Via Vai Cucina Italiana

Wow. Just get your reservation from Yelp and go here. Very good wines. Some beers too. Recommend the fresh pastas with your choice of sauces. Loved the sausage mushroom sauce. The Via Vai Salad is large enough for two. See pics. Share the tiramisu for dessert.

Ate here for the first time on Valentine's day. The place was pretty packed, and the restaurant is small so it felt a bit tight coming in for our reservation. I highly recommend choosing the outside seating. They have heaters so it's not that cold. They had cute valentine's day balloons inside. Service was pretty fast considering it was packed. Definitely much better experience compared to a different restaurant we went to. They had a valentine's menu, $60 per person which you can choose 2 appetizers and 2 entrees, and comes with a dessert. Gnocchi was amazing & the shrimp and pasta pink sauce was delicious! Definitely would come back here again!

We ate here two years ago while I was working in San Diego. We’ve recently relocated back to San Diego and decided to try this restaurant again today for a late lunch. It’s as delicious as we remember it! My husband had the lobster ravioli which is rich and to die for! The hints of asparagus added to the sauce elevated the taste of the dish in a wonderful way. My gnocchi was just as tasty as I remember. The staff are always so friendly and very helpful! I highly recommend this place for the food, staff, and ambiance!

I love Via Vai. The food is delicious, large portioned and fast, and the service is excellent, and I’ve never had to wait long for a table. My favorite dish is the pasta carbonara and the burrata. Honestly I’m always super full so I have not gotten dessert but I’ve heard it’s amazing.

We had an amazing dining experience at this restaurant! We ordered pasta for the kids, and they absolutely loved it – they were licking their fingers by the end. I had the pasta with tomato sauce, capers, and olives, and my husband had the pesto pasta. Both dishes were outstanding; it's been a long time since I've tasted pasta this good. We also treated ourselves to cannoli, which was really delicious! Though the price is a bit on the expensive side, the service was incredible, and the menu is very friendly for both kids and vegetarians. We’ll definitely be coming back again soon!

This is a fun little Italian restaurant in the heart of Carlsbad village. The food is very, very good and the pasta seems to be homemade and always cooked al dente the way it should be. The sauce also appears to be homemade. They have a pretty good wine selection, but it is only wine at the bar from what I could see. Patio seating with the heaters is the trick. Sitting inside can be much cooler than sitting outside on the patio. We have set at the tables a couple of times and at the bar, and we always seem to get better service at the bar

Delicious pastas and wine pairings recommended by Diego. Looking forward to a large family birthday celebration later in the month, no one will be disappointed. They also offer gluten free dishes and will with you on making sure everything is satisfactory. A separate kids' menu should satisfy the little ones as well.

Loved our time at Via Vai! Delicious Italian food, and a great beach environment to sit back and sip wine. We started with the carpaccio di carne, and for entrees had the salmone zafferano and tagliatelle sea scallops & porcini. Really impressive food. The service was equally superb, very attentive and accommodating. We sat on the dog friendly patio. Highly recommend!

I have eaten here now 5 times since discovering in April. Great location in Carlsbad Village with dining inside and out. I love great Italian food and this is REAL ITALIAN. All the food is outstanding and the best selection of pastas and sauces to choose from. I tried the Lasagna and it was by far the best I have every had at a restaurant! Portions are generous. Try one of their fresh fish dishes, octopus or shrimp. And don't forget dessert. They are all Devine!! And last, the staff is terrific, especially Carlotta and Anna Peggy M

This was our First time here since it changed owners.... we made a reservation through Yelp... they seated us right away... we were seated on the patio.... Food was excellent.. I ordered the eggplant parmesan.... My sister-in-law ordered the salmon and shrimp plate....Everything was delicious..... Not a lot of parking in front... but everything is within walking distance in carlsbad...

