VIA VAI

The highlights of the night were definitely the calamari and the desserts—they stood out. However, the main dishes, pizza and pasta, were disappointing. I would not recommend the pizza. By New York standards, it doesn’t compare to many others we’ve tried. While the buffalo mozzarella was nice, the pizza dough itself was underwhelming. For two people, including a bottle of wine, the total came to $150. Considering the price-to-quality ratio, I think 3 stars is a fair rating. It’s worth revisiting to try other items on the menu. For the Ditmars area, it’s still a decent choice overall.

We used to come to this place All the time before we had kids, so it’s been a while since we haven’t gone back, but we finally made it. We wanted to revisit some items from the menu, but they were a little bit change for instant arugula salad now has kale and Hazelnuts, which was also delicious, but we also miss de Simplicity of The arugula, Cheese, and lemon vinaigrette. I ordered the ravioli, and it was part of the specials was a little bit dry, but I eat it. Anyway. It was delicious. I found a Lambrusco Cocerto dry and amazing for a semi-winter night . The plain pizza was a bit burned but thin and authentic as we remembered. I absolutely loved the tiramisu, so authentic. I loved this place. I will definitely come back.

An authentic Italian experience with a menu curated by a true Italian from Rome. This was some of the best pasta and pizza I’ve had, the pasta was so fresh, flavorful and perfectly al dente, highly recommend the squid ink and trying one of their specials, the second pasta we got was a tagliatelle with basil, tomatoes and pistachios. I loved the truffle arugula pizza, the dough was light and crispy and the porcini mushrooms and truffle compote were to die for! The place is quiet on weeknights and very busy on weekends. Make a reservation and take your date!

Absolutely great. The wood fired pizza was crispy on the bottom and had the perfect amount of substance to the dough. I often find this style of pizza can become too floppy when the dough is too thin, but this had the perfect balance of being delicate and thin, but still having a body that holds the structure. The daily special was shrimp ravioli, which was *divine*. Perfectly cooked, thin delicate wrappers, with a light yet flavorful butter thyme mixture. The flavors are so delightful, and you can tell the pasta is really high quality. The bolognese was also amazing - the meat sauce was very rich and the pasta is made fresh. Service was extremely kinda and welcoming. Not too busy for a weekend, and the server was extremely helpful in understanding the menu. A limited amount of outdoor seating and a large window perfect for summer evenings. There’s a nice wine selection that I hope to try when I visit again.

We had a 7pm reservation on a Saturday evening. It wasn't that packed but the atmosphere was decent. The service however was lacking. Once we were seated, our order was taken for over 30 minutes. We were given some bread maybe 40 mins past and our food didn't come for another hour. I think that's absolutely ridiculous. The food was okay. Had the Bolognese and my husband had the carbonara which he said was okay. My husband said the tiramisu was good. I had the gelato which was okay. I think when you wait extra long for food, with a reservation, it should be to die for but it was just Okay. Perhaps better to visit off peak hours

The food was delicious. All our pasta dishes were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I also love the meatballs (I ate everything before the picture). The service was a little slow, but we didn’t mind it; we had a great time.

I had a great experience at Via Vai! The ambiance is cozy and inviting, and the service was attentive throughout my meal. The salmon tartare was a highlight of the meal, with fresh and delicious flavors that left me wanting more. The pappardelle with lamb and asparagus was also quite tasty, with a nice balance of flavors and textures. While I found the pizza to be average (it wasn't quite neapolitan style, which is my personal preference, but roman style), I still enjoyed it. The biggest disappointment for me was the pistachio gelato - I found it too sweet and couldn't taste as much pistachio flavor as I had hoped. The restaurant has a good selection of wines to pair with your meal. Overall, I would definitely recommend giving Via Vai a try and enjoying their flavorful dishes!

my family and I visited this place last Sunday. We were curious to eat at place which is in Michelin list. The restaurant offers Italian food, mainly pizzas. We ordered various pizzas , lasagna, meat balls in tomato sauce and were waiting relatively long time for our food although there were no other quests. The taste of food is below average. The food comes in ceramic plates and dishes and you get steel cutleries. The amenities are clean and decorated with Venice masks. The prices are a bit higher than at other similar places.

