Vina Enoteca

A lovely surprise coming here with my grandparents who used to come here when it was the Red Barn! It's become quite the nice Italian restaurant with a great bar and ample seating inside and outside. I'm now partial to the bar area because of the amazing waitress Maritza! She was so attentive and had great recommendations and has been there since the beginning. The drinks were great including the Bees knees and classic Negroni with a good variety in wine list. The pasta was the star - I had the cacio Pepe which was delicious and cheesy and my party was happy with their mushroom tortellini too. The pizza dough was on the slightly undercooked side which is how I like it and we got the one with sausage and pear (such a surprisingly good pairing!) will definitely be back!

Vina Enoteca feels like stepping into a modern Roman trattoria—elegant, open, and full of soul. From the first bite to the last, everything here is intentional and elevated without ever being pretentious. We started with the Caesar salad, which came with an oil-based dressing and generous shavings of Parmesan—fresh, simple, and beautifully balanced. Then came the Fungi Pizza, with a blistered crust fresh out of their gorgeous oven, earthy mushrooms, and that unmistakable depth you only get from real wood fire. I added a grilled chicken breast on the side and turned it into a perfectly satisfying entrée. Nadia ordered the Cacio e Pepe, which was creamy, peppery, and just the right amount of rich. Sasha had the butter pasta, and even that was outstanding—pure comfort done right. Every dish was on point, full of flavor, and clearly made with care. Though I didn’t drink tonight (pacing myself after last night!), I chatted with the bartender—one of the most knowledgeable I’ve ever come across. They even stock both green and yellow Chartreuse, which tells you everything you need to know about how serious they are about their bar program. It’s no wonder Vina Enoteca earned Michelin recognition back in 2019. And I was delighted to learn the same owner runs Tootsies, another spot I adore. Service was impeccable—warm, present, and intuitive. Parking was easy, the indoor-outdoor setup is ideal, and the whole evening felt effortless. Vina Enoteca nails it on every level.

The restaurant has a good atmosphere and friendly staff. Overall, the food is pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the mushroom pizza, with its perfectly crispy crust and fresh, flavorful mushrooms. The carpaccio was also excellent, featuring a well-balanced flavor with arugula, capers, a touch of cheese, and egg yolk. However, I wouldn't recommend the grilled octopus (Polipo d'Estate); despite the tasty sauce, the octopus itself was mediocre and had a rubbery texture, likely from being frozen too long. Overall, it's a pretty good place.

I've been here over 5 times and have sampled almost everything on the menu. Unfortunately, this restaurant isn't what it used to be and quality has significantly declined over the past 3 years. I used to absolutely love the fresh pizzas and pastas here. My first two visits blew me away. Then I noticed the pizzas started tasting a bit less fresh. On my most recent visit, the margherita pizza was completely soggy, came with 3 small pieces of basil, and tasted pre-frozen. They have also removed the complimentary bread and EVOO that they used to serve in the beginning. I'm not sure if management has changed or if they're cutting costs by skimping on cheaper ingredients now, but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant anymore.

I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Vina Enoteca. Some of the best pizza I have had in the United States. The wood fire oven lends the pizzas a really lovely flavor. I am not entirely certain what wood is used to but it added a depth of flavor and complexity to the pizza which was unique. What is magical is that they use simple, fresh ingredients and create traditional, standard dishes that taste complex and unique. I adored their Funghi pizza, while my teens adored their Margherita and Spaghetti Bolognese. Simple dishes, which nonetheless are often made carelessly by many restaurants, but which were well-balanced, had depth and a complexity of flavor which was surprising. The service was excellent and the interior of the restaurant was spotless and the classic feel of the rustic barn was relaxing and tasteful. It would be a fantastic place for a romantic evening but still relaxed and comfortable enough to take your family and friends. I highly reccomend it!

Good food, large portions. Several vegetarian options. Friendly, attentive service. Nice wine by the glass. There were two main downsides: it was loud, and our table for four was so large that it was hard to hear across.

