Via Emilia

Make reservations, don’t expect anything quick or fast. It was perfect for the occasion of meeting with old friends and spending time talking about life with no rush.

If you are looking for a cozy place to enjoy a great Italian meal give this place a try. Great for a date night. I'm guessing the menu changes every night. FYI if you're expecting complimentary bread and salad think again. They have a nice wine and dessert menu. We had the Shrimp & Crabmeat Genoese and Chicken Marsala. Both excellent. Tiramisu for dessert. This was a last minute decision on a Monday night so we called and made immediate reservations arrived and were seated pretty quickly.

My favorite Mobile restaurant! It is so quaint and lovely. I loved the food, the service, the wine selection, and the atmosphere. I had the homemade sausage rigatoni paired with the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon and it was perfection. Will definitely be back soon!

Really great date restaurant. All fresh-made Italian in a homey cottage. You’ll need a reservation! The food is unbeatable - it’s small, so depending on the other guests, it can get a little loud (depending on how much wine they have - this is Mobile, remember?). Food is pricey but not unreasonably so, considering quality. Definitely recommend!

If you want quality food and service, do not show up past 7:45. We called because we wanted to be considerate and make a reservation. We made our reservation forty minutes before closing time. They called back and informed us that they closed at nine. Okay, so first problem- the restaurant needs to specifically make their last reservation for 7:30 to give their customers time to eat and their kitchen the 40minutes it took to make an app and 2 entrees. To have the hostess call us back to let us know they close at 9 was absurd. She said someone forced her to call us back and tell us. Again absurd. This was confusing because there is absolutely no hustle in getting the food out, and no attentiveness to the tables. We literally sat there for over 10 minutes waiting for our server or any server to take my money so I could leave. So we arrived earlier than the reservation time. The appetizer took an easy 20 minutes from the time we were seated. They were out of multiple apps……..The appetizer was cooked throughout.; there needs more sauce on it. So it was friend green tomatoes, a plop of red peppers, and a couple of random Romain leaves. They were seasoned well but were dry. The chicken parm style- good chicken portion but I asked for extra sauce because the sauce always soaks into the breading. The pesto pasta should be called pasta with a pinch of pesto. The pasta was dry and cold and reminded me of what you would feed a toddler at dinner to prevent a mess. I asked for more sauce so I could eat my pasta in which I was told there was no more red sauce. How do you run out of a staple component that goes with half the menu????? Or is it that they just refused to heat up anymore red sauce? The zucchini was apparently the reason why our food was held up. We must of had a special edition because the zucchini was black as night. It easily took 30 minutes to get our food. Again, the phone call was completely pointless because it was the restaurant who lacked any hustle in ensuring they would close at 9. The dish has potential to be a great tasting dish…… it definitely missed the mark. Had they informed me before I ordered that they were out of red sauce, I would not have ordered this dish. The eggplant Emilia- everything was cold except the eggplant. Apparently, the midnight edition zucchini held this up also. However, the eggplant was executed well. It just had nothing else to compliment it on the plate because it was cold…… The reviews looked promising and I may try it again one day but it will not be on my dime and definitely…. Can you guess what I’m about to say? Not be Past 7:30. Service- inattentive, don’t expect refills, and good luck finding your server. Credit card fees- they charges us a 2.75% fee for using a credit card. Nobody said anything nor is there anything stating this in the restaurant. At least inform the customers before they sit down and give them the option to pay cash. Also, it’s really loud in here so anyone who has hearing issues, may not enjoy sitting inside. Parents that bring their babies to date night, you may want to come an hour before the babies bedtime. Your baby will not sleep, and you won’t get to eat. Overall 2.5 but not close enough to 3 stars. Overpriced.

Fantastic food, great ambience, and good wine selection. Prices were as expected for the type of establishments. Only thing is the chairs in the courtyard were uncomfortable! Definitely going back, though!

