine) so she went with the #3 for her second drink and was very happy. Thank you VAI's for a great dinner, I can't wait to come back!!
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Mandy P.

Yelp
Came here with a party of 11 on Thursday at 5:30. Made a reservation online and they had the table all set up with high chairs and they even offered a sling for car seats. It was also spacious enough to park a stroller. Waitress was friendly and I liked that you could order family style. There was serving spoons with everything and they even cut the steak for us. Mushroom carpaccio - kind of funky with the goat cheese and mushroom. Very unique but I don't think I'd get it again Fritto - fried calamari was good. But the portion was kind of small and oily Salmon - nice risotto and tender salmon Lobster - quite small but the rigatoni was good. I liked the chew and flavors Chicken parm - chicken was quite dry but the rigatoni was good Chicken and pesto pizza - I liked the texture of the crust but my husband thought it was a bit dry Ny strip - great char and perfectly cooked Spaghetti and meatballs - meatballs were a little tough and sauce was kind of like fruit punch. Very acidic Shrimp salad - the char on the shrimp was nice White wine cake - very moist and all of the flavors balanced well. The sauce was tart and the cake tasted like a churro
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Lori H.

Yelp
WOW! I'm very impressed. Very nice ambience, great waitstaff, yummy drinks and fab food. We started out with the red wine sangria and shared a crab cake. Usually crab is shredded, but they had huge lumps of whole crab in the crab cake and a very good salad and sauce with it. I was impressed, because crab cake is prob not what you usually order in an Italian themed place. Next, we both ordered Italian--my husband had lasagna that he loved and I had pasta bolognese. My husband said he could tell the noodles were fresh and homemade. Unfortunately, right away, I found out my pasta was too spicy for me, so I told the waitress, and she could not have been more kind about swapping it out for the twin filet medallions. The twin filet medallions, true to request, were cooked without pepper, and had a yummy veggie medley with them, and some balsamic over the top. Perfect! The meal was reasonable in cost, very yummy, and trouble free. I'll go back in a heartbeat! What a nice place! And, contrary to some places, there was no feeling that we should get going, after we ate dinner. Waitress dropped off dessert menu and was perfectly fine with us ordering two more Sangrias as dessert. We had to ask for the check (which is how it should be--not these places that drop off the check while you're still eating!) The place was packed though on a Sunday night, so do make reservations! I can tell this is a well-loved local restaurant.