I'm giving 'Vina Enotica' a solid 4.75 /5...! You can't beat the 'chill' atmosphere if you sit in the lounge or at the bar. Fantastic service. Always professional. Food is delicious. They have perfected a smaller menu which gives them the ability to introduce more mouth watering food options in the future. The bar offers a fantastic variety of spirits and wines to choose from. I recommend making reservations if you wish to dine inside or outside under the tented, heated area because it gets busy. Or you can always walk-in and sit in the lounge/bar like we do. Very friendly vibe here.

We visited Viva Enoteca for dinner. The place looks nice, with a cozy inside and a good patio area that has a bit of a Napa feel. The service was friendly and helpful. The food, though, was not as good as we hoped. We had a salad, mushroom soup, pizza, salmon, and a bottle of rose wine. The pizza dough was good, but the tomato sauce tasted a bit vinegary, and the toppings didn’t really go together. The salmon was bland, a little dry, and served cold, so it didn’t seem like their specialty. The only rose wine option was also just average. Overall, it’s a nice spot for a casual business dinner, but with so many good options around, they could improve their food to stand out.

The service 100 percent perfect. Ambience always perfect. Food the pizza came out a bit doughy too much bread. which is off because enoteca always had the best bottom crusty and smooth texture to the crust. The pizza was a bit too soft? only reason for a four. I wish they had the bluefin tuna carpaccio and t bone back. Overall, good!

Vina Enoteca offers a comfortable and refined Italian experience. It is an excellent location for dinner parties and date nights. The service is attentive and nothing short of excellent. For the antipasti, my group order the Carpaccio di Manzo and the Foccaccia. The carpaccio was tasty and gave a well-balanced, traditional appetizer. For the main dish, I had the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. Again, a very traditional and well-made dish, with the bolognese providing to the pasta exactly what you'd like to expect: a nice balance of pork and beef without overpowering the pasta too much. Overall, Vina Enoteca is the perfect place to go for a traditional Italian dinner, whether it be for a date night, gathering, or event. Highly recommend coming here for an occasion!

The ambiance here is great for a social get together. The margherita pizza was delicious; the bread was puffy and charred in the right ways, the sauce was subtle but with enough flavor. The one way I'd improve it was to add more burrata, which I felt was lacking. The tiramisu was unique with crunchy chocolate bits on top - though it ended up being more cream-heavy than I would've liked. It was a delight nonetheless. Service-wise, I felt it was decent but slightly lacking in speed and hospitality. Overall, a good time, and a place I'd recommend for a reunion with friends or even people watching.

We have been to Stanford shopping dozens of times but never knew this restaurant existed. Came with a large party of 10 people, staff was friendly and patient and we were seated at a large table, but not in a private area. Would recommend for a large party - good vibes, lively, not too loud. Easy parking out just outside. Crudo - just okay Insalata Cesare - overall decent, fresh leaves, real anchovies Stracciatella e Bresaola - delicious cheese, prosciutto, paired nicely with kiwi/grapefruit Burrata Carpaccio di Manzo - delicious, well seasoned Calabrese pizza - spicy salami, dough was chewy and delicious Mezzemaniche Cacio E Pepe - perfectly al dente and rich Tagliatelle All' uovo - pasta was very eggy and delicious

A lovely surprise coming here with my grandparents who used to come here when it was the Red Barn! It's become quite the nice Italian restaurant with a great bar and ample seating inside and outside. I'm now partial to the bar area because of the amazing waitress Maritza! She was so attentive and had great recommendations and has been there since the beginning. The drinks were great including the Bees knees and classic Negroni with a good variety in wine list. The pasta was the star - I had the cacio Pepe which was delicious and cheesy and my party was happy with their mushroom tortellini too. The pizza dough was on the slightly undercooked side which is how I like it and we got the one with sausage and pear (such a surprisingly good pairing!) will definitely be back!

First time here and it was a good experience. The restaurant is a little hidden between the children's hospital and shopping mall. There was a lot of parking and the restaurant was spacious inside. Simple decors and a lot of workers. Food was pretty good and we would come back.