TL;DR I appreciate that they have mostly organic proteins, don't use seed oils and have a bunch of homemade dishes, but the two we tried (cheese ravioli and filet mignon) weren't great. Enjoyed the cheesecake though! Stopped by here recently for the first time. I had the cheese ravioli, which was decent. I thought the sauce had a good flavor, but the pasta itself didn't seem to have been cooked in salted water. It tasted a bit bland to me and no amount of sauce (it was served generously) could make up for a lack of salt when boiling the pasta. I also tried a bite of the filet mignon. That wasn't good. It had a mushroom sauce that wasn't my favorite. Tasted slightly charred and the beef itself was also lacking a bit in salt. It was a bit chewy and fatty. Our waitress was very kind and attentive. She brought us a complimentary desert for a mistake the kitchen made with our order and that ended up being our favorite item. It was a cheesecake with a homemade strawberry sauce. I usually like plain cheesecakes as I find the sauces overpowering, but this sauce wasn't overly sweet and provided a nice balanced bite to the cheesecake. Ambiance is nice, but there were a few flies around. Having to swat them away while dining wasn't ideal. I might come back to try the pizza sometime, but it probably won't be my go to spot for Italian food.

I can't believe it's been almost two years since I've been here. Well, it is Cako's first time. Since we were driving down from San Clemente, I thought it would be great to stop here for lunch. I've never really walked around the Carlsbad Village so this would be a great time to explore. When we walked up, one of the owners was getting the front patio ready. Me: Hey! Marco! He: Hi! Me: We met at Piacere years ago. I didn't know you were now up here! It was great catching up with him and hearing about some of the others I use to see at Piacere. As I go to the same restaurants often, I've made a new year's resolution to eat my way through the menus. We ordered the bruschetta which is one of the most unique ones we've ever had. So good! We also tried the Pizza Calabria with zucchini and crispy spicy salami....delicious! I had been craving pasta on this trip and ordered the bolognese with tagliatelle. Perfect al dente noodles and tasty meat sauce. Daveed opted for the Via Vai salad with pomegrante seeds, red onions, and feta....a very unique and delicious salad. We were surprised by a complimentary nutella cheesecake, which we needed to go with our cappuccinos. Belen was our server and I believe she also served us the first time since we came for a late lunch then. She took great care of us! Cako also loved being here because she laid down and watched everyone. Via Vai will always be on my radar, so whenever I'm driving through Carlsbad, it's good to know I have some place to come to and feel right at home! Cako Approves!

The meal was great. The service could use some improvement. Maybe she just had an off night. We were never offered bread and she was slow moving. However, it helped us enjoy each other's company and ambiance. My ravioli was amazing!!! My husband loved his gnocchi as well. I would definitely come back but hope they offer some bread! Haha

Great corner spot for a girls day/ dinner or a romantic date night in Carlsbad Village. Made reservations for a bday celebration with my family and this spot was a great pick. Outdoor patio with heaters and inside seating with windows all around, great for feeling the breeze and people watching. Our waitresses were both very nice and kept our drinks full and were attentive throughout. They provided specials and recommendations to us, and were very customer focused in the dining area to everyone. It was only the two of them and they were awesome! Food was really good looking forward to returning for a date night. Ordered: Carpaccio di Carne, Sangria's, DYD pastas (Norcina w/ Porcini & Sausage), Petto Di Pollo Limone E Capperi. All were really flavorful and fresh pasta was so good! 5/5 experience that made our groups day!

Here's the deal... it gets five stars, but you also have to have a fair expectation of what it is... it's your small neighborhood authentic Italian restaurant- the venue is not large, either is the menu- but it's got a cute Italian modern feel and as long as you stay away from the dry pasta- the rest is good if not incredible, They actually keep their employees which should tell you a lot about the way it's managed , the beer and wine selection again a small but fully represents both of the area and Italy. And in short, the truth is... location, location, location- so you have better than our Italian food in the heart of Carlsbad and the combo is close to perfect.

