Valentini's

There’s good and bad. First, yes, the food is very good, no doubt about that. You could see in the pictures that I ordered the meatball, fried ravioli, wine, etc. This part is to the ownership: you dropped the ball tremendously with the ambience, specifically the music. If you’re going to play music loud, make sure it’s fitting music or at least songs that are tolerable. Instead, people should be prepared for B-level songs from the 1950s. It literally felt like we were sitting in a 1950s diner with Buddy Holly and that kind of music playing. I’ve written 100 reviews, and I’m being very straightforward here. I rarely ever leave a bad review, but this was that bad. Music sets the atmosphere, and I can’t be the only person who felt this way. As owners of an Italian restaurant, I’m sure you’ve visited many Italian restaurants yourselves. Have you ever once heard that kind of music playing? Why would you do that? You completely missed the mark.

A fabulous family friendly restaurant with great service and authentic Italian food. We love Valentini’s. Carol and her staff go above and beyond to make every dining experience amazing.

Valentini’s is fantastic - we had a super lunch and met the owner - Carol - what a wonderful person! No wonder this place is so good - we also met one of the relatives that is a manager so this is truly a family run place. The food was fantastic - the Italian Egg Rolls were fantastic as was Penne aka Vodka and the Tortellini ala Valentini. Go Eat! You’ll thank me!

We went here with a large group to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. I had wanted shrimp scampi as did my sister and mom. We were going to try and do a make your own pasta as they no longer serve shrimp scampi there. however, the cook made an exception and made the three of us shrimp scampi- delicious!! Love, love, love the food & atmosphere. The service was also excellent!! Would highly recommend!!

Artichoke dip and Bolognese pasta were great. Loaded with flavor! Fettuccine alfredo and chicken was okay, two bland for our taste. If you're thinking about ordering it I would ask for a sample of the Alfredo sauce. You could tell everything was homemade, no pre-processed food here.

Ordered catering for our wedding reception this past weekend. Had never actually tried the restaurant so was going based off reviews. The food was incredible, even after an hour drive to our location, the food stayed hot, well sauced and tasted incredible. All attendees were raving about the food! The entire process was easy, well priced and incredibly accommodating. We will definitely be going back to Duluth and trying the restaurant!

I called to get some information about catering. For my husband's funeral and was rudely put on hold for probably about 30 minutes. I hung up called back in 30 minutes. And was unable to get anyone except for the voicemail. I called to make a pickup order. Several days later and Was very disappointed in what I received for almost $20

We stopped by this past weekend for the first time ever. The waitress informed us that it was best to make a reservation if we knew if we were coming because they filled up fast. She was able to find us a table and was very helpful. The food was fantastic, and the service was great. We will be back for sure and definitely would recommend this place and recommend setting up a reservation before coming. They even have a good selection of desserts if you still have room after your meal.

Great food, all unique and well put together. Nice atmosphere with Italian decorations and cultural pieces. Service was good and we were never left wanting. The pesto on the Mafia burger was really satisfying surprise that did well for the whole flavor palate. Awesome job!

On a trip to the Iron Range and North Shore for fall leaf watching, I wanted to hit the original Valentini's in Chisholm but it was closed (on a Saturday night) for a wedding, so we drove to Duluth and hit the Valentini's in Hermantown. I was really in the mood for the chicken cacciatore but this location doesn't have it on the menu, but as a second option, they have Italian egg rolls, which is stuffed with chicken cacciatore and it satisfied my craving. The chicken marsala has a nice sauce/gravy but it is extra sweet compared to other marsala's I've had. The gnocchi was really good, love those little gut bombs and the red sauce was excellent. Gotta love the drink prices in northern Minnesota. The service was great as we sat at the bar and the bartender was delightful and entertaining - she told us a good story about how she ended up in a walking boot. This location is very busy, a reservation is recommended, especially for a Saturday night.

Every one at our table ordered pasta, all were well made and delicious. Pretty old school, but that's what people, at least older people, like. Our server, Tanner, took care of us perfectly. Nice service. Owner spent a few minutes talking to us at the end of dinner and spoke about the long history of the restaurant, the original still going in Chisholm. The jazz guitar player was a nice touch.

Love the ambiance and the pasta was delicious and the waitress was amazing! We got the artichoke dip and we got the fortuine pasta!

Food was very good. We had the stuffed walleye and the mediterranean stuffed chicken breast. Service was spot on. Everything in a timely fashion. Restaurant was clean decor was what you would expect for Italian restaurant. The reason I gave a four versus a five is from both of our meals. The portions were small. chicken breast with pasta first I thought I didn't get any pasta. Then I realized the chicken breast was sitting on it. I just couldn't see it. Lots of empty plate space on both the walleye and the chicken. That said, I WILL GO BACK and I do recommend the place. Another observation, I did see other patrons meals ( different than the chicken or walleye) that look like the portions were larger. One last mention, The entrance is being upgrade for handicap entry until they get that finished entry with a walker or wheelchair is tricky. ( plants on sidewalk didn't help) Parking is at the other end of the parking lot.