Well worth the Michelin guide. 4 of us came for dinner without reservations but were still given a table promptly. We ended up taking a lap around the restaurant and noted how cozy and lovely it was designed to be, especially the corner seating by the bar. Service: 3.5/5 Our server was attentive in the beginning and refilled our water often, but as the night went by, he became more negligent but it was understandable since the restaurant got busy. So a different waiter had to be flagged for our desert menu and check. Food: 5/5 Polipo alla Griglia - The taste was fantastic with its preserved lemon vinaigrette and loved the lettuce. However, there were less than 6 tiny pieces of octopus for $29. Crudo - Never had raw fish with apples and EVOO dressing but boy, were we fans. Yellowfin tuna was soaked in the dressing, which made it taste SO delicious. Moreover, the fish was extremely fresh and buttery on its own. Funghi pizza - I eat pizza once a year but I had 2 slices in one sitting so does that already say something?? The dough was incredibly soft and moist.. since the crust was pretty thick, I thought it'd be tougher to chew but wow, it felt like biting into a moist cloud. The veggies on top were delicious as well. Mezze Maniche Cacio e Pepe - Slightly too salty for my liking but the overall taste was amazing. Lumache all'Amatriciana - The taste was *chef kiss*. Seasoning in this was much more obvious than the other pasta so it was nice to be able to switch up between the two.

Vina is undoubtedly the best restaurant locally when it comes to authenticity of food, ambience, and attention by staff. The care and customer service that is provided by the entire establishment is unmatched and absolutely accounted for the unforgettable dynamic we had last night. The owner truly made us feel like part of his family and personally checked in with our table throughout the evening multiple times, which is a testament to the level of dedication he has to providing a superior experience to each patron. If you are lucky enough to order them, the owner's signature sugar-dusted dough balls are a must. Would highly recommend using both hands to eat them.

If you're looking for a delicious Italian spot, this is it! From the moment you walk in, it feels like you've stepped into Italy. The staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, the pasta is mouthwatering, and the pizza is kid-approved. Their wine and cocktails are just as impressive. We also love that they update their menu based on seasonal ingredients--it keeps things fresh and gives us something new to look forward to every time I visit.

Food is great!! Staff is very help-full and nice great hospitality. The cocktail waitress Maritza is the best she is a wonderful person! I would recommend sitting at the bar for a more intimate date night or if you're trying to get an excellent service I'll go with Maritza. As for the owner of the establishment his name is Rocco he is a cool guy with great wine knowledge only bad thing about him is that he's an Inter Milan fan. :)

Vina Enoteca is one of the prettiest restaurants in the area. The interior is a pleasant industrial chic, which is somewhat unusual in Palo Alto. There is little indication of the building's former life as a barn for horses. However, as the sun sets, one can gaze into lovely gardens that feel of rustic fantasy. The food menu is somewhat sparse, and certainly many of the delicious dishes that you see here on Yelp are no longer served. For example, the squid ink pasta is gone. What's left is somewhat short of meat options; perhaps neuroticism from the nearby medical school has spilled over. However, it is rather good. The bread is a pricey starter indeed, but the nduja butter is fascinatingly delicious. Then I ate the Bolognese tagliatelle pasta. Personally, I thought the noodles were just a touch short of reaching al dente and honestly could not taste the egg in the noodles, but the portion was very generous, there was plenty of meat, and the sauce was decently flavourful.

we had our wedding reception at vina enoteca 1 year ago so of course we had to head back to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. the food, drinks, and service were exactly why we chose this as our wedding venue and we were not disappointed! we got the stracciatella to start and then a piping hot nduja e pere pizza to share and they were both delicious. i had to stop myself from finishing the last slice of pizza so i that i would still have room for my pasta and dessert. for pasta we got the lasagne verde and the lumache. 10/10 for both! for dessert, we went with the chocolate mousse and it was perfect- not too sweet! they were also hosting some event in the outdoor space for the night and even so the ambiance inside was still intimate and welcoming. we know we will be headed back to vina for years to come and would also highly recommend the place if you have an event to host.

