Very cool place! I was unfamiliar with this venue, nor that they have great live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. I only know how to dance two styles, and that's '80s New Wave, and East Coast Swing ?. I was actually able to dance New Wave to some of the songs, and that's very rare these days. Great band and bartenders!
Great restaurant in the heart of Ahwatukee, serving delicious food , very elegant and 5 stars service.
Outstanding service, ambiance, and food. Five of us shared the Calamari, which was perfectly prepared. I love lamb, order it at every opportunity, and have probably eaten lamb shank prepared 20 different ways in 20 different restaurants. Until last night, my favorite had been the braised version at the since closed Bistro 110 in Chicago. That's now in second place. If you love lamb, go to Va Bene and order theirs as soon as you can. Perfectly cooked, nearly falling off the bone, yet still juicy and moist from the skin to the bone. Served in a thick, full-flavored dark red sauce that looked like it could have overpowered the lamb, but instead perfectly matched and enhanced the flavor that attracts lamb lovers. Served on top of a creamy feta risotto that was so good I would order it by itself as a side if I ever chose an entree that didn't already include it. Each of the several servers that came to our table during our visit was happy, kind, and attentive, always seeming to be at the table exactly when we had a request, but never feeling intrusive. They worked well together and seemed to enjoy each other. At one point, one of the guys from behind the bar came out to fill water glasses. When someone at the table commented on it, he seemed taken aback that it might appear unusual and said something like, "Oh, yeah. You do what's needed". We're just visiting the Phoenix area, but if we were residents Va Bene would be on my list of go-to restaurants.
Delicious Italian. I had the pasta with chicken and mushrooms and my son had the bolognese which were both great. My husband had the fish special which he said was okay but we told him that fish in Arizona probably wasn't the best choice. His mushroom soup was tasty though. The portions were large and our waiter warmed up as the evening went on. Got the chocolate cheesecake to go which was also good (too full to eat it there!).
Competent, but not fantastic Italian food. Sauces are heavy in consistency and coverage. Veal sliced thin and slightly tough. Sweet raspberry vinaigrette on Mediterranean salad is...weird. Good attentive service, food out timely. Surprisingly loud in dining room. Band in bar area didn't help noise level, but really wasn't a huge impact. Pricing is moderate to high, with meal( apps, entree) about $40pp before drinks and tip.
Delicious Italian. I had the pasta with chicken and mushrooms and my son had the bolognese which were both great. My husband had the fish special which he said was okay but we told him that fish in Arizona probably wasn't the best choice. His mushroom soup was tasty though. The portions were large and our waiter warmed up as the evening went on. Got the chocolate cheesecake to go which was also good (too full to eat it there!).
Great ambient. Really good music. A variety of drinks on the menu. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their night. The waitress was super nice and attentive as well. However I was expecting the food to be at the same level of all of this. It was ok. The minestrone soup had no flavor at all compared to others that I tried before.
True Italian dining! A beautiful ambience here, with great service. I had the BEST veal marsala I've ever eaten! Just scrumptious, and the julienned vegetables were perfectly done. Bruschetta was plentifully topped, but it was a bit too much garlic for me. Others at the table enjoyed it very much. All plates were delicious and nicely presented. The menu was so varied, that all of us had trouble deciding between several delightful options. The wine menu was not extensive, but offered an assortment at all price points. We highly recommend Va Bene!
Ok to start we ate in the lounge not the main dinning room. The food was solid but our wait staff was disappointing slow service the waitress gave us water but never took a drink order to start. Our salads came out quick. But our main courses took over an hour to come out. We ordered basic pasta dishes with no meat so cook time can be an excuse. Then we never got drink refills till the end and it was water only. Great food poor service.
Excellent food. Great outdoor seating, with plenty of heaters. Wonderful vibe, with super-friendly staff. Service was a bit spotty, with 10-15min waits for every request (incl. more than 20min for a glass of water).