This is one of those places that you don't really see while walking around because the entrance is kind of anonymous even if it has a whole glass wall that shows the inside of the restaurant. Came here with a group of friends last week, it was a pleasant experience overall. We ordered each one pasta dish so we got to try many different things. I wasn't a fan of my own choice, the lamb pasta, as it had no sauce and tasted mainly like green onion. Also there was one single piece of asparagus in it and it felt very random. The best dish was the squash gnocchi with amaretto crumble. Incredible! Really recommend. The tiramisu was mainly creamy but the taste was great. The service was somewhat fast but there was one single person taking care of the whole place. While it was a Wednesday evening and therefore there weren't many tables to serve, that resulted in a bit of confusion here and there and some moments of slow serving. Overall I do recommend this place and I will be coming back.

Best Italian restaurant in Astoria! Quality wine, bread, oil, apps, and main- feel like I'm in Italy! The waitress Stella is always warm, attentive, knowledgeable, and professional. Awesome ambiance and vibes. They recently put up adorable holiday decorations.

Just came here with a friend for a casual dinner. Loved the vibe! The entire place was decorated in Christmas decor and felt so warm and cozy. It was a small place but not to croweded or noisy at all. The waiter was very friendly and introduced us to different kinds of wine, which we appreciated. The food was everything that I expected after hearing great things about this place from friends. We got the pappardelli pasta with lamb sauce and mushroom truffle pizza, both were amazing! I really want to try the fetacchini pasta next time! Would for sure recommend this place. Came here again recently and would say the same! Not crowded and the servers were very nice. Tried the cacio e pepe, fetacchini, prosciutto, and salmon tartare and all of them tasted hearty and delicious. Wines are nice too. This is really a gem for your authentic Italian food!

An authentic Italian experience with a menu curated by a true Italian from Rome. This was some of the best pasta and pizza I've had, the pasta was so fresh, flavorful and perfectly al dente, highly recommend the squid ink and trying one of their specials, the second pasta we got was a tagliatelle with basil, tomatoes and pistachios. I loved the truffle arugula pizza, the dough was light and crispy and the porcini mushrooms and truffle compote were to die for! The place is quiet on weeknights and very busy on weekends. Make a reservation and take your date!

Such a cute, romantic & intimate restaurant. Made reservations on Christmas Eve at 8P. The staff was so friendly and attentive...there were only 2 on the floor but again they were so sweet. Started off with red wine (Merlot) and appetizer (Bufalina) which was so fresh....the bread with the garlic olive oil was so yummy. Moving onto our meals, my honey had the Pappardelle Agnello and I had the Fettuccine Bolognese, both were so good and the perfect portion. The pastas were cooked perfectly al dente! All of the perfectly portioned meals allowed us to have room for dessert, the tiramisu, which was so delightful, light and full of flavor. Can't wait to come back.

Via Via New York is a charming, intimate Italian restaurant that's perfect for date nights. The quality of the pasta is outstanding, showcasing the beauty of simple ingredients and straightforward cooking. Each dish feels authentic and carefully prepared. The tiramisu is a must-have, offering a delightful end to a fantastic meal. If you're looking for a cozy spot with great food and a warm atmosphere, Via Via New York is the place to go.

We haven't been here in a long time so we recently popped in on a cold Friday evening. There was only one other table of people so it was quiet. The ambience was amazing - dimly lit and plenty of candlelight. By the time we left, the restaurant was filling up! For the food, we wanted to try a little bit of everything. We initially wanted to just order an appetizer and assess our tastebuds but were told the chef prefers the food order all at once. That is one of my biggest gripes because I'm not always the most decisive upon sitting down and like to get my eating started to see what direction I want to go in. So, we decided to order three items on the fly: the polpette, margarita pizza with prosciutto and the special ravioli of the day, shrimp. We each also ordered a glass of wine which were definitely small pours (in our experience at other Italian restaurants). The polpette was fantastic - fluffy meatballs in a great tasting sauce. The pizza was a miss, though. The crust was underdone and I felt like, for the price, the quality did not match at all. I was underwhelmed. The shrimp ravioli, which was $32, was definitely made fresh, but didn't blow me away. It also appeared to have orange rinds of some kind on top, which was incredibly bitter and as someone who has a citrus sensitivity, I had to check the remaining ravioli before eating them so as to not have a mild allergic reaction at dinner. I wish that had been mentioned when the specials were being told to us! We ended with the tiramisu which was super enjoyable! It wasn't overly filling and the flavors were on point. Overall, it was a good time but probably would only come here once in a while based on the quality and price - there's just too many other Italian restaurants in the area!