Great service. Really pretty ambiance and delicious food. Love the open feeling of the restaurant. They had nice outdoor seating and very open spacious indoor seating. The drinks were on point and the food was all really delicious. We had a number of the appetizers: the straciatella e prosciutto was delicious; the pólipo d'estate was very good; The mezze maniche cacio e Pepe was delicious, so rich and creamy but overly rich. It was really very good. The seared halibut was also very good. Everyone seemed really happy with their dishes.

I look forward to visiting this restaurant again. The food was incredible. The staff was very helpful even running us down as we left our to go box. The ambiance is nice I suggest getting there before 730 that's when I noticed a bit younger of a crowd getting there. That's personal preference as I'd rather dine around people twice my age. The Negronis are as good as you'd think and then some. Pizza is also phenomenal, possible best I've had in California so far. Carpaccio was my favorite of all the dishes I had, but the risotto was also incredible. Highly recommend this place.

Great ambiance, delicious food, good service. What more can you want? Pastas were perfectly al dente. The beef carpaccio was seasoned well. Crudo could have used a little bit more citrus to brighten up the dish. Focaccia was fluffy and came with either a side of olive oil or nduja butter. Pizza crust was tasty but center was a bit soggy for my preference. Would definitely return!

Tried this place for the first time on Wednesday with a friend who frequents this spot. Great food, staff and location. It's hidden between Stanford Mall and the Children's hospital. We had the squid ink spaghetti and mezza. Both were very delicious. We shared a pizza too. I forgot which one but that was made from scratch. I will be visiting again in the future.

Had dinner tonight alone at the bar. My bill included a 20% mandatory gratuity. I won't be returning.

Group dinner weekday evening. Ambience is beautiful with high ceilings and modern space and furniture while still retaining a semi rustic feel. We tried 2 salads and three of the pizzas. Then everyone ordered separate mains which were mainly pastas. I will preface by saying , we just returned from a 2 week trip in Italy, so that is biasing me a little bit. Salads were standard. Pizzas were standouts, with interesting combinations as well as classics (eg Margarita). Great thin crust with airy chewy dough. The pastas were just ok. Most were cooked al dente which we had become accustomed to having come back from Milan. Tiramisu was pretty standard and not anything out of the ordinary. Prices on the medium/high side. There is a parking lot but that gets filled easily but there is ample parking in adjacent lots or at the Stanford mall.

Dropped by Vina Enoteca on a Saturday night with a couple of friends and enjoyed some delicious bites. We made a pretty last minute reservation so glad that they were able to accommodate us! I do recommend making a reservation since it was pretty darn busy when we dropped in and the wait would have been considerable otherwise. Let me just advertise the two types of bread that were served at the start of our meal with a simple little olive oil that was delicious! We didn't order any apps and dove right in with a couple of pizzas and pastas. My friends had the bolognese and the cacio e pepe - both of which the enjoyed. I had the margherita pizza which was a total sight to behold and also deeelicious. Honestly would eat that again in a heart beat! I do wish they had at least one red sauce pasta that was vegetarian, but hey I got my red sauce on pizza as my carb instead of pasta :P Next time, I would definitely be interested in trying some of the appetizers as well! Service was friendly and helpful without making us feel suffocated or overwhelmed. The interior and exterior are both sooo pretty and our food came out at a good pace. Prices are definitely on par with what you get in terms of taste and quality. Parking can be a bit difficult and it does fill up. Swing by if you're in the area and craving some pasta/pizza goodness!

Great service and food! The owner is very sweet and the restaurant is beautiful with a lavender field in the front.

I went here for dinner on Friday with my uncle and his girlfriend, and we all loved the experience! We had salads and a margarita pizza. The portion sizes are great and you can really taste the quality of the ingredients. Our server walked us through the menu and answered any questions we had. The vibes here were also great, casual but a little more upscale. I can't wait to go back!