Went here for a late lunch with a friend because I've never tried it. I was really excited because I could hear the staff speaking Italian, which is a rarity around here, and usually a good sign of quality food. I ordered the pasta Amatriciana, but I was not impressed. The sauce was good, but the pasta was extremely al dente, not my mom's al dente, almost crunchy al dente. It's very overpriced as well. The outdoor seating is nice and on the shady side away from the afternoon sun. No view, but great people watching.

Food and service were pretty good. I got the bolognese; I liked that it didn't feel super heavy especially for a pasta. Ambiance wasn't loud, and the restaurant felt clean and comfortable to be at.

Food is great at an affordable price . Service is friendly and excellent and the tea is very well decorated and inviting.

The food was delicious my husband had Polpette Al sugo with sausage. The sauce was tasty. I had the Puttanesca. We were both able to select the type of pasta. The service was impeccable, always there before we asked. We shared the best cheesecake for dessert. It wasn't the typical sugar sweet, just delicious. Highly recommend !!!

We stumbled upon this place while walking to another restaurant. This place has a casual vibe while serving delicious food. My daughter loved the bread basket that they brought with infused olive oil. The staff was efficient and somewhat friendly. The food was good and they serve big portions. My favorite was the cheese ravioli.

Both times we have eaten there we have had the fresh fish of the day. Delicious both times. Nice ambience and good service. The place is a winner. Best Italian in Carlsbad Village., We skipped desert and walked down the street to Handel's for ice cream.

Excellent food, delicious pastas, great service. Entire party was pretty happy with the food and the vibe of this restaurant.

Came here after visiting the flower fields and was pleasantly surprised with how delicious the food was. The bread was baked to perfection and the Aperol Spritz was nicely mixed as well. I ended up ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara and it was very flavorful. It might've been the best carbonara I've ever had. The waiter was extremely nice and was very attentive. The interior was nicely decorated and it felt like a high end restaurant. Great place!

Came here because it was highly recommended. Made reservations in the afternoon for the evening. Found free street parking a block away. Cozy and elegant ambiance inside. Outdoor patio available. Great drink selection. Tried their lamb pappardelle (noodles cooked well, the lamb was tender and flavorful), grouper fillet with tagliatelle (it was on their special menu- very mild and pretty good), cioppino (delicious, a bit on the saltier side but the soup was comforting and the seafood selection was good- I recommend), meatballs pasta (I did not find this dish to be edible, the meat and sauce was sour like it sat in the fridge a bit too long- maybe it was to taste sour that way, but I was afraid to eat it). Their house bread with olive oil and what tasted like capers was delicious. Service is ok, not super friendly. Glad we tried, not super impressed.

Great service, ambiance and delicious homemade pasta - what more can you ask for? We shared the bruschetta and lobster ravioli (I forgot to take a picture) for a late Saturday night dinner on the patio while we people watched. The warm bread & dip were delicious. The bruschetta were extremely large pieces with a huge slice of cheese on top under drizzle - I was not expecting that nor do I prefer it, but the flavor, temperature and texture were on point. The lobster ravioli was absolutely divine. One can't appreciate homemade pasta until you've enjoyed it, and you'll never want it any other way. Service was fast and attentive. Ambiance and comfort were great. Price was extremely reasonable. We'd gladly enjoy another meal here again if back in the area. Highly recommended!

I made a rezie on the front outside patio as I had my small dog with me. As soon as I arrived, Melissa greeted us with a beautiful smile and very sweet disposition. We were then greeted by Aron (sp?), our server, super nice guy and very helpful. I ordered the short rib polenta appetizer and house salad. Both were quite yummy! I have had this appetizer before and really do like it. They have removed a previous plastic type 'curtain' from the outside patio which really opens it up nicely. The only reason I provided four stars vs. five is that I believe they could benefit from power washing the patio area in front.