via vai...where to begin. i've been dining here since early 2018..seven years of via vai!!! The ambiance is extremely romantic, it's dimly lit, cozy, hard wood tables and gorgeous plates, it's decorated with italian masks from carnevale, is usually decorated for each holiday and has string lights throughout. you can watch the pizza chef make the pizza as the oven is near the dining area. The service, for me, has always been top notch. The staff is kind and attentive. However there is typically only 1, or 2 servers on the floor...please be patient and understanding, especially on nights that it's super busy. The owner and head chef, Antonio, has become like a friend to me with how many times i've frequented his restaurant. I came here on one of my first couple of dates with my long term boyfriend and we continue to choose this wonderful restaurant as our date night spot every time we're craving italian. There is a wide variety of wine, but no hard liquor. If you're not super educated on the wine there's always someone available to assist in the decision and guide you based on your preferences. As for the food...it is just outstanding. Antonio (again, chef and owner) comes in early each morning and makes the pasta fresh...house made pasta, you can't beat it. Everything is made with care and love and is just meticulously prepared. There are too many items that I love that I can't name them all, i've tasted the whole menu. You really can't go wrong. Pasta is always cooked perfectly, sauces have depth and rich flavors, the tomato sauce is otherworldly...i've never been disappointed here. But if you're dining here for the first time and happen upon this review, make sure you order the polpette, and the polpo as appetizers! Any of the pizza's will do. And as for pasta's you'll have to slowly try them all but id choose the pappardelle con agnello or the mezzi paccheri alla gricia, and don't forget to ask about the risotto of the day. Once it was made with scallops and it was just to die for. the desserts are also all made in house (everything is, minus the ingredients that are imported!) the tiramisu and the panna cotta are phenomenal!!! he once had this fresh fruit dessert with some sort of champagne jello that was out of this world, and one of my favorite pasta dishes was his handmade gnocchi with broccoli rabe and sausage, hope he brings those back this year!!! Antonio is a wonderful person and an equally as excellent chef and deserves nothing but praise for his dedication to his craft. Whenever i'm in the mood for italian, this is my go to place. Pro tip: pasta is never as good as it is when it's fresh and it's meant to be eaten right away. If you're ordering to go, keep that in mind. It's absolutely worth it to sit, relax and enjoy.

Came for dinner and it was a nice quaint place. We ordered the Margarita Pizza, Tagliatelle Al Branzino, and Tagliolini Al Nero Con Gamberi. The Margarita Pizza was a good appetizer. The tomato sauce was not too acidic and flavorful. The Tagliatelle Al Branzino consisted of housemade pasta, branzino, black olives, capers, cherry tomatoes, and basil. Tasted very light yet flavorful from the tomato and capers. The Tagliolini Al Nero con Gamberi consisted of house made black-ink pasta, shrimp, asparagus, mint, and pecorino romano. Tasted fresh, sea-salty, light. Shrimp was cooked perfectly. Overall: We would definitely come back here. Both dishes tasted equally delicious but in different ways.

Outstanding experience. Angel the server was knowledgeable, professional, and accommodating. The cuisine was scrumptious and the decor and vibe was relaxing and inviting. I will definitely be back.

What a cute little Italian spot right off 23rd Avenue! Now we know why they earned their Michelin star. We had heard so many good things about this spot and were finally able to try it ourselves. We came here on Thirsty Thursday for a nice glass of wine and pasta! Although we had a reservation for 630, we decided to sit at the bar since it looked so cozy and welcoming. We started off with a glass of wine, calamari and a salad. Then we shared a margherita pizza and a fettuccine bolognese. Everything was delicious! The wine was chilled to perfection and food was fresh and melted in our mouths. We definitely came at a good time because as our drinks were being served, large parties were coming in. We will be back for the holidays to enjoy their other delicious pizza and pasta dishes. See you soon Via Vai!

Just went to Via Vai yesterday and quality definitely went down. It used to be good about a year ago. This time we waited to get our food for about 1 hour when the waitress said it would take about 15-20 minutes to make our pasta. So all we had for 3 people was 1 bowl of appetizer meatballs for 1 hour. Then when the food finally came out, my dish was so salty, I could not even eat it. The spinach was over salted and the branzino fish special was fried and also salty. I thought it would have been sauteed with some lemon juice. Instead it was only flavored with too much salt. Disgusting and ruined the subtle flavor of the fish. Another couple at a table near us also waited just as long to get their food. The place was not even full and not that busy, but a lot of us waited so long for our food. Don't think we are coming back anymore.