A 'hidden gem' is what I would call this place. Has been our go-to for the past few years. Located in a quiet lot between Stanford Hospital and Mall. Always good parking. Have yet to have a bad experience here. Staff is always nice, kind, eager to help, and make great recommendations. Food is always above average quality, fresh pasta, decent cocktails, and tasty deserts.

I love Vina Enoteca! We are so lucky to have it so close to the hospital. I probably eat here at least a couple times a month at Stanford events or with my guests. I think the star is the pizza. The margarita pizza in my opinion is absolutely perfect Neopolitian wood fired pizza. I highly recommend eating it fresh on site but I have also ordered the pizza for takeout which was still delicious. There menu does change a little bit with the seasons. I like their ravioli and bolognese. My least favorite is their cacio e Pepe. They make all their pastas fresh and in house. They allow well behaved dogs both inside and outside! They have an excellent wine list and I have shared many bottles of wine here. All were hits. I do try to make reservations on Tock when I'm dining with friends, especially on busy nights like Friday or Saturday.

Resy for group of 10, loves the big table & space of the restaurant. We tried different dishes family style which meant tasting a bunch of delicious dishes but also was unfortunate when it meant only 1 bite each. Great flavor combinations on the menu & would definitely come back

This place should have no less than 5 stars! It is Italian perfection. We enjoyed the most wonderful dinner there. The food is fantastic and the pizza is maybe the best I've ever had (and that is saying a lot). The owner helped serve us and he was so gracious. He had a great knowledge of wine and a good sense of humor to boot. I highly recommend dining here.

Such a cute little Italian restaurant! The food is amazing. They have this delicious pizza that's almost like on a focaccia type bread? Pasta is amazing and their panna cotta is to die for! Great service and the venue is beautiful with its huge lighting structures inside, brick walls, big bar, and adorable patio outside! Actually did an event here and their staff is amazing as well! Definitely dropping by again if I'm in the area!

I just had a very bad experience, We made a reservation a couple of days ago, we wanted to have a nice time with our friends, we made the reservation at 8:45pm, and they never told me that I was able to order in 10 minutes, and we needed more time to order, that means that we weren't able to order some appetizers. That's why we decided to leave and go home. That is unacceptable to me, that they accept a reservation closet to closing time. If you're planing to go there, you need to consider the time.

1. Endive apple salad didn't have endive and apples. We complained, but the waiter charged us the full on our bill. 2. My chair was broken, so I asked to change. The waiter and restaurant manager pointed the another chair. I had to bring a broken chair to the side and carry the better one (still the cushion had tears and scratches). Is this customer's job to carry chairs? 3. We asked our waiter to add extra meat to our bolognese pasta while we offer to pay extra. He took our wish, but the portion was very small. Because of the location, Stanford Hospital visitors and corporate people drop the money with 20% gratuity included in the bill, so they don't have to try their best. Sad.

Went here for a pre-birthday dinner on a Saturday night. We had reservations and I'd recommend making some as the place gets pretty busy. Really like the ambiance of this place. We were super hungry and skipped on ordering apps. I ordered a Margherita pizza and a blood orange spritz to drink. My company ordered the burger. Blood orange spritz was super tasty and the pizza was light with a fluffy crust! Great flavor. I tried some of the fries and dipping sauce that came with the burger and they were delicious. The bar area was super busy and they have a very cute outside tented patio with heaters as well. Overall we enjoyed our experience and we would come back!

Real italian food, not a easy thing to find in the bay area. Great atmosphere, great service. Really good pastas and pizzas, also the other dishes are good. Good cocktails. The desserts used to be really good now just ok, we just skip and get something else

Went to an event here. Their burrata and apps were amazing! Ambiance is sophisticated but down to earth. Pizza was pretty standard but the funghi stood out!