This is the kind of place you want to go to when you want to go with someone and talk about something that you’ve been putting away for a long time. Food here takes at around 45-60 min, so know that. Make sure you have a reservation! You could be lucky and find a table. Would I come back? Most definitely. Food was so good, worth the wait. No, I don’t mind the long wait time for good food! Yet in my own humble opinion it was a solid B+

I’ve been coming here for years. Last night was the best so far. I had the Pan Seared Unicorn, I’ve never had a better piece of fish on the coast! It was SO buttery & savory. I thoroughly enjoyed that. My girlfriend got the lasagna and she enjoyed that as well. Both of our dishes were hot and fresh! Our server was quite friendly and attentive. Of course the restaurant is small and that’s fine, doesn’t bother us one bit. Will absolutely be back! Thank you guys for a wonderful meal!

A neighborhood gem for sure. A small parking lot. Hand written menu on a chalk board, changes regularly. We arrived on a Thursday at 630 with a reservation by phone (old school). The place was packed when we arrived, we were the last table seated. Our waiter was slow at the start but, as the tables started getting food the service got better. The kitchen is very small but the food they put out, is very tasty. We started with ordering drinks and bread with olive oil, next the roasted arrichoke appetizer, both very tasty. We then ordered shrimp and scallop geonese and I had the 4 cheese tortellini. Very tasty meals great flavors, fresh food, cooked to perfection. Last we each had a cannoli, a crunchy shell with rich tastibg filling and a cherry on top. This isa our second visit, and we will return.

Amazing food - we got the steak - the Gorgonzola cheese sauce is very rich but yummy. We got the chicken parm - sooo good and very big and the bread pudding was yummy. Romantic ambiance. Koy fish swimming in the outdoor pond.

Fantastic hole in the wall! The wait staff is so attentive, and the food is excellent. Eggplant Emilia, chicken Parma style, and chicken hunters style. All the dishes were so tasty and huge servings! A must go, but definitely need a reservation.

Always a great meal love this place! Best Italian in Mobile. Recommend getting reservations it is small.

Service was great, from helping with wine selection to suggesting a 10/10 flavor filled meal! The wife loved the outdoor seating ambiance. This is one of best restaurants I've ever been!

Great ambiance! Really good service and good. Will definitely come back next time I'm in Mobile!

Service was very slow for somewhere with just 5-6 tables. Whether it was getting your order placed, to waiting for straws, to getting your ticket. Chicken isn't cooked throughly. Tables are nasty with previous food crumbs and hair. The atmosphere is fine for the most part, but there is a lot left to be desired for Via Emilia. Maybe a prayer?

Excellent food and service as always. Steak was perfect, pasta was amazing. Portions are generous and service is as good as it comes.

Great place. Amazing food. Very cool feel. Highly recommend. Great staff. Not your typical red sauce Italian

Via Emilia in Mobile never disappoints! I have been coming here for over 20 years. Favorites: fried green tomatoes, chicken marsala, lasagna, and crème brûlée. A true gem!

I LOVE this place! The food is a 10/10, service was great, and great ambience! The negative reviews must've been on an off night because it was genuinely perfect!

If you love Italian food, you should definitely pay Via Amelia a visit. My dining partner had the lasagna, and I had the veal piccata. Both dishes were excellent. We each had a glass of Neomi Pinot Noir, and they only charged nine dollars for it. Most of the entrées are under $30. This restaurant is definitely worth its price. The service was perfectly timed, although we were there on a Sunday evening, it was only half full. By 7 o'clock, though more people came to dine. Reservations are recommended. The restaurant is quite small, and there is additional seating outdoors. Our server Tony was excellent! We will definitely be back.

Adorable little chef blackboard restaurant with exquisite food and a romantic vibe. I had a perfect crepe stuffed with seafood and covered in a rich gouda cream sauce and my date had the buttery scampi. This is the best dining experience I have had in Mobile. Worth the money.

Awesome food, great ambiance, server friendly and knowledgeable. Authentic cuisine as if it was straight from Italy.

My uncle and I stumbled upon this quaint Italian restaurant two years ago while in town and due to popularity, we couldn't be seated. So when we knew we were going to be back in Mobile, I made reservations. From our prompt greeting to being seated and served, we could not have asked for a more attentive yet relaxed service experience. Laurie served us with a kind smile and was very knowledgeable about the menu options. The focaccia bread was served warm and partially precut for easy tear and dipping! It was delicious! Our entrees were more than enough in portion size and I simply did not want to put my fork down. There is limited seating inside and a few tables outside with a beautiful koi pond. If you are wanting to give it a try, be sure to call and make a reservation. Enjoy!

