ViA VECCHiA

On a quiet winter Sunday evening in downtown Portland, when the streets were nearly empty, ViA VECCHiA was absolutely buzzing. We arrived to a packed restaurant and waited only about 10 minutes for our table—a great sign right away. The ambience and décor are truly next to none. The front room alone feels warm, festive, and refined, with a perfect blend of high-end elegance and cozy holiday charm. But the real surprise came when we were led to our table in the back room. It is massive—at least four times the size of the front—with both upstairs and downstairs seating, a stunning large bar, and dim, atmospheric lighting. The space is beautiful, lively, elegant, and incredibly comfortable all at once. Walking into that back room was such a delightful surprise; I couldn’t stop smiling at how vibrant and inviting it felt. The food was absolutely delicious. We had the risotto, the Lola Rosa salad, one of the pastas, and finished with tiramisu—every dish was outstanding. I also truly appreciated how accommodating they were with my dairy intolerance, offering thoughtful alternatives without compromising flavor. Service was impeccable from start to finish, attentive without being overbearing, and they have an extensive and impressive wine list to match the experience. ViA VECCHiA feels like a destination restaurant—warm, energetic, and memorable. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget the cold winter night outside and reminds you why Portland’s food scene is so special. We’ll absolutely be back. 🍷✨

Lovely spot for a date night! Decor was gorgeous and the staff were incredibly friendly. We got the brussels sprout app, radiatori and agnolotti as our mains, and the semifreddo for dessert. The radiatori was spectacular. The agnolotti was unfortunately undercooked, and the cream sauce was overly sweet with the hot honey drizzle on top. Brussels were great, as was the dessert. Highly recommend the teardrop martini!

Beautifully decorated and classy and sophisticated. Food was delicious. I was a little disappointed that I made a reservation over a month in advance and was seated in the corner at the bar versus a table, even though almost every table was open, but maybe you just have to specify in your reservation request. The hostess was very friendly and offered local recommendations as we were leaving for places to grab additional drinks or dessert.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. We’ve been here maybe a half dozen times in the last few years and it’s always our go-to for special occasions when we go downtown! They take reservations which is great, the food is phenomenal, and the service is divine. Plus that environment— just love it all! We came for dinner before the Nutcracker show and it was wonderful. The Christmas decorations are always such a beautiful sight. The photos don’t do it justice but I’ll share some!

Our server, Jennifer M, was excellent! I had the Radiatori, and we all enjoyed the wines, martinis, and coffee as well. The depth of flavor in my food was really excellent. The ambiance of Via is one of the best in Portland, and the offerings are really high quality. The whole experience of eating here feels like you are in a major city. My only improvement would be that my food could’ve been a little hotter, but the rest of the experience made up for it. I had no idea how large the restaurant was inside, yet you can be seated in a cozy corner and not overwhelmed while you enjoy your dinner. Be advised that it’s off a cobblestone street, so you’ll want to park on Commercial St (right next to it on the other side) if mobility is a factor. Portland is a city where restaurants can get away with high prices because of limited options, but Via is legit and it is worth the price. You will need a reservation for weekend. Enjoy!

Fantastic spot, went here for date night and they were able to seat us even without a reservation, food was amazing and the holiday drinks were fun and on point. Definitely worth stopping by and the prices were reasonable for the level you are getting right in the heart of old port. Atmosphere was great as well with an old money classic feel to it! Would definitely recommend getting the meatballs and the chicken Marsala!

Had a reservation for 8:15 on rainy Monday night and this place was still packed, and for good reason! The food and service were excellent. The octopus was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and both the main dishes (chicken Marsala and lumache) were piping hot and full of flavor. Would absolutely return!

It was hard to make a choice since everything looked so delicious! The hot and spicy martini is a must. Pasta hit all the nostalgic check points with more elevated flavors. And I have to say, the mussels? INSANE. I could eat those everyday, all day. Do yourself a favor and order them immediately. Wine list is fabulously Italian with lots of the classic, as well as the lesser known gems. The perfect way to end our day in Portland. 10/10.