I've eaten here a good many times, over the years, and my dining experiences here have always been spectacular. However, it was only recently that I realized...this restaurant has received a Michelin star! (Aha! So THAT explains why the food is so amazing here!) On top of that, the ambiance is very warm and relaxed, and the service (particularly more recently, from a woman who seems to always work the tables there) is so warm and personable...as if you were in a small village in Italy. I can't recommend this place highly enough!

*4.5/5 Per my goal of making it thru the Queens Michelin Bib Gourmands, Via Vai was first on the list! Even though I rarely opt for Italian food (1: it's not cheap, and 2: I'm a messy eater and I feel like they would judge me), Via Vai was worth the visit. Sits in a cute lil section of Ditmars with vibey (date-night-esque??) decor to boot. Def make a rez bc the space fills up quick. They start you off with complimentary bread chunks and garlicky olive oil to dip. My friend and I ordered the octopus appetizer to share (~$24?), and it was quite flavorful altho very very small. Luckily I was half a glass of Lacrima de Morro ($13) in so I didn't have enough inhibitions to regret the spend. Not usually a red wine gal but this one wasn't bad. Was better than my friend's rosé ($15) at least. Ordered the Tagliatelle al branzino ($21), a dairy-less pasta with little white chunks of branzino, capers, and cherry tomatoes. Quite tasty. Polished off the whole dang plate. Pasta was perfectly al dente & the capers provided a nice sour note to the dish overall. All of this cost me $61 after tax/tip which is not great for an analyst budget but quite great for the value.

I really wanted to like this place. I didn't enjoy my wine selection or my meal but oh how I loved the calamari. It was light, flavorful and crisp! I would go back JUST for that. It was cooked perfectly! I was really excited because this place has homemade pasta but mine (which was colored with squid ink) was tough to eat. My aunt and coworker enjoyed their meals but I guess I didn't choose wisely. The vibe is chill and eclectic, we all enjoyed that along with the playlist. If you go there try two dishes: the short rib and shrimp carbonara. One cool this about this establishment was that my aunt left her credit card and they called her the next day to pick it up. She went back, ate there again and enjoyed another meal. That customer service alone gets 4 stars from me...

VIA VAI is one of those true hidden gems, most often never discussed when talking about the restaurant scene in Astoria, For they are a little-known Italian restaurant to those who live outside Queens. We had meant to come here for quite a while, but circumstances and timing never aligned. Finally, a week before Christmas, we reached VIA VAI. As you can see from the photos, the employees hung beautiful and festive Christmas ornaments around the restaurant, and it was like being in a winter wonderland! Now, what to order from the menu? Or main entrees included octopus and their special homemade ravioli. For dessrt we ordered tiramisu. Everything was delicious though quite expensive. Our hosts were accommodating and made recommendations, esp about the homemade pasta. We will be back!! An absolute must if you plan to visit Astoria!1

I came here based off of eaters recommendation as it is one of the top eateries in the neighborhood. I was expecting good things and boy was I right. I walk to the front of the restaurant and I see all these signs stating that they're Michelin rated for many years. I had no idea about any of this and was impressed. Looked over the menu and there was so much to choose from starting with the appetizers. The Polpette which are beef meatballs is what I started with and chose the Pappardelle Con Angello as my main dish. Both were really good. I recommend their pasta dishes as I sampled another one. For their dessert, I had their Panna Cotta with cherry sauce on top. Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin. Not only was their food good, but their service was impeccable too.

This spot is a nice upscale pasta spot in Astoria! Definitely a good date spot! Food: they have house made pasta which is really great and a few options that are imported! I ordered the cacio e Pepe which was good but just a bit hard! They also give bread, which was so delicious! I am glad that they don't have a separate brunch menu, and instead just have their lunch/ dinner menu! Ambience: I loved the design of this restaurant! It was beautiful, really clean and just gave off nice vibes! Service: waitress was amazing - she explained the menu and have good recommendations Price: if u just order a main, you can pay about $25-$30 Tip: they open at 2, not 1 on Sunday (on Google the times are wrong)

Imagine making a reservation and being turned away to come back in 30 minutes. Apparently they take late parties, but those that are on time are turned away... so what is the point of a reservation? Frustrating experience and will never go back.