Food, service and ambiance are all spot on! Roasted artichokes are my favorite! Sometimes we go and that's all we will get with a glass of wine. Nice wine selection as well.

This place used to be amazing. The food quality has dipped. I ordered the shrimp and scallop Genoese. It was full of oil and had hardly any lemon notes at all. The scallops were severely over cooked. My spouse got the filet which they butterflied to cook it "faster". For what we paid, it was not quality experience. Our waiter was amazing and kind and attentive and he was even in the weeds. Disappointed about the food. It seems they are seating too quickly and too many to produce the cuisine they once were known for.

Plain and simple. If you are looking for good Italian food save yourself time and disappointment DO NOT GO TO ViA EMILiA, staff was nice and attentive but that doesn't make up for the poor quality of the drinks and the food. Wish i could say arrivederci but that wont happened.

1st and last time eating here.. had a reservation @ 5:30 Sat for 30 minutes before got served my water then waited forever for our food. When food came out it was very cold like it had been sitting for while. Had to request all of our food to be warmed up. When we got it back it was not all that warm, so we all ask for to go boxes where we could take it back to our hotel rooms and warm it up to finish our dinner... food wasn't great either. Who serves Lasagna without any bread and wants to nickel and dime you for every little dish! very much disappointed!

We were excited to go to Via Emilia but that faded quite quickly. To begin with parking is atrocious and the seating was quite cramped and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the service was completely lacking as we not informed of anything or asked if there were any questions just "you see the menu, right?". The server never checked on us other than to get our order, deliver our order, and bring the check, very cold. We never were asked for refills and when we inquired about dessert, they apparently were out of everything during primetime on a Friday night. Odd. As for the food the Veal was very bland, and the lasagna was at best ok. For the price there several better more refined options that actually provide the service that is expected for the cost. Seems quite overrated.

We only went one time several years ago when our child was a baby in a baby carrier. When we arrived, we were immediately and rudely informed by the hostess that, "We don't serve children here." What kind of rocket surgeon does it take to figure out a six month old doesn't order off the menu at a restaurant? The food was all right. Nothing spectacular like it was hyped up to be. And the hostess' impatient looks at us made us feel very welcome. We've never been back. I'd hate to think how we would have been treated if I'd also brought my Rottweiler service dog, too. Overall we were very disappointed. We'd been told how great this place was and were really looking forward to it. A sad experience which should have been much better.

Via Emilia always delights. Have been going there for 30 years. It's amazing what Chatman can do in that small kitchen. I've had everything on the menu but the eggplant is my fave and the shrimp crepes for brunch are out of this world.

I am a lover of eggplant and of course tried the Eggplant Emilia. This dish was delicious, and the serving was huge. I had enough for a carry out (delicious leftover also). If you love eggplant, will love this selection. Nice intimate environment, and can eat inside or outside. My first visit here and will definitely go again.

Stopped in for brunch and enjoyed it! It's truly got an authentic Italian flair. The food and flavors were great. I enjoyed my shrimp and grits. It's quaint to seating and proximity to other patrons can be a bit of a challenge, but they have a good system in place. The fresh baked bread on display was a sight, and the staff was friendly and attentive to tables. All in all, a solid brunch option in WeMo. I've gotta' get back to give their dinner seating a whirl.

Probably my favorite restaurant in mobile. The food and service has never disappointed. Try their carrot cake if you go! I've also been able to message them on Facebook to make a reservation which is a plus for me!

Have you tried Via Amelia's in Mobile ? OM Gosh ! My husband's Family Name & mine for 36 years now is Marcantonio. He is a hard critic for Italian food and rates Via Amelia 5 out of 5 's. Trust me, the food is So Delicious The restaurant is small and quaint, so do make a reservation. Couples or bring family or friends always provides a relaxed personal service. You may want to dine without young children. There is outside patio seating with a coy fish pool, ask for fish pellets and watch them swimming to eat. I always request to reserve a table next to the coy pond. Outside dining also allows a window view of a single chef cook on a single stove that amazes me to watch. Inside seating is intimate seating with white table cloths and table candles. Open Mon. ~ Sat. for dinner. Open for Brunch on Sundays. Located on Old Shell Rd. across from the USA Mitchell Center. We have eaten on random week nights and for Sunday Brunch. Each visit we savor our meals. The flavored taste of fresh ingredients from authentic Italian recipes cooked, seasoned, served hot and always enjoyed slowly for truly worthy dining. *Mangia mangia Goditi un delizioso pasto italiano* * Translated Italian meaning: Eat Eat Enjoy a Delicious Italian Meal