Great food and great service! Our family of 6 came on a Wed night around 6PM and didn't have a reservation....but fortunately for us a large group didn't show up and the hostess went out of her way try to accommodate us! Apparently, they run half off wine bottles on Wed night....so the place was pretty busy. Our group opted in on that deal :) They also had a great local beer option as well (which is my preference). Our group ordered Sicilian Ravioli, Chicken Alfredo (2), Sausage & Pepper Penne and Caprese Chicken Farfelle (2) - and we hit 6 for 6 with everyone really enjoying their entrees. Ingredients were super fresh and the sauces were really tasty. Service from server 404 (we forgot her name and it wasn't on the receipt) was super friendly and prompt! We'd love to go back again.

Smelled good when we walked in and that's instantly a good sign. The server was very nice. I got angel hair with sugo and it was really good. My only complaint would be that the portion wasn't big enough! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants good Italian food!

Delicious food, great location, and great service! I have food allergies, which they easily accommodate. I've repeatedly had a great experience here.

Service - very very slow; no kidding. Just waiting & waiting for service - then the food At one point I looked at our party and said "let's go". We stayed. Food - in short, not good. Bland, overcooked, cold. Even if I spent the time to do an in-depth analysis of WHY the food was subpar would anyone at this place care enough to fix it ? No, I think no. Ambiance - faux Italian. - Do better!

Everything. Literally, everything is delicious. The food, the wine, the desserts, the cocktails, the service, all wonderful. My birthday tomorrow, and this is where I'm spending it. I can't wait! It makes my mouth water thinking about it!

Great staff and so welcoming! Carol and her team are the best! They do so much for the local community. Highly recommend!

What a great find! I was recommended to try this out by a local at one of retail stores in Duluth. I was able to get a seat at the bar as the place was very busy with big parties for a Saturday night. I asked the bartender what was their most popular dish and said the shrimp scampi. It didn't disappoint. With asparagus , green and red peppers and 2 huge pieces of shrimp as I order the 1/2 portion instead of the full. They did offer house bread but I declined. Great and friendly staff and plenty of parking. Good spot for Italian.

Would love to rate the food, but unfortunately, in a half-empty restaurant at 5pm, we were told that there were no tables that would be "comfortable" for 2 adults and our 15-month old. Get a babysitter and make reservations for this knock-off Olive Garden, or just go to the OG itself.

A quick change of plans landed us here for breakfast. This place is beautifully decorated. The staff are amazing. I ordered the Denver Florentine sandwich with breakfast potatoes. The peppers made the sandwich. Nice hearty size sandwich. Now I'm not a big potato guy but these were delicious! Cooked to perfection and the seasoning was amazing! My wife ordered the breakfast bruschetta. Amazing flavors and that warm honey mascarpone and jam are so delicious! One of the people eating with us ordered the French toast Italian style. It looked and smelled amazing, I will be getting this next time! I am not big on Italian food guy but this place makes me want to comeback and try their lunch and dinner items. From cleanliness to service to food quality this is a must try place!

Stopped for a late dinner near closing time. Delightful staff and manager! Very accommodating. Food was great and my sample of gnocchi was outstanding. I'm back in town for another week working and will find time to stop again. Highly recommend!

A wonderful dining experience! The staff were wonderful!! Kudos to the young lady that is new and shadowing a pro!

Quaint little restaurant at the far top of the hill in Duluth. Delicious; we had the gnocchi and gluten free shrimp scampi penne. Call ahead to get a table or plan to sit at the super small bar.

This restaurant is wonderful! The decor is very cozy and charming. The staff are hard-working and friendly. The portions are very generous. And the food? Absolutely delicious! Our visit to Valentini's was so enjoyable. It was the best bruschetta we've ever tasted. We can't wait to come back!

Members of my family attended a reception catered by Valentin's. The entire service line of food contained an ingredient that I am allergic to and it was not an ingredient that was included either because it was specifically requested by the clients or because all of the dishes required that ingredient. Basic catering standards exclude the inclusion of any single ingredient in EVERY dish unless specifically requested by the client or required for the selected recipes. This is to prevent harming everyone at a catered event. When I said I was allergic to that item the caterer became angry, though her catering staff was slightly-apologetic. At the same event other attendees were served very little food by the catering staff, though there appeared to be no shortage of food. Guests went directly to area restaurants for dinner after leaving the event Valentini's "catered".