Wow. Might literally be the best pasta I've ever had. We split the TAGLIATELLE AL BRANZINO and the BUCATINI ALL'AMATRICIANA, both of which were terrific. Split the gelato and had espresso for dessert to close out an incredible meal.

Came here for the first time and heard good things about Vai Vai ..the place is rustic and has a nice vibe..our waitress was very friendly and helped us with our wine selections..For our appetizers we had fried calamari,,Bufalina,and Cavolo salad..all very tasty but small portions..for the main course we had Maiale, Costolette special, special risotto,,Tonnarelle Casio and Pepe ..they were all very tasty and the star was the Maiale. For dessert we had Tiramisu and Panna Cotta, overall the food was good but the prices are very steep.

My husband and I came here a second time to have dinner and it was amazing again so I had to leave a review! We had the bufala margherita pizza and the tagliolini al nero con gamberi pasta. Oh and can't forget the tiramisu, just like in Rome! Classic Italian dishes made perfect! If in the area this is a must try! Our waitress, Stella, made our dinner such a great experience, she's the best! Highly recommend this restaurant and we will for sure be back soon! Vai in questo ristorante!!!!

A trip to Italy! Without leaving NY! The restaurant was ornate with Venetian masks and was warm and cozy. What a wonderful delectable treat this was. The food here is superb. Our server Stella earns 10 stars. She suggested the wine and most of our choices. We were seated and swiftly attended to. The soft centered crisp focaccia awakened our palates. We started our journey with their polpette that was reminiscent of Rome. Soft small meatballs in a delectable tomato sauce. Their appy special layered zucchini blossoms was sweet and cheesy. We continued on to our pasta choices of "white meat" ravioli nestled in a buttery sage and truffle sauce and the cacio de pepe which was the star! Our next course , also a special was Bronzino wrapped and baked inside a dough similar to a calzone. Wow!! So delicious. Flaky fish seasoned with rosemary and lemon. Accompanied by garlicky spinach and asparagus. The meal was completed with homemade pistachio gelato. We almost licked the bowl!!! So good. This place should be on everyone's food radar when in Astoria.

Italian cuisine in Astoria with fresh hand made pasta. Seems like the dishes are either a hit or a miss. The fettuccine bolognese was amazing but porcini truffle pizza and TAGLIOLINI AL NERO CON GAMERI was a total miss. The cheese on the pizza was super bland - no taste at all. The pizza crust was on point though. The black ink tagliolinalsi lacked flavor and needed a little more seasoning. Food was not impressive but the decor was really cute.

Came here for dinner for a date night. Romantic and intimate ambiance. It's a pretty small place so a reservation is recommended. Alcohol: they seemed to only have beer or wine. Their wine selection was nice. It was around 13 dollars a glass. Food: the quality of the food was not at all consistent with the price. It was mediocre Italian food. We ordered the branzino which was a pretty large portion of fish. It came with two fillets. We also ordered the shrimp ravioli which were pretty flavorless. The sauce was also more watery than creamy. The prosciutto pizza was good! Service: our waitress was very nice but the food took forever to be serviced - about an hour. Way too long to really enjoy dinner. The factor that reallyyyyy turned me off from ever coming back here is that a glass of Diet Coke was 6.50!! I didn't even get the whole can. I understand inflation is hitting the economy pretty hard but that price is ridiculous. Total turn-off.

Tasteless food and do not ask for cheese for your pasta it is not done there almost got my head handed to me for asking for cheese. Very arrogant chef due to Michelin ranking really not worth your money. There are far better places to spend your money and get food as you like it. I still cannot comprehend how I am the one paying for food and i am told I can only enjoy it the way the chef dictates that is what is call complete bullsh*t and customer abuse. I have traveled to many countries on many continents and enjoy the food, this is the first time I was told how I must eat my food, food that i am paying for and certainly not a very welcoming place and not a very enjoyable experience.

Came here on a Thursday night. Me and my husband were the only people in the restaurant. Ordered their short rib special and a truffle pizza. First of all the waitress was absolutely awful. Paid no attention to us whatsoever. Kept talking loud to another woman at the bar. Didn't even come by to ask if we were enjoying the food (which we weren't). She was just a bad bad waitress. And we paid a lot of money for a very mediocre food and terrible service. Should've known it's not worth it considering nobody was there but oh well.