Top brunches in mobile! Sunday Brunch front: French toast and back: eggs Benedict So yummy

Very good quality: fresh ingredients and authentic taste. Gnocchi is my fave! Huge portions and great service.

This place is so cute! I love the outdoor patio and staff was very friendly. Wine selection is good. Menu is pretty small but the portions are a good size. The inside is very small and pretty loud, but overall I really enjoyed the food and would definitely go back. I had the chicken Marsala, which I thought could have used more sauce but was still tasty!

I had brunch here pre-Covid and found it to be delicious. Outdoor seating, nice atmosphere and all was well. We made reservations for a birthday dinner. It was disappointing to say the least. Service was fine through out the loud, very loud dinner. I was difficult to have a conversation. The room is cozy but way too loud. The server didn't know what a Negroni was so we ordered Old Fashioneds which were anything but an Old Fashioned. Fried green tomatoes were ok and the Caesar salad could fit in the palm of my hand. We both ordered veal piccata which was thick, tough and mostly inedible due to said issues. Three pieces of veal were on each dish but my last piece of veal couldn't be cut, much less chewed. My husband and already sent his back for a replacement dish, shrimp and scallops, which was pretty decent. They were good about replacing the dish with no extra charge. All in all, pricey (especially for the quality), loud, and just wasn't worth it. I wish I could give this a better review, but it's not there. Hopefully in the future it will improve.

My favorite restaurant in Mobile. The food is beyond amazing. The venue is small and intimate and the best place for a special celebration with friends. Always call for reservations to assure you can get a table!

This is Mobile's best most consistent restaurant. We picked up a to go order since we did not want to go out. To go food in general is ok at best. But, let me tell you we ordered the Bee's knees pizza, Caesar salad and the eggplant parm without shrimp. The pizza was simple and fantastic. We have found our favorite pizza in Mobile. The Caesar was good, nothing fancy. The eggplant is by FAR the BEST eggplant we have ever had. The focaccia bread is a must as well. This restaurant is a gem. Service is always good. The ambiance is nothing to write home about but trust me the food makes up for the lack of decor. The space is small so make reservations.... So yummy and delicious. 5 stars for sure!!!

Tiny little place that has the charm of an Italian eatery right in Italy. All staff were friendly, charming and welcoming. The menu is small but mighty. Everything tasted made from scratch. I had the Foccacia with marinara and the cheese torte with Alfredo. The Alfredo was the best I've ever had. It was peppery, not too 'sweet' or flat on flavor. All washed down with a great glass of Chianti.

Absolutely amazing food. The lasagna has a kick to it and is absolutely addictive! Will definitely be back.

Very disappointed with this restaurant. I was looking forward to a birthday dinner here, when we arrived we were sat in a corner table surrounded by flies. Our server had to be flagged down any time we needed something. We asked for bruschetta and was told they didn't have it tonight, at most real Italian restaurants that I have dined in, if I requested something as simple as bruschetta (which is brought to your table a free appetizer) it was brought to my table, or the server would at least try to accommodate. There was a $4 charge for basic bread an olive oil, which wasn't even warm. Don't even think about asking another server for help, because we were ignored. The food was mediocre at best. One of the cooks was vaping in the kitchen. Very disappointed, I expected more. Needless to say we skipped dessert .

One of our favorite restaurants in Mobile. Food is amazing. Service is always top notch too. Cute little house turned into a quaint little Italian getaway. Perfect for romantic intimate anniversary or birthday celebration. ( I don't recommend for large parties because it's such a small space )

This quaint little spot is a great escape from the hustle & bustle that immediately surrounds the venue. Located in a renovated home across from South Alabama, is the best gnocchi you'll find in all of Mobile. My husband accompanied me for a date night evening on a Saturday night. We were seated immediately & directed to a chalkboard menu on the wall. It's a little hard to see from certain parts of the restaurant. It was a busy night but our waiter was prompt with the food, although he lagged a little behind on the wine. The gnocchi was by far my favorite dish as it almost seemed to melt in your mouth. The atmosphere was soft-spoken & felt worlds apart from the college across the street. We will definitely be back!