This restaurant was suggested to us by staff at the hospital across the street. The atmosphere was lovely. My coworker had the tortelloni which she said was amazing. I had the lasagna verde. It was wonderful. It had a very unique flavor that was delicious. Our server was very helpful and personable. Highly recommend

We have been to Vina Enoteca several times and they never fail us. Most recently we tried the Gnocco Fritto Prosciutto/ Stracchino which was delicious. The fried dough was light and fluffy and went well with the prosciutto and cheese. The tagliatelle is a go-to and in our most recent trip, I tried the squid ink pasta which had great flavor and hit right with just the right amount of salty flavors. Gnocco Fritto Prosciutto/ Stracchino $23 fried dough, prosciutto di parma 24 months, stracchino Tagliatelle All' uovo $24 homemade spinach tagliatelle pasta, ragù bolognese Squid Ink Pasta $30 homemade squid ink rigatoni, clams, mussels, shrimp, parsley breadcrumbs and tomatoes soffritto

Good food and service. The white wine that our server recommended was great! Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of it to share. Last but not least, it is highly recommended to order their dessert to complete the meal.

The cacio e Pepe is very peppery and has great flavor. The pepper definitely came through strong but I could still taste the cheese well. This was unfortunately the only dish I tried on the menu but it was pretty solid. Next time, I'm hoping to try the bolognese because the person behind me got it and it looked like it had a hefty amount of protein. Taking off a star because they sat me at the bar although there were many open tables, and service/water refills were extremely slow--pasta was peppery so I needed water :( Overall I think vino Enoteca is pretty solid and has potential

Food is great' and ambiance. Service is great when seated and dined, however event planning has been a struggle and continue to be so for whatever reason. Possibly, they need more staff to help out.

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a rough experience. Made a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking was plentiful in the parking lot in front of the restaurant. The restaurant is tucked away behind the parking lot. Indoor and outdoor dining were both available with some staff wearing a mask properly when interacting with customers and more of an ornamental object when not interacting with customers... There were numerous front of the house staff in the restaurant and service was ok when our server was around. There were communication challenges including requesting for hot water, the staff acknowledging, and then pouring cold tap water?!? We requested for a dessert menu that was nowhere to be found? Started off with the Gnocco Fritto Prosciutto/ Stracchino which was the highlight of the meal. The fried dough was very light and the prosciutto was excellent! Had the Maiale as the main course and it was an absolute disaster. The Llano Seco bone in pork chop was served well done and it was dry, bland, and similar to sand paper... I didn't quite understand the butter beans in bagna cauda, swiss chard as it was also bland. The apple conserva was extremely helpful for the extremely dry pork chop. ...it was also extremely odd that the pork chop came out precut so all of the juices all came out of the pork chop... ~$75/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

Wow! This place is a gem with convenient parking, great staff, beautiful location & quality menu items. My family and I came in for dinner on a Saturday night. We were greeted with a glass of rose (because why not?) and everything beyond was fantastic. I was worried about taking my Littles with me, giving that it is a casual, upscale ambience. Thankfully, the staff was highly accommodating and we were seated in the patio. Note- there is no dedicated kids menu, but there are several items including pizza, and or pasta that my kids enjoyed. My favorite dishes included the pork tenderloin, burrata appetizer as well as the panna cotta. Bon appetit!