We go here on a Saturday night around 7PM, and while there was no wait, the hostess warned us that they were busy, so service may be slow. It looked like there were only 2 people handling all the tables - we appreciated the warning, and although it was a bit slower than normal, it was nothing alarming. The two of us weren't feeling too hungry, so we shared beef meatballs, PAPPARDELLE CON AGNELLO (white lamb ragu, buckwheat pasta), and tiramisu. All were good - the beef meatballs came with a nice tomato sauce (no cheese just FYI), the pasta didn't look like buckwheat but it was clearly freshly made and the sauce was more flavorful than I was expecting, and the tiramisu was too high on the cream to 'bread' ratio for my liking, but the taste was flavorful with the coffee taste. The 'bread' didn't seem like ladyfingers, it was almost crunchy with more chew - I actually really liked these layers, and just wished that there was more of it. There was also complimentary bread that came in bite-size pieces that was an interesting change. Lots of flavor.

The food and service were great at Via Vai. Had been dying to try the Cacio e Pepe and I wasn't disappointed The Tiramisu and Panna Cotta also stood out.

Best homemade pasta dishes and pizza. You can tell the pasta is freshly made and the pizza is a crisp brick oven. The atmosphere is cozy, rustic Italian.

Run to this place do not walk. Homey and cozy restaurant in Astoria. Great food and some fantastic red wine.

Superb service, delicious food and perfect ambiance. The branzino pasta and cacio Pepe were perfect. Will definitely be back!

Food was very good. They limit you to an hour and a half so we were asked to leave which was annoying. Small restaurant so make a reservation.

My first time was there and the foods was so bland the service was ok only few tables in the restaurant and 2 waitresses working my table next to me finished their food long time ago and they never come to pick up empty plates the waitresses was just talking to each other so definitely will not visit again

We started with the polpette, an appetizer recommend by our waiter, they were bland and boring. I had the spaghetti carbonara, also a recommendation, it was extremely salty. The black pepper was so coarsely ground that it made the overall taste very unpleasant and was irritating to my throat causing me to cough as I tried to eat my meal. We finished with the tiramisu which was fine but nothing to write home about. Then we got the bill I was charged $6.50 for a 10 oz bottle of Diet Coke. I thought there must have been an error so I asked the server and she said it was correct. Again I wouldn't need to return for the quality of the food but I was so angered and insulted by what they charged for the Diet Coke that I will definitely never go back.

Fantastic service and food, the duck on a bed of hazelnut mashed potatoes was especially good

Ever ate fresh caught clams at a trattoria in Tuscany? Highly recommended while in Italy but if you happen to be in Astoria and craving a similar experience then head over to this spot. The owner/bartender/server was awesome. His Italian accent added to the ambiance of this place. We started off with appetizers: calamari and mussels pot. The broth from the mussels outshone my calamari which could have been more seasoned. The entrees were generous portions of (1) short ribs in tomato sauce over a large order of polenta and (2) fresh made linguine over clams in a white wine sauce. Everything was tasty again my options came in second because I'm used to a more seasoned clam. Nonetheless I did choose the winning dessert; Nutella pizza was banging and the rich panna cotta came in an honorable second. The food was solid and filling but the service was superb. I will be back and maybe try a cocktail this time.

Best Italian restaurant in New York City. Full Stop. Just go, you won't be disappointed.

To Desiree's review below. They are liars. We sat next to them last night. Service was a little slow, but the waitress let us know at the beginning of the meal she was by herself (only waitress). She was doing absolutely everything. There were 5 tables to serve, not 3, plus Grubhub orders she had to deal with. She was also bussing tables. They also ordered scallop risotto, which my girlfriend got. The menu stated the rissoto takes 25+ mins to cook. At this point they knew it might be slow service due to the staffing and then both ordered the slowest item on the menu. It was a little pricey, but they also had every capability to ask the cost of the rissoto of the day. The cheese thing did happen, but the waitress politely suggested to try it as it was very cheesy (I tasted it), and if she still wanted she would gladly bring it. They were rude and mocked her and laughed at her while she was struggling to manage the restaurant. The waitress was very nice and attentive and did everything great. Desiree also neglects to mention that her and her boyfriend SCREAMED at the waitress as they walked out the door. Absolutely unacceptable even if you feel you did not have good service. Complete street trash.