Great ambiance, good food/drinks and beautiful décor. We got the bruschetta and hot & dirty martinis and were not disappointed!

Awesome Atmosphere, Sabrina D was the kindest waitress ever. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the Portland area!

I thought this place was fantastic. They are popular and it's easy to see why. Our server was attentive and really lovely, I think his name was Andrew. We got a couple apps, entrees and a dessert and all of it was delicious and interesting. I had the gnocchi and it was the perfect consistency, soft and melty, and I loved the flavors and play of texture. I also really enjoyed the zero proof beverage menu. Portland is kinda killing it in general in this way, but I loved the NA-groni ~ a really brave choice for the bar to offer something with such a bold bitter flavor, but so glad I went for it. The presentation and atmosphere were also just beautiful, thoughtful and unusual. Will be going back for special occasions. I love the dark and artsy feel, they kept the music at a reasonable volume and allowed conversation to take precedence. I do recommend making a reservation but they did a decent job of getting us a table last minute on a Friday night, and we perused a nearby shop while we waited to be called (via text). Will be going back for sure.

Although I did have a business dinner reservation here, I want to focus on the drinks we had at the bar before hand. This was my first time to Portland, and after my business dinner host sent us the menu before hand, I was very excited to dine here. We arrived at dinner early, so headed to the bar for a cocktail while we waited. This was a phenomenal experience. The bartender was excellent, and made a memorable trip for us. After looking at the menu, he asked if anything caught my eye, I mentioned I was looking at two cocktails one with gin and one with vodka. He said neither of those were his favorite, so I of course, asked what he would recommend. He suggested a bourbon one. I explained to him, I'm not much of a bourbon drinker, but he insisted on trying it and if I didn't like it, I could order something else. I loved the confidence and said I would give it a go. I'm so glad I did because I absolutely loved the Smoking Gun cocktail. Never have I ever enjoyed a bourbon cocktail as much as I did this one. It was sweetened by strawberries and very fresh from the mint. I ended up ordering a second one at dinner. Such a fun experience and will definitely miss this cocktail back home.

Amazing pasta! I got the raviolis and WOW they were amazing. They're probably the best raviolis I've had. The ravioli dish came with a large quantity, so I was well stuffed. This place is super intimate and has some large booth tables for large groups. If you have a 6+ group, I would recommend making a reservation well in advance. The service of the place was great. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating for our large group. Overall, this place is banging! You should definitely try this place!

Other than a rather curt and laissez faire host/server experience, the squid ink pasta, meatballs, and fresh as ever Burrata truly made up for an otherwise 3-star review.

I took my brother for a birthday dinner. The space is warm and inviting. Good music, friendly vibe. We sat at the beautiful bar up front. The bartender was knowledgeable and mixed up some creative drinks. The sourdough bread and meatballs were fantastic ; the carpaccio was over-the-top delicious. My beet salad - marinated chiogga, bull's blood, & golden beets, cara cara orange, lemon yogurt, caraway seeds, olive oil - was very tasty. His lumache - pasta with calabrian chili braised pork, san marzano tomato, whipped ricotta, and pecorino romano - was perfect. A wonderful experience.

This is THE place to come for ambiance. It's the cutest restaurant in Portland in my opinion, by far. Definitely my top recommendation if you're wanting to end a date night with a cute drink in a romantic location. The service is fantastic too. They're quick and kind and know the menu super well. Based on ambiance and service, I'd give a 5. Easily. If I were to score just on food.... 3 stars ... we've tried multiple pasta dishes and pizzas and everything has just been okay. However the presentation is great! I did enjoy the artichoke appetizer, but definitely order more than one dish if you're sharing apps! Overall, I'll be back. Just probably sticking to drinks!