Best Italian in the Bay Area, Best Atmosphere and Staff in the Bay Area This is a long overdue review of what's become our go-to restaurant (across all cuisines), a homey dining room away from our home's dining room, a place so special that we only bring along our most cherished friends and family. We started coming here 18 months ago, and despite being home cooks who don't go out to eat often, there's no other restaurant we'd rather celebrate life's moments in, both big and small. THE FOOD AND DRINKS Cocktails: Starting with the cocktails, the negronis and martinis are to die for (I love the bianco negroni, classic negroni, and the seasonal martinis, and my fiance loves the espresso martini). These are serious, perfectly-balanced craft creations, not typically found in a restaurant bar but in a standalone cocktail bar. They also have aperitivo hour (I think in the warmer months), with aperol spritzes we cannot wait to try. Wines & Liqueurs: The wine menu is a love letter to Italy's native varietals, with something for everyone, and even wine enthusiasts like myself will always learn something new from Vina's knowledgeable and kind owner, Rocco. I've never had a wine I didn't like here, and when in doubt, you can never go wrong pairing the antipasti with an herbal Friulano white, and the pizza and pasta with a light-bodied but spiced Etna Rosso. I especially love the suggested dessert wine pairings with the desserts (thanks to Rocco and his extensive amaro cellar I was introduced to this wonderful liqueur and its many distinctive variants). Antipasti: The seasonal soups are always unique, complex, and unexpected (we've tried the zuppa di funghi and the previous season's cauliflower soup and both were unbelievable). Next among the must-haves are the fresh focaccia with slightly spicy nduja butter and the straciatella e prosciutto with gnocco fritto (the straciatella will make you forget about burrata real quick). Pizza: Despite not being a dedicated pizzeria, we think Vina makes the best Neapolitan pizza in the Bay Area. The crust is bubbly and charred, and the core is perfectly thin and light. We like all the pizzas but our favorites by far are the Salamino (which has an incredible contrast between the spicy salamino and the perfectly acidic and sweet tomato sauce) and the Margherita (with its buffalo mozzarella, a rarity here in the Bay Area). Pasta: All the pasta is made on site, and they're all exquisite, to such a degree that we've never actually ordered a main dish because we always order multiple pastas. The Cacio e Pepe is probably our favorite, a dish that is so simple in its composition but rich and memorable in flavor, and also plated beautifully. The Lasagne Verde, Bolognese, and Amatriciana are also excellent and we always order a few of these along with the Cacio e Pepe. Coming to Vina made us forget about other Italian places in the area (Terun, Che Fico, Delfina, Doppio Zero), and I think it's way better priced, given the extremely high quality of the food. Even when we went to Italy for three weeks last year, Vina was the barometer for comparison at all the restaurants we tried in culinary destinations like Rome and Naples, and rarely did we have a meal there that came to close to Vina's level. THE ATMOSPHERE Vina's close proximity to Stanford University's arboretum and welcome distance from the busier parts of Palo Alto, along with the beautiful and historic architecture of the Stanford Barn it's located in, make it feel like a peaceful and serene sanctuary. The dining room and bar have a rare balance of rustic and contemporary decor, and the terrace (our favorite) is beautiful with the view of this historic building, the plants, lighting, and Italian music. This terrace is even enjoyable year round thanks to the wind shields and roof covers installed in the colder months (we sit in the terrace year round with our dog who loves coming here and is always greeted and spoiled by the lovely staff). Vina also has a market where you can source your favorite hard-to-find Italian goodies (e.g., guanciale for your carbonara/amatriciana/gricia, wines, etc.). Thanks to all these amenities, we can pretend to live our very own Dolce Vita lifestyle while in the busy Silicon Valley. THE STAFF The best for last. Rocco and his staff (including Marisa, Carol, Alberto and everyone else we've interacted with) are genuinely warm, friendly, and welcoming. We are always overjoyed by everyone's kindness and good nature, it feels like you're having a family meal at home, but in a world-class restaurant. I never thought I'd be one of those people who would have "a place" they'd always go to for years and years, but I feel so lucky and grateful to have found that in Vina Enoteca.

2.5 stars. Really nice setting but the food and service was subpar. The music was either Mexican dance music or music from the 70's. Not super relaxing. The service seemed inflexible. We asked for a table close to the couch area for the toddler and they said that those tables are reserved. Literally only one table showed up out of the 3 when we were dining there. Food lacked flavors of great ingredients from farm to table. Everything tasted flat. Beet salad was decent. Octopus appetizer was ok. Tagliatelle Bolognese was bland (need some more love and time cooking the meat in tomatoes from the farm). beef carpaccio - avoid it at all cost. Too thick. The flavors didn't taste right. There were bits of potato mash with cheese flavor - tasted awful with the beef. The wine by glass selection was good.