My husband and I had an absolutely delicious and romantic meal at Via Vai recently. We dined outdoors and enjoyed the scenery. Every bite of the buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella pizza, and taglioni with crabmeat and lobster was incredibly satisfying. My husband grew up with his best friend's Italian family and he definitely thinks this is hands done the best Italian he has ever had.

This has become my go to place to order food during this horrible pandemic. Simply check the menu online, call to order and the food is ready for pick up in 20 minutes. I'm not entirely sure if they are on other delivery platforms but it's always nice to come by and have a quick chat with the wonderful owner/chef. We've order the FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE, TONNARELLI CACIO E PEPE, TAGLIATELLE AL BRANZINO, SPAGHETTI, and the CALAMARI and all of the dishes tasted authentic and cooked to perfection. And there are always leftovers so I can have two meals for the price of one. :) If you are looking for a place to order food this is it. Support small businesses! Plus they also include a free dessert with every order.

We were a party of 4 for dinner on Sunday 3/15/2023. First time for all of us. We shared the meatball appetizer which was excellent. All of us then had different pastas, all from off menu items. All the pastas seemed home made and were also excellent. Post dinner espresso was also excellent. The server was very professional. This is a wonderful Italian restaurant. We will be back.

Nice quaint Italian restaurant serving some good. Ingredients are auper fresh and you can taste it in the food. Definitely try the pizza. Its pretty good. The crust is nice with the snokey slighty salty flavor

Was sat at a 4 seat table with my wife and daughter. A few minutes later was told that they needed to split the 4 top in case someone came. There was absolutely no room to squeeze my daughter on the end of a small 2 seat table. This simply was not an option. They had plenty of other seats available. So I told them I would leave, which I did. They were very nice and respectful about it but left me no choice nevertheless. I will not go back. So they lost a customer forever because they may have needed the space, when they didn't. Went down the block to Ornella who welcomed us graciously and sat us at a 4 seat table. Next time you may want to be more accommodating and considerate to your current customer.

Unique resto in Astoria. 4 stars for the service. 4 stars for the pizza. For the pasta, a little bit on the edge here... didn't know that they only serve thick or wide pasta... (my fault)... should've checked first... Ordered agnello pasta (I love Truffles!), it was nothing special. The meat portion was very small especially for the price. No happy hour available at the bar.

My husband and I came here for dinner on a very cold night. There was only one customer sitting at a bar section and there was no music so it was pretty quiet. Since the yelp photos looked amazing, it was difficult to decide on the menu. My husband ordered a fig pizza and when I asked for the recommendation to the server/bartender (who could possibly be the owner), he suggested the shrimp ravioli with orange zest over branzino pasta that I was thinking about. The dishes did take some time to come out but the fig pizza totally worth the wait because it was super delicious. Lightly jammed with fig and honey with Gorgonzola cheese topped with arugula, it was simply amazing. As for the shrimp ravioli (which we later found out that it was $26 versus our expectation that it wouldn't be over $20), it was definitely unique and exotic but a bit salty, and the portion was way too small for the price. My acquaintance who works in the restaurant industry told me never to ask for the recommendation when there's almost no customers or get to the restaurant pretty late at night because the server will recommend the dishes that are most expensive and have lots of leftover ingredients. I'm not sure if that was the case here but I wish that the server told me how much the dish costs when he confirmed our order. Overall, the food was definitely good but expensive for the quality of the meal or dining experience (in my opinion). It would take a very special occasion for us to come back.

I have uploaded two screenshots of messages I received from Bob, which I assume is an employee of the restaurant. He criticised my review in a very rude and unprofessional manner. I stand by my review 100%. As I said, the food is good, but the service the last few times we have been here has been very very bad. They always forget something and the last few times we were at the restaurant, there were 3/2 tables seated. The last time we were here, we waited almost 2 hours for food. They gave us more bread, but only after we kindly asked the server how much longer because we were ready to go and have dinner elsewhere. We were not rude or disrespectful at all because we know people do not treat servers the best sometimes. Our date night was ruined because we were starving and upset with the service. These messages from Bob prove the lack of professionalism this establishment has. Sending someone mean messages over their experience is not okay in any circumstance. Firstly, we do not expect our food to be served in 5 minutes, but there is absolutely no excuse to wait almost 2 hours for an appetizer. Secondly, Via Vai does not have a Michelin star, it's just in the Michelin guide along with thousands of other restaurants in NYC. Thirdly, I have eaten at other restaurants WITH a Michelin star recently like Atomix and the service was impeccable.