Via Vecchia is truly a special place. I've came here for almost every occasions, on dates, family dinner, with our run club or with big groups of up to 30 people. It has never disappoint and adapts well. The building from the outside is gorgeous, and when you walk in, it gets better & better, you gotta go see it and explore around to understand. The decor is so detailed, your eyes won't ever get bored. The service has always been warm and welcoming. The drinks are absolutely delicious and they have lots of great mocktails options too. Their food taste as delicious as their presentation looks. They are no words to describe how magical this place is. If you are hesitant about weather or not this is the place to try, this is your sign that it is!

We celebrated my husband's birthday here! We were greeted with the best table (a corner spot) with the best views of both outside and inside! There was a kind birthday card on the table and a hostess offered to take our jackets. Right out of the door, I was blown away. Not even going to lie! They hooked us up! The ambiance was lovely! The green tile throughout the restaurant and in the women's bathroom is absolutely beautiful. The lighting and decor is something worth seeing. The music they can improve on for sure. Maybe some old jazz would suit the place better than the new age techno music. Just some food for thought! The meatballs are so good! Spicy. Totally satisfied by tastebuds. I make homemade meatballs often at home and not one place can top them but this place may have! Job well done. The rest of the food was a little salty, and this is coming from a gal who loves salt! So that has to say a lot! I am not sure about the cuisine, other than the meatballs, is the greatest, but the wine and drinks are. And that my friend is worth the experience (including the ambiance). Our server was awesome too! I love the way he served our wine from start to finish. I'd totally go back for sure!

Great spot! Fantastic service! They even left us a cute note for our anniversary. Our server was knowledgeable, explained the wine menu in depth, and picked a great bottle for us. Felt like we had our own sommelier! Server also had great recommendations for portland in general! The food was fresh and flavorful! The bolognese was UNBELIEVABLE!! Good portions too!

Super cute upscale Italian by the water. Ambiance and service were top-tier, as was the food.

I don't go out too often to Italian restaurants, but how could I not step inside the ivy-adorned, elegant Via? Inside the restaurant maintains the same atmosphere of beautiful high-vaulted ceilings, mirrors, and a bit of a romance. We walked in on a Tuesday night and were lucky to be sat immediately at a table. To start us off, we had the Sourdough app and the Brussel Sprouts. The sourdough came with two house butters, one definitely had honey incorporated which was our preferred one. The Brussel sprouts were so so tasty -- accompanied by Parmesan shavings and pomegranate seeds. We both had pizza, the Vignola and the India St. These are nicely sized, oval shaped pizzas with an amazing crust to sauce ratio. Both delicious! Gotta try their pastas next time. I also had the Siesta cocktail, which was not too bitter!

On the hunt for the best Espresso Martini in Portland... 8/10. Really good martini! The drink was ice cold, the flavors blended nicely and it stayed that way until the last sip. The espresso and alcohol taste was not separated while drinking it and I love that. I recommend ordering if you're an Espresso Martini Enthusiasts. Absolutely love the atmosphere here. It's one of a kind.

I loved Via Vecchia! The ambiance is beautiful! From the outside to inside, the decor, architecture and music sets the vibe. Our drinks and food were great. We ordered the bread for an appetizer and I ordered a white pizza for dinner. 10/10 would recommend if you're in Portland!

I made a reservation to celebrate my birthday here and it was a phenomenal evening! From the personal touches like a birthday card and candle on dessert to the delicious food and excellent service, this place is by far one of the best places in Portland for an all around experience. It's a little on the pricier side but the quality and service really shine through. The food was delicious! We ordered mussels and burrata to start, a pizzette for the second course, and two pastas to share for the third course. This was way more than enough to share between 3 people. Overall, I had a lovely evening and will be recommending this place to friends in the area or those that visit.