Downtown Carlsbad, among many other eateries. Cozy, patio dining. Good service, amicable and personable. We took 2 seafood dishes: First one, the tagliatelle with scallops and porcini. The cook on the scallop was great. The porcini mushrooms were cook to perfection, retaining moisture and tenderness. The tagliatelle were a tad toothsome for our taste. The dish was good, could have used a tad more salt for my taste (salted pasta water anyone?) Second one was the pasta dish special. Fresh tube pasta with a seafood ragu, clams and mussels. Very original, and the seafish was cooked to perfection there again. Often overcooked, it came to the plate right when it opened up in the pan. Perfecto. Pasta had a better mouth feel than the other dish. Overall good experience, we were happy with our dinner.

Well the service was still great! We weren't nearly as happy with our meal this time I got the risotto special. It lacked flavor. I couldn't taste the Brie and could hardly find the artichokes. The speck was there alright in big pieces so you had to literally put it on your fork, hold onto it and it apart with your teeth??? The risotto was beyond oily...it was swimming in oil never had risotto like this My husband had the salmon with asparagus risotto his wasn't filled with oil like mine but we both agreed neither were the consistency of risotto. Such a disappointment after sitting in traffic for almost 3 hours we were really looking forward to our meal.

Via Vai...Authentic, Delicious and Continues to Deliver. Our group of four enjoyed a delicious meal once again at our favorite Carlsbad Restaurant! The owner, from the Roma region of Italy, offers my go to dish: Bolognese. This amazing pasta dish reminds me of similar great dishes I had in Rome. Two at our table enjoyed the Pesto Gnocchi-both agreed it was delicious. The artichoke appetizer, grilled with stem and beautifully seasoned, was a hit as well. We can't wait to return when we visit Carlsbad again!

We were in Carlsbad over the weekend for a mini getaway and searching for a good place for an early Saturday dinner. Via Vai was among a few that came up as an option. We made reservations and set out, with no expectations, not knowing the culinary adventure we were about to embark on. Upon our arrival we were warmly greeted by the hostess and asked what seating we preferred. She also mentioned they had just opened a casual wine bar adjacent to their main dining. We chose the wine bar as it was empty and appeared to be very intimate. The wine bar was small with a few tables and a small bar, and very tastefully decorated in warm wood tones and comfy pillows. Once seated we were greeted by our waiter. A very gregarious gentlemen who obviously loves his job and is passionate about the food he serves. This is where our adventure begins. We were having a hard time making decisions as we had three menus in front of us. The main menu, which was filled with delicious sounding Italian mainstays such as Chicken Parm, pasta and various sauce options, gnocchi, etc. Then there was the specials menu with a few tasty sounding options. Lastly there was the wine bar menu with about 10 new creations from the chef. All sounding more interesting than the next. During our conversation with the server he informed us that all the new dishes had been prepared and were sitting on the bar as they were taking pictures for Instagram and the staff was getting ready to taste them. We went to the bar and Marco, the owner, walked us through a description of the dishes, their special ingredients, and preparation. All were beautiful and I walked away with my mouth watering. We started with an appetizer from the main menu, the Calamari in Umido. This was served in a small crock, and consisted of tender calamari rings cooked in a light, spicy, tomato broth with black olives and capers. It was light, tender, briney and delicious. We couldn't help but dip our fresh bread in the sauce. To be honest if we were at home I probably would have drank it right out of the bowl. Next we shared a a few dishes from the wine bar menu. I don't remember the names and the menu is so new it's not posted online yet. I'll do my best to describe them. The first was sweet Italian sausage served on a bed of creamy polenta with a base of semi pureed rappini. The contrast in the sweetness of the sausage, saltines of the polenta, and bitterness of the rappini was a perfect balance of flavors and set the tone for the rest of the meal. The polenta was light and airy, the sausage, sliced into bite sized pieces, was sweet and delicate. Will order again. Next we had three Roman style gnocchi. These were essentially gnocchi cakes made with semolina flour, served with a spicy oil topping on a bed of pecorino beshamel sauce. It was a combination of spicy and savory that left you satisfied but wanting to lick the plate. Once again if I were home....... We followed this up with Tipo and Speck. A beautiful presentation of dry cured Italian prosciutto and Italian brie. Salty, creamy and sweet all rolled into one dish. Paired well with some fresh bread and olive oil. Lastly, we topped the evening off with an affogato for dessert and a great conversation with Marco. He explained how they source their ingredients, looking for local vendors with unique offerings. He mentioned they have a few other restaurants and when prompted let us know that one is Pierce Mio, which we've eaten at and I've written about before. Long story short, if you're looking for delicious authentic Italian, prepared and served by people passionate about their craft, Via Vai is another great option. We will be back to try the remainder of their menus!