Excellent traditional Italian food, pleasant atmosphere in the restaurant or outside in the covered (and warm) patio, and superb service for a very reasonable price. Polipo Alla Griglia - 5 Stars Tagliatelle All' uovo - 5 Stars Barbera Bava, Barbera d'Asti, Piemonte 2019 - 4 Stars but pairs perfectly with the ragu bolognese Seasonal maritozzi - 5 Stars

The restaurant is beautiful - especially the outdoor area. We went in here for a Saturday date night and there were mostly couples, but still families finishing up around 8 pm. I always scout a restaurant for highchairs or if it is more kid-friendly to take my kids again. But though ambiance was casual they did not seem to have an abundant supply of highchairs for the kids where I saw parents holding their babies throughout dinner. The food was okay. Our favorite was the caesar salad (sth about having to order that at an Italian restaurant lol) and the octopus appetizers. The bolognese and lasagna was honestly forgettable. Service was okay, but generous pour on the wine!

Michelin rated place. Nice interior, we have no reservations snd are seated immediately. The menu was sparse and the language needed to be translated, so understanding what you are ordering is difficult. Ordered the sashimi salad, or whatever it's called , it came to the table in a pretty huge bowl , 8" across. The salad was very little greens and 3 pieces of small cut sashimi , probably tuna. It looked like super d so mall portions for $28! I had to order the Brussels sprouts. They tasted amazing snd the presentation was in a small bowl , overflowing with sprouts!! Good job! Very good service, very neat and clean facility. For the price snd size, won't come here very often. Once a year or two.

Very very good food and service. Would recommend to everyone! Bring your friends and family!

I came here for a work dinner last month and picked the spot since the ambiance looked nice from the pictures online. After arriving and walking to the restroom, I realized I had actually been to this restaurant before with family a few years back (we were previously seated in the room in the back since I have a large family). The staff was very friendly and offered recommendations when asked. Our table ordered a funghi pizza, tagliatelle pasta with bolognese, the squash tortellini and I ordered the squid ink linguini pasta. In addition, I was eyeing the sides and noticed that they had brussel sprouts. I asked if they'd be willing to serve a larger portion so that it could be a shareable appetizer and they agreed. Everyone enjoyed their respective meals including myself. The breadcrumbs on top of the pasta added a bit of crunchy texture, the mussels were fairly plump and combined with the squid ink linguini, all the flavors just came together nicely. It was well seasoned, there was garlic of course and a bit of sauce at the bottom, delicious. The brussel sprouts were done very well too. It's one of my favorite vegetables to order since chefs have slightly different takes on them but generally the char, oil, salt and pepper allows the vegetable to shine through as it did here. For dessert we ordered tiramisu. This had chocolate shavings on it which was different. I wasn't terribly impressed with the tiramisu but it was alright. For solid squid ink pasta, I'd recommend this restaurant if you're in the area. The outdoor seating area is very nice and they have heaters outside as well though the weather is a bit chillier at night.

It is a great restaurant for a variety of dishes, including vegan. Nice atmosphere, too.

My favorite Italian restaurant. Great ambience and service. Food is always cooked to perfection.

I have gone to Vina Enoteca a few times and each time, I have absolutely loved it. The ambiance is a bit noisy in the evening but that's because there are a lot of people there. The food is great and I highly recommend the pasta with your choice of wine. The service was also great and our waiter made sure to check on us frequently throughout the night. If you're looking for a nice date night in the Palo Alto area or somewhere to host a nice dinner, this is the place to be. They also have outdoor seating however, it's particularly cold this time of year so majority of people are inside.

I came here for my son's 22nd birthday with a party of 6 and I specified that it was a special occasion. They did not acknowledge it throughout the entire night although I thought they might give him a dessert on the house at the end. Service was extremely poor and the waitress acted like we were an inconvenience. My husband ordered a beer and it was full of foam which is unacceptable. The waitress served it anyways. Very bad experience overall and would not recommend or return. This night was supposed to be a happy occasion and it turned out extremely disappointing. Btw this is a mild and short version of my original review which someone flagged and it is obvious that Yelp removed it for no reason whatsoever. They remove REAL word reviews for the sake of the business and want to put a candy coating over the customer's horrible experience.