Food was all great! Arancini, bruschetta and polpo were all delicious. 3 of us got the lumache and we all enjoyed. Service was also great and vibes inside are impeccable! Would definitely recommend! I'd say my rating would probably fall somewhere between a 4 and a 5, but I'll give them the 5

we started our weekend Portland trip at Via Vecchia and it is so much better in person than in pictures! we were seated at the bar around 7 and Moonie was our bartender/server who is incredibly hospitable and friendly. for our starter, we tried their homemade sourdough with parsley and garlic butter, and we were impressed by both. our drinks were perfect, gin & tonic and siesta which is tequila, bitter rosso, blackberry, lime, and grapefruit + campari foam. my friend loved how he made the gin & tonic perfect in the correct glass, which many places don't, and i absolutely loved the flavor profile of my siesta. then we tried the meatballs which were flavorful and mouthwatering and cooked to perfection, and added whipped truffle ricotta to take them to the next level. my only regret with the whipped ricotta is i would have liked more. the meatballs with the whipped ricotta was much better than the sesame breadsticks that came with it, they definitely belong together. the polpo was some of the best we've ever had, if not the best, with the bean salad and every bite was like a new dish. literally takes you to a new dimension of tasty pleasure. we planned on getting entrees but were starting to get full so we had their vignola (margherita pizza) which has the perfect crust but could use a bit more mozzarella. we finished with the creamiest pistachio gelato with tiny hazelnut(?) cookie spheres and the entire experience could not have been better. siesta 5/5 gin + tonic 5/5 sourdough bread 5/5 meatball 5/5 whipped truffle ricotta 5/5 polpo 6/5 vignola 4.8/5 pistachio gelato 5/5 the music was serene, modern instrumental italian jazz and i asked for their playlist but i was told the owner gatekeeps his songs, which is completely understandable but also disappointing. it does create an amazing vibe with the ambiance. tl;dr the meatballs + whipped truffle ricotta as well as the polpo were the top contenders, get the sourdough, and fantastic drinks. everything was phenomenal, i would highly recommend via vecchia and can't wait to return! ambiance: 5/5 food: 5/5 drinks: 5/5 service: 5/5 via vecchia: 5/5

Visited in October when coworkers were in town. It was a Wednesday and since we didn't have a reservation, we sat outside. Luckily it was early and hadn't cooled off yet. I had a cocktail topped with foam and a pasta dish. I was hungry enough to have ordered more but didn't want to spend any more than I had to. The pasta cooled off very quickly, because we were outside but the small portion didn't last long. My coworkers were shocked at how fast the food came out. It was clear the server wanted to flip our table but the people I was with were chatty. I probably won't visit again because there are so many other awesome places but it was good to try.

It was "ok" For all of the hype. Meh. The sommelier was lovely. She helped us with more than wine. And it was a good start. And then it just became mediocre. We had the artichoke with tapenade. Minimal flavor The scallops were good, but the lentils upon which they were served were room temperature. The lamb shank was almost obscene for the restaurant and the risotto upon which is was served the as tasteless. No salt. No flavor. The wine was delicious and slightly over priced. Would not go back when other options are close by and available.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary. We arrived early for our reservation which was no problem. The person who waited on us was very personable and made great recommendations. The food was prompt, pretty and delicious. The set list they were playing was also lovely and featured some of my favorite oldies like Nancy Sinatra. The lighting was low, but everything still very visible and who doesn't like a beautiful bathroom with ring lights around the mirrors.

Went for dinner on Saturday. Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. I went to Italy last year and would honestly say the food is just as good as what I ate there. Loved the creative, holiday-themed cocktails. Service was friendly and prompt and the restaurant was beautifully decorated for Christmas. I also appreciated the complimentary coat check. It is a pricey night out but most definitely worth it.

This could very well be my favorite place I have tried in Portland. I truly love the atmosphere you feel when you walk in, swanky is an understatement. The food just makes my mouth water thinking about it. Since it is the winter time, we had our big coats, but not to worry about where to put them because the service will take them right to the coat closet for you. The drinks are unbelievable too! This is my happy place!

Cozy Italian restaurant in the old port. The decorations are always amazing but even better right now for Christmas. They have a large bar out front and a back bar. The have lots of tables and cute couches out back. I personally like the lounge area better. Interesting and delicious cocktails! They change them seasonally as well. The food is also pretty great but a bit pricey. The service is great and it's a vibe.