Excellent Italian food! Welcoming patio with friendly hostess Belen! Belen gave us great recommendations! We loved the Parma pizza! Amazing linguine with porcini! Another one of us ordered the same porcini pasta with sausage! So delicious! Petto di Pollo Limone e Capperi chicken dish was also so moist and flavorful with fresh vegetables and roasted potatoes! We highly recommend Via Vai Cucina Italiana!

Food was very reasonably priced for how authentic it was. The menu had everything I liked and after three different meals I haven't eaten one thing I didn't love. Also ... patrons speaking Italian in an Italian restaurant doesn't hurt. I stopped eating Italian food in the US as I couldn't be satisfied with Americanized, bastardized examples of the cuisine. Even some Michelin star restaurants. I assumed it was the water or the flour... I could eat here every night of the week and be able to afford it.

We've visited other Italian restaurants in the area and we will probably only being going back to Via Vai. The windows are large so even if you eat inside, you feel connected to the outside. The food is flavorful, hearty, and there is so much to try. The staff - the staff are the main reason we'll return! We had our 6 year old with us, after a long day he fell asleep in the booth and my husband and I enjoyed a relaxing long dinner. We never felt rushed, staff checked in on us with perfect timing, and they are there to truly provide a wonderful dining experience. And the pana cotta was the perfect sweet ending to the day. Thank you to the team for providing the most perfect dinner we needed and for being so welcoming when seeing a tired couple with a child in tow. I wish you all the success and we look forward to returning!

Great food and service . We had polenta with Gorgonzola and mushrooms. Absolutely mouthwatering. The pasta choice was Carbonara pasta which was also excellent. A great place to try when you in the Carlsbad area

Love this place! Our first time here and we had amazing service and the dinner was delicious! Highly recommend! We'll be back...Cheers!

I love Italian-American food. it's a flavor profile I grew up with. my dad's parents lived in Flatbush and going out to eat at mom-and-pop places in Brooklyn was a real treat. I've been back to NYC as recently as a couple of years ago when #3 son (Keegan) graduated from Columbia and am still a fan. can't say I love Italian food nearly as much. please keep that prejudice in mind as you read this review: the #5 son (Wyatt) started us off with the PROSCIUTTO de PARMA and BURRATA with EVOO and sun-dried tomatoes. the very generous prosciutto portion was thickly sliced. the flavor was there but the meat was chewy. we didn't enjoy even one of the three entrees. the LASAGNA alla BOLOGNESE (wide pasta sheets layered with meat sauce parmigiano and beschamel au gratin) was no bueno. the meat flavor that came through was charred ground beef. the ORATA al PORCINI e ASPARAGI (pan-seared grouper with porcini mushroom and asparagus sauce on in-house tagliatelle) was one of the evening's specials and a complete and unmitigated disaster. this dish had NO redeeming social value. the fish had lots of bones and the tagliatelle was so al dente, the center was a noticeably different color than the outside, and the asparagus overwhelmed the delicately flavored fish. the EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA (eggplant layers with mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce) was bitter. the taste was like eggplant gets when it's not salted, rested, and rinsed before cooking. I didn't have any of the desert, a BLUEBERRY PANNA COTTA, but it got good reviews from the boy. either it was tasty or after the grouper, he was too starved to be particular. the restaurant is lovely. service was attentive. sitting outside in the semi enclosed front patio was delightful. the dishes were stunning -- dinner was very photogenic. it's often said you eat first with your eyes, but eventually you gotta stick a bite in your mouth and chew. I can't fix the flavors but at least I can warn you if you order the grouper, watch out for the bones.