Traveling for my grandsons hockey for 15 years, YELP has become my "Go To" for Italian when not at home. Visiting the the Duluth area for Wilderness junior hockey, I found Valentini's as a top choice. We called ahead - no spots available at 5:30PM on a Saturday evening. So we decided to take a chance as walk ins. Indeed no table but, bar service was available so we sat at the bar. The bartender was delightful! She enthusiastically answered all our inquiries regarding different food choices. My daughter chose a pasta entree, I chose pizza. My Mich Ultra was cold and her Tito's a proper pour. A small dinner salad arrived promptly. Entrees followed in a timely manner. Hot, perfectly prepared and sauces were very tasty. Our "waitress" was incredibly busy but, nonetheless we were well served. I'd go back in a heartbeat to sample more on the menu! Obviously an authentic Italian family operation.

This is probably the best food in town. We went for lunch and had shrimp scampi and eggplant parmigiana sandwich. Not a drop of grease on the eggplant or house chips! Scampi was delicious! I gotta say the location could be odd but there's plenty of parking. The interior is nicely decorated but strangely laid out. Very good service. A few vegetarian selections.

First trip here, will be back. Had the muffuletta with chips. Wifey had the cheese ravioli. Both were damn good. There was an event going on and our server was very busy but she communicated well with us from the moment we walked in the door. It's out of our way, but we'll be back! Thanks!

Amazing food and great service. The food is homemade with a rich family history in the northland.

Great service, great food. A friend and I share our birthday. We told the bartender/waiter/manager and he let us choose our dessert. We were undecided about entree and salad because we were traveling and didn't want too much so he through in a 'small' (it wasn't) side salad for us. Great food, service and reasonable prices.

Really great Italian food with terrific sauces. Reasonable prices and great friendly service. See you again soon!

A very pleasant surprise. We had planned to have a Sunday morning breakfast at Bridgemans down the road but they could not accommodate us due to the post-church rush. On a whim, we gave Valentinit's a try. Not crowded. Quiet. Cozy. The wait staff was friendly. The food was delicious. I see one review complaining about the slow service. My take on this is that the place is just relaxed. I did not feel rushed. We enjoyed coffee and conversation after our meal without feeling any pressure to move along.I'll eat here again next time I am in town for sure.

We had been wanting to try Valentini's for a long time and finally did. The entrance is very strange. If you have more than 2 people - good luck - no place to stand. Very slow being seated. They put us behind a wall, very cramped and could see nothing. Service was extremely slow. We ordered an entree and a side salad. OOPS - finally the entree arrived and the server asked "anything else"? Ya, maybe the salad? The food was tasty, no complaints on that. Small portions but that's okay. Forget trying to get your check. Plus, it was warm out but windy and when the door opened, you were blasted with a cold Lake Superior wind. Ah, we won't be back, which is sad, because the food was very tasty. Sorry Valentini's - your layout sucks. And, your servers are slow and forgetful.

Stopped for a last minute date night dinner and was seated right away. Ordered an app, dinner and a bottle of wine. Everything was terrific. Small issue with my meal, I won't say what but she made it right. I appreciated that even after asking her to not make a big deal about it, she did. Desert was also made in house and one of the best I've had. At one point I saw the owner bussing tables. Shows a dedication to the business. Will stop again, thankful they are in this new location and closer to home.

We felt a bit rushed by our server but she was expedient with our beverage and meal but both were very good so it was a pleasant experience over all. It's a cute, nicely designed and decorated restaurant. We will definitely return. Hopefully our server will not be in a hurry next time.

This is my all-time favorite Italian restaurant. I do miss the old building and the view, but I go for the food. Every time I'm in Duluth Valentinis is an automatic stop. The bread, the pasta...I have never had anything that I haven't absolutely loved there. 100% better than Belisios and way more affordable!

Excellent tortellini...hubby had it with shrimp, 2nd time this summer because it is so good & I had it with sausage & it was scrumptious! Very pleasant wait staff! Our friends had the Simply Pasta with Pomodoro sauce (he liked it) & salad with the 4 grilled shrimp on it with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing (she liked) They bring a sliced baguette to the table with seasoned olive oil and a 2nd serving because we were hungry, at no charge! Husband had an IPA, I had a house Pinot Grigio, we were pleased!

I inquired about ordering off the menu and instead of getting an eye roll from our server, she was super accommodating and took my order. The food came out exactly as I ordered and fantastic. The home made alfredo sauce is top notch! Ava was our server and was very sweet and attentive. The place was clean and kept up. Great dinner experience for the wife and I on our 25th wedding anniversary! Oh, and the price was very reasonable.

Valentini's exceeded expectations to correct a reservation error. Received exceptional attention throughout the evening. Food & wine was exceptional. Looking forward to our next visit.

Not impressed at all! We were in the Duluth area to watch participants in Grandma's Marathon. All service-oriented businesses seemed to go out of their way to be welcoming and friendly, but not Valentini's! When we walked in, the hostess (dark-haired) told us that without a reservation, they only had outside seating (although we saw several available tables, and we were only a party of 4). Outside seating is better described as the PARKING LOT with plastic, broken potted palm trees and dirty metal tables! The food was "meh"--looked and tasted more like prepared and served from a can than homemade......Our server did a good job, but the hostess' treatment of us was rude and humiliating.