Legendary spot in the Old Port. Bruh you can't really go wrong here. The vibe is gas, food is on point and service dope as hell too. Definitely tap into the pastas. Shoutout to the staff. Legendary spot. Stay eatin!

We had a nice dinner at the bar at Via Vecchia. We won't be clamoring to go back, but were happy enough with our experience. The service was good and all the food came out very quickly at the bar. The drinks were good, and sitting at the bar was nice to see the bartenders working and putting on a bit of a show with their mixing and shaking. The aperol spritz, in particular, had great presentation and flavor. The burrata was the best dish of the night. The cheese had a creamy texture and fresh flavor that was nicely complemented by the robust tomato sauce and the roasted garlic. The rosemary crostini that came with was nice, but the amount did not pair well with the amount of burrata and tomato sauce. The Tripoline, which had a bolognese sauce, tasted very nice. The presentation on the plate was odd and lopsided, with the pasta in the middle, sauce only on one side, and bare plate on the other. It did feel a bit like I could have made it at home, but I enjoyed it. I would eat it again, but there wasn't enough wow factor for me to make plans to come back. The mushroom risotto was creamy, had a plentiful amount of mushrooms, but was bland. Really, I'd give the whole experience a 3.5, but the service was good so I'll round up.

The decor is very nice but unfortunately the food does not comport with the atmosphere. The menu seemed to consist of throwing a ton of spices and sauces onto a plate with everyday items; regardless of whether the spices and sauces complimented the dish or not. I'm not quite sure what the restaurant wants to be, but it isn't fine dining.

This place is a whole vibe starting from when you walk up to the building and it continues for every second you're inside. The Ambiance and decor are so interesting and there's so much to look at and it feels so cool. I would have liked to have poked around but that would have been a little weird. The service is impeccable down to the timing and attention to detail. We sat at the back bar and the staff were personable and extremely efficient and attentive. The food was ridiculously delicious and the drinks were awesome as well. We will definitely be back.

One of the best italian meals I have had outside of italy. A must stop at for visits to Maine. We ordered the pancetta aranchini to start, the sauce was delicious and the portion was good. My husband got the Via Vecchia Pizza which was to die for! Highly recommend if you like spicy and aren't afraid of pizza without tomato sauce. That said, I won the ordering contest with the lumache pasta. Absolutely delicious, best pasta I have had in a long time, right amount of spice and flavor and pasta cooked perfectly. We sat at the bar and our service was fantastic. The restaurant is adorable and has great vibes.

The dishes didn't have as much flavor as I hoped. Our group had the lamb, pizza, and squid ink pasta, and we thought all the dishes were mid. However, the restaurant was busy with a lot of people enjoying it.

My fiancée would kick my **you know what** if she knew I was giving Via Vecchia a 4/5 star rating. All I can say is that it's got all the appearance that you could ask for out of a restaurant in downtown Portland, ME. It is beautiful on the inside and out. The bar is breathtaking and it feels as if the restaurant disappears into a mood of privacy as you continue walking through that seems to fit a date, or a party. All this is balanced with a vibrant atmosphere (plenty of conversations carrying through the high-vaulted ceilings). But, for me, that's where the wowing stops. I ordered a burrata sitting at the bar while meeting my fiancée and it was underwhelming for the price. I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying a full meal but from what I see on plates passing by (there's probably some value in the appetizers, despite their steep prices). Overall -- the drinks and the vibe carry this place to a 4.5/5 for me.

This was really hyped up to us as an amazing place to eat and visit. We got a hotel close by just to go. Both my wife and I were very disappointed. The food just felt like they took good ideas and tried way too hard to make it fancy and special and missed the target by a long shot. Drinks felt very over priced, small food portions. I left hungry after spending close to 200 for 2 people. I enjoyed the wait staff as they were personable and friendly. Nothing else about this place was worth it. Felt like just another over priced place in Portland.