Let's start from the beginning. The bread they served us was either store-bought, or half stale. In either case, I've come to expect good bread at an Italian restaurant. I decide to go simple and order spaghetti Bolognese. The waiter tried to upsell me on ordering meatballs, but I wasn't interested. However, they prepared my food with the meatballs, and when I reluctantly agreed to accept it with them, they made a big deal about it, ignoring my willingness to eat it as prepared. They insisted on remaking it, causing us to sit there for another five or six minutes. The other dish ordered was so unmemorable, that we're not sure what it was. They also swapped waiters on us after the spaghetti misfire, I guess, as a result of that? We don't know as nothing was ever explained. I realize this is not in Little Italy in San Diego, and I can tell you it would not survive there for more than one season. I expect this explains why it was not full on a Saturday night.

Great Italian restaurant! Very authentic and excellent service. The calamari and the fresh pasta are our favorite dishes. It's a small place so it's better to make a reservation.

I stumbled across this place by accident after our original plan feel through, but I'm so glad that it did! This spot has a cute dog friendly patio and the staff was so attentive to our table and my pup. The bread w the pesto is delicious. I got the tagliatelle pasta with muchrooms and scallops and that was one of the best pasta dishes I've had- the pasta had that perfect homemade chewiness, the mushrooms were nice and tender, and the scallops were delicious. I'm not in Carlsbad too often but will definitely make the journey for this restaurant

The bad first......it's a super tight restaurant. They sat us outside and heater was marginally ok. I'm summer it'd been a great seat. Winter...it was cold. Now the GREAT PART....our server was awesome. Warm bread with pesto ( didnt like the pesto olive oil and balsamic vinegar would have been awesome) was delivered to the table along with a complimentary non alcohol Orange Spritzer for my wife....which was awesome ! My wife and I shared the shared the Calamari, shrimp, Zucchini fried sampler with a tomato dipping sauce....sauce was just ok. Main Course: I had the Gnochi and wife had the Penne Pasta...we both had the Norcina with Porcini Sauce....simply Devine!!! For desert a Complimentary Italian Vanilla Flawn.....which was a surprise and delicious. I also had a double espresso and wife had an Americano and the coffee was awesome ! $83 before tip. Nice dinner. Great Sevice. Nice date night place. See pictures

Wonderful food and great service! Presentation was beautiful and delicious too! When in the Carlsbad area it will be my lunch spot of choice

We had a fabulous dinner at ViaVai. Its like a nice out in your favorite Italian town the food is delicious regardless what you have. I had a special, seafood/ pasta in wine sauce . Our burratta appetizer was the best i have tasted. They have a great wine list and dessert. A very enjoyable dinner.

We sat down right away as they had a table for 4 available on a Sunday holiday night for Labor Day. The waiter was on top of it and they always made sure I had water in out glasses. It's not too big of a place with a few tables on the inside and a few outside. It's on the corner and they have street parking and a parking lot across the street. We started with the calamari and it came out nice and hot. My wife and daughter shared a ceasar side salad and I helped finish. I had the ribeye special and the wife had gnocchi. My daughters had design your own pasta and had the penne pesto and the other had plane spaghetti. Everything was good. The white chocolate pistachio sounded different in my head and was ok. Would probably pass on this next time. No issues and food was made to order.

We really liked this. I liked the small size and cozy vibe of the restaurant. I tried their Halibut special they had and it was delicious. Service was exceptional and of course their option on cabs was splendid.

We loved this restaurant! Amazing pasta and appetizers. The service and ambience are excellent. Wonderful prosecco, and desserts. Chef and crew from Italy. Real Italian food. Generous portions, high quality ingredients. Chef is very talented and creative. We will be back! Ciao!