So let me just first say I have come here many, many times. Overall the amatriciana has almost (every time except for the last time) been magical, simply the best most delicious amatriciana I have had, and that includes in Lazio Italia. Unfortunately, the last time sadly and I am so sorry to say, the amatriciana had definitely changed in flavor and smell. The sugo had a acidic, tart and metallic taste, a taste reminiscent of canned tomatoes from brands like Hunt's or Rienzi or Tuttoroso or Redpack or any USA-grown tomatoes. It was almost perfect, but sadly the tomatoes tasted that they were not high-quality PDO San Marzano tomatoes or a reputable brand of Italian-grown tomatoes. It was so sad because it had always up until this point been perfect. I know a lot of people complain about the service, but overall I haven't found this to be a problem. Yes, the chef and owner is a Roman Italian chef working solo and preparing from scratch and fresh ingredients. It isn't going to be speedy at all. Sometimes the food does come a bit late and a tiny bit too cold. But hey, when it's one talented man putting his life and soul into making everything perfect, it's possible there will be stressful times and sometimes yes things will take a bit longer. But the food is worth it. Sadly I would just recommend maybe training an extra chef and also possibly waitstaff just do the food doesn't get too cold. But it's part of the Italian experience, food is generally slower to come out, you are supposed to relax, watch the sidewalk, absorb the sunlight, converse with your partner, sip slowly on wine and take your time. The waiters have been nice, the owner's wife is a bit curt and serious, but at the same time she is an entrepeneur helping run the business and probably has stress and is just naturally a bit calm and stern. She shouldn't be admonished and attacked because she isn't super fake and bubbly like a Hooter's waitress. She is European, and that's just how European women are, nice but curt and serious, so I think that's a bit unfair to say ill of her. The polpette are delicious but maybe un pizzico di sale would improve them and a tiny bit of zucchero or carrota in the sauce as it's just a bit acidic. But overall excellent. The pizza funghi e tartufo is amazing, but a bit small to share for more than 2 people sadly. Maybe a tiny bit larger portion would make it more satisfying to customers. The cavolo salad is divine and magical (the biggest surprise!) and I generally find kale awful and schivo. The calamari is good, maybe better with the meatball marinara sauce, and yes I do agree with customers no one should be admonished for asking for some sauce. I know it isn't Roman, but marinara with calamari is fundamental to American food culture. Now sadly the major reason for my rating (along with the metallic tomato in the amatriciana) and I truly apologize, but the price increases here have been absolutely astornomical. A few years ago the amatriciana was $15, then $18, then $21, then $22, then $24 the last time I went a few months ago. It's now $27 and likely to hit $30+ soon. Sadly these price increases cannot be excused even with the pandemic, as the cost of ingredients does not sjustify the really steep prices going up that keep occurring like Chanel bag price increases even though the food prices for tomatoes and pasta have largely stabilized. Sadly I just cannot justify returning when a meal of two appetizers, a salad, pizza, and two pasta dishes with a girl or friend that used to be $125 is now approaching $250-350 with $30 for a 60 gram portion of pasta. The meatballs have shot up from $11 to $18. The Falanghina wine and in general all drinks and dishes are extremely expensive and the inflation on the menu prices is above and beyond anything reflected by COVID or Ukraine. I am so sorry to say this but I hope if possible the restaurant would reconsider the price increases as it is making it astronomical to go here and unfortunately making it impossible for so many that have enjoyed it. In Conclusion, my advice would be to return to the old tomato supplier for the dishes as the new tomatoes are just not the same. Also, just to maybe increase the portion size a bit as they are quite small. And finally, I would suggest they really try and not steeply increase prices so this can be a place with a loyal fanbase. I wish them well, and hope they have success regardless.

We took my mom out for her birthday, party of 4, 3 of us having not dined out in many months. What a pleasant evening! The food was delicious and the service was fabulous, thanks to Samantha our server and the chef who sent us a free dessert! Would highly recommend and revisit!! We ordered: fried calamari, salmon tartare, short rib entree, duck entree, pasta with branzino, special shrimp ravioli, gelato and panettone. All yummy!!! The food is all homemade so there is a wait but we thought it worth the time.