It's official - I've found my new all time favorite restaurant in Portland! As a long time fan of Blyth and Burrows, I was so excited to find out that they had a sister restaurant in Via Vecchia. My husband and I came for dinner last week and it was outstanding - totally lives up to the hype. Everything on their menu looks crazy good so we had trouble making a decision. We ended up going with the warm olives and polenta for appetizers and I had the mushroom risotto for dinner. Everything was incredibly good, and so unique. This really is food that you can't get just anywhere! Make sure to make a reservation if you can - we booked ours over a week out and almost didn't get a table. Trust me when I say it's worth the extra effort! We are so excited to come back on our next trip to Portland. Thanks Via Vecchia for a great night!

Celebrated my boyfriend's birthday here and it was a perfect birthday meal. We started with the Vignola pizza and it was simple yet amazing. The crust was the was the level of soft and crispy, and the sauce and cheese was amazing. We followed by ordering the signature lumache and tripoline pastas. The lumache was a light vodka sauce while the Tripoline is am impeccable bolognese. These pasta were very fresh and a perfect meal for the evening. Service was good and the restaurant was a bit loud since we ate a bit later, but it was a great experience.

We had one of the best dinners from here. This place was not the typical Italian restaurant I expected; very modern and glamorous atmosphere. Our server was not the warmest of waiters, but he did what was needed. He was attentive. Even though the restaurant was busy, the food was brought out promptly. The grilled octopus was fantastic. If I could eat two plates of lobster ravioli, I would. The cocktails were okay. But the food, I can't stop thinking about it.

First time here - rich, delicious pasta and an extensive list of Italian wines to go with them. We were excited for this dinner, and the food was delicious - but not quite as amazing as we had hoped. It was a busy Friday, but the service was a bit inconsistent- our waiter was excellent; everyone was working hard and doing their best but maybe spread a bit thinly. We liked the ambience - comfortable and relaxing, so maybe we'd have a more memorable experience on a weeknight.

My husband and I had one night to explore Portland Maine and Via Vecchia did not disappoint. The lobster ravioli was hands down the best ravioli I have ever had. The burrata salad was delicious but the polpo small plate was just okay. Potato with grilled octopus didn't mesh well to me and my husband. Everything else was fantastic. Great atmosphere and fast service.

Great ambience but the food was not really memorable. Would come back just for cocktails and maybe dessert.

Via Vecchia was a wonderful last minute dinner choice for tonight. We walked in and were seated immediately at 5pm. It filled up pretty quick after that. The ambiance is nice, and the outside seating had a street musician performing nearby which was entertaining. The food came out quickly and our waitress was very helpful with finding food options for our children, despite a formal kids menu. The sourdough bread and butter spread was delicious. The baby kale salad and grilled zucchini were big hits too. My daughter ordered the meatball appetizer which was delicious. I ordered the lobster ravioli while my wife had the ragu special on the waitress's suggestion, both of us were very happy. In a busy area full of tourists all looking to eat dinner, I would recommend Via Vecchia to anyone who's hungry and looking for Italian food with a local Portland aesthetic.

Fancy Italian restaurant downtown. Excellent bartenders with specialized wine and cocktail menu. Food is upscale aka smaller portions. It's beautiful inside. Good vegetarian options but expect to pay a lot for what you want. The bread is homemade and delicious. Great date spot.

Recently came here after maybe a year. Used to come very frequently. Sad to say this place has lost its touch. Yes, the inside is beautiful like all of Josh's places but the menu/ food quality has suffered. Clear lack of experience in the kitchen. It's also way overpriced now. You can get 10x better meal for price at Twelve so this isn't the typical "everything is expensive now" take. 1. Meatballs were lukewarm at best, sauce was cold 2. Polpo has maybe 4 tiny pieces of octopus, used to be a significant dish for price. Also way too many olives that overpowered and made it way too salty.. basic stuff here 3. I literally laughed at the beet salad. It's seriously just sliced beets in a jello mold over some bland puree. It's also MASSIVE. Like lol massive. 4. Tagliatelle was okay but some undercooked pieces of pasta here and there. Hope they change the kitchen up as this used to be a great place for a night out. Will prob give it a year to work out. It also wasn't as busy for a Friday night. Maybe because it's January or others have figured this out.