Nice little place in the village. Italian family owned. We tried eggplant parmigiana (Neapolitan style), gnocchi alla sorrentina, calamari and two types of desserts. Tiramisu was great. The owners are very friendly. A place to try.

A Tale of Two Courses This place had me at the wine--fantastic. The appetizers? Chef's kiss. Then came the entrees, and I felt like I had entered an all-you-can-eat pasta challenge I never signed up for. My "portion" of lobster ravioli was twenty giant pillows of regret. I powered through, only to find myself locked in a battle with my digestive system later that night. If you're looking for a great start to your meal (and possibly an endurance test after), this is the spot. Just maybe pace yourself...

I came in tonight for date night with my boyfriend and everything was a 10/10! We came for an early dinner around 4:30pm and were able to be accommodated without reservations. The restaurant had several other groups, but was not full. We opted for the chicken Parmesan and carbonara and both were delicious. The food also came out very quickly! The service was impeccable, as well! It felt like all of the staff were helping each other to make sure each table was properly taken care of. I'm looking forward to coming back again for another date night!

Food was great! We ordered gnocchi, ciopinno, and the special was beef rib in creamy sauce with pasta. Very tasty. The service was amazing. Very attentive and always there when needed. The ambiance is bright and decorative. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

This place came highly recommended by a friend and it was as good as she told me. Decent portions (but not too much), great flavor, just overall awesome. Next time we're in town, we'll come again.

I've been meaning to try this place since they opened. I finally stopped in for lunch. I ordered the Carbonara which was very dry and would have been great if it had more sauce. My daughter ordered a dish that came in a skillet that I don't recall the name of. She did enjoy her dish. The environment is pleasant with windows over looking the corner of State and Grand. It is very casual and family friendly. The overall experience was just ok.

Great Italian food and great place to eat, especially on a weekday date night when it's not too crowded or busy. Glad we came here. Very good food and service. Not the best I've ever had but definitely quality food and attentive service. For starters we got the Artichoke app. Different but delicious. What I liked about this is that it's easy to eat. Not like those huge artichokes the size of pineapples that you have to take apart like a Lego set and eat. I then got their Caesar salad. It was whatevs. Basic and nothing to write home about. I got the Linguine Pesto with Chicken. Very tasty and hearty dish. If you like pesto and sun dried tomatoes I highly recommend this dish. My date got the White wine Chicken with Carrots and Capers I believe it was. She loved it. Said it was better than my dish haha. Ended with Tiramisu and it was also on point. Great service. Didn't catch our servers name since she didn't introduce herself. Their wine selection is very basic. But it's enough for what you need here Love their outdoor patio area with heaters.

Ordered on DoorDash so can't speak for the ambiance or service. I will say the food was prepared very fast for to go though because my dasher was on his way quickly after I ordered! I got spaghetti and meatballs and a caprese salad. Spaghetti was good but not great, the sauce was average. The meatballs were pretty good. I did really enjoy the caprese salad, very fresh. I love heirloom tomatoes!

Highly recommend Via Vai to anyone looking for Italian in Carlsbad. We've been there a number of times, and everything (various pastas, chicken parm, Marsala, etc) is great, but we most often get the fresh pasta with Arrabiata, adding sausage. It's the best quality pasta we've found in San Diego. The wine list is well-curated with good options, and the service is always great (thank you to Diego, in particular).

I had a wonderful experience here and everything gets a five star in my book. Lorenzo and Diego were awesome servers. I loved the Pinot noir from Italy and the zucchini soup was scrumptious. I opted for the pasta putanesca and it was perfect - al dente! The restaurant was super cozy and pretty, especially because of the Christmas lights. For dessert, the panacota was just right! Can't wait to come back. Kudos to all.

The service was amazing. The place is so charming. I felt like I was in Italy. The food was delicious too.

The margarita pizza had a crunchy and chewy crust and the middle was very cheesy. The basil added more flavor to the pizza. We also ordered the Via Vai ensalata was fresh and flavorful with the vinaigrette dressing. We will definitely be back again!