Unlike anything else around Mobile. The food is fresh and we have yet to have a bad dish as we've worked our way through the menu. Parking isn't great, but at least it is because customers keep the place full!

This mom-and-pop restaurant is in a very small building. To enter the buidling, you must walk past a Koi pond and over a short bridge. It's very quaint and inviting. The restaurant seats about 30 people inside, but there is more seating outside in an enclosed patio that is near the pond. Once we entered, we were greeted immediately and seated at a table by a window with a view of the Koi pond. The menu was written on a Chalkboard and the server directed our attention to it before we were seated. Per the chaulkboard, the staff of the equally-small kitchen prepares about 5 different appetizers and 10 varied entres on any given night. Before we could even sit down, our server placed the olive oil with scallions atop it and warm bread on our table. After surveying the menu, I ordered the Chicken Piccata, which contains capers, onions and diced tomatoes in a lemon butter white wine sauce. My companion ordered the Chicken Marsala, which contains onions and portabello mushrooms in a Marsala reduction. Both entres were delicious. We ate until we were full and then decided to gorge on a dessert. After much debate about the home-made selections, we chose the carrot cake. While my companion and I were disappointed because it was served cold, we still enjoyed the taste of the cake. The cream cheese icing was luscious, but it was way too sweet for me. Overall, our dining experience was quite enjoyable. Our server was efficient and friendly, the atmosphere was cozy and intimate and the food was rich and delectable. I certainly recommend this restaurant.

Love this place! Always loved this place for their food and freshness! Brunch can be tasty with lots of options! Service is great with all of the waiters being kind. Area in and around the building makes you feel like you're at home! Very beautiful spot!

The food and service is excellent!! Traveled from Florida to Mobile to celebrate our anniversary because we absolutely love everything here.

Great service and food! We love Via Emilia and would recommend coming here for a quiet Italian night!

Stopped by tonight, the food was average all thou a bit over priced the place is very small and the table that was next to us literally at my shoulder was extremely Loud! You would think the staff might have ask them to tone it down a little but n. You know me when I had had my fill I politely ask them to have a little respect for the folks around them. After they left the folks from the table on the other side came and thanked me. This should have been handled by the staff. My advice is a strong pass on this place. Over priced average food, and poor service.

Dinner was absolutely fabulous! We sat at our same table where my husband purposed, next to the Koi pond. The wine, roasted artichokes, and entrees (duck and filet) were perfect! Thanks to Chatman and JJ for a divine dining experience. I highly recommend to anyone that you try this little gem in our city....you won't be disappointed! Order the duck if they have it on the board.

Sunday Brunch! I'm sorry to say it's been too long since I visited Via Emilia's. Today's Sunday Brunch reminded me why I need to come back sooner rather than later. The cozy atmosphere and the nice big single-pane window view of the Koi pond started the morning right. Had a Bloody Mary...on point. Some fresh oven bread dipped in herb-infused olive oil made it better. And the good gracious the Eggs Benedict (see Pic) just made my day! I honestly do not think I've ever tasted a more perfectly prepared egg! I only ate one and saved the other for my dad because it was so perfect. Delicately garnished with Hollandaise and a couple asparagus tips made it very well worth the visit! Love it!

The absolute best meal we had on our trip to Mobile. I booked a reservation for 20 people and not one person was disappointed. Everyone loved it and said it was the best Italian they've had outside of Italy. Highly recommend

They have long wait times and turn people away after having them wait for over 20 minutes. There was even a table available and yet we were made to wait outside in the cold. Their attitude was rude and inappropriate.

In my experiences, Via Emilia has gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep customers safe. They added even more outdoor seating; the waiters and waitresses have been wearing masks; and they added curbside pickup. Every time that I have gone, I have felt very safe and satisfied. Go Via Emilia! And thank you!

The service is terrible, food is below average, over priced, very disappointing!, I thought it was an authentic Italian joint but it's not