Delicious dinner last night. We got a lovely outdoor table. Our waitress was so kind and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. The kids pizza was perfect for 2 pre-teens. The Burrata was amazing, and the lamb skewers were very flavorful. We ordered one cocktail that my husband didn't like and they took it off the bill and brought him another. The cocktail ice cube are very impressive and must take a lot of time/energy/ space to craft.

By far the best service and ambiance I've experienced in a long time! Highly recommend the burrata. I can't wait to go back!

Please go here and experience the most magical dishes and cocktails. We had a great weather day so we ate outside. I always get kinda nervous eating outside because you never know what will blow your food away or fly into your drink, plus I feel like at most places, the servers forget about you... but not here! We started with a couple of drinks and the burrata. The burrata had this light dressing/sauce that paired so nicely with the creaminess of the burrata. We also got the sourdough bread with it! The bread was thick and the crust was so crunchy. For our entrees, I ordered the bolognese and my fiancé ordered the lobster Campanelle. Wowww!!! Both dishes were absolutely incredible. We were so happy with our meals. It was creamy and flavorful. Just perfection. To finish, we ordered the Nutella pannacotta. SO so so yummy!

Great atmosphere with great drinks. The food was really good and service was efficient! Highly recommended!

When I learned, in advance of my dinner here, that Via Vecchia was affiliated with Blyth & Burrows, I was pretty sure I was in for an enjoyable evening... and I was. The atmosphere and seating here, especially in the back, is festive. The servers are animated, professional, and great with whom to chat. While I liked the cocktail list, I was even more impressed with the wine list, which included some less common types of Italian wines I've come to enjoy frequently over the past year. Dinner options vary in size from small to large plates, and you don't have as many options as you might have at other Italian restaurants, but you don't need quantity when you have quality. My group selected items from all over the menu, and we were generally pleased with everything, though a little more "meh" about the Pizzettes. Many of the larger desserts are in the $12-$13 range, but I was probably just as satisfied with my vanilla gelato at $5, which was very rich and creamy and perhaps some of the best vanilla gelato I have ever had. Some of the folks in my dinner group had spent additional time at their bar over the weekend, filling their Negroni Passport. Overall, our time spent here over the course of the weekend was time and money well spent.

VV is absolutely my favorite restaurant in Portland. Not only is the food fantastic, but to me the atmosphere and vibes are what make this place special. And the drink program. They really have the best drinks in Portland. The kettle one filthy martini is just chef's kiss. The service is spot on and the rotating menu always offers way more goods than I can actually try. Best for date night, girls' night, or for a big group out. Cin cin!

This was my first time at Via Vecchia and I absolutely loved it! The food is so thoughtful and delicious. Our server was really lovely and attentive. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant really makes the experience special. We had a bar seat by the window and it was so quaint and private. I will definitely be back here!

Came here a couple weeks ago when visiting Portland. We did not have a reservation but were able to be seated right away! We sat at the high top bar right next to the window. The view was so lovely, and the food was even better! The sourdough bread was very good, and I really liked the unique butter choices. I got the lumache, and my mom got the meatballs. The lumache was cooked to a perfect al dente -- always appreciated!

LOVE LOVE LOVVVEEE!!! This is my favorite hands down Italian restaurants I have ever had in Maine so far. The presentation, combination of taste for flavors, and quality is out of this world. Our waiter informed us of the specials and suggested getting bread as the duck was kind of oily in order to soak it up to eat. We loved that she was knowledgeable and helping us with this info as it did make it so much better. Inside is was a low dim lighting with dark green for color in seating. We went during winter, so they had beautiful red decorations everywhere to compliment inside for the hoildays. If I could give 100 stars I so would!