Went here with the family and had an amazing time! Please note that the tables with scenic view are only for couples, so if you are together with more people you will be seated inside. The food was really delicious! Tasted really fresh and well seasoned.

If I could give Va Bene 6 stars I would. This restaurant is a gem! Experienced one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. Everything about it was perfection. If you visit Duluth, this is a must visit. The view is beautiful, right on the lake. In addition to indoor seating, they have an enclosed terrace with a view as well as a few outdoor tables on the deck. Great wine selection and and very reasonable prices overall. I would recommend reservations. I am already dreaming of going back!!

Best Italian food around! 2 patios (lower and upper), overlooking the water as trains slowly pass by, birds fly around, and you enjoy each bite. We had an amazing server that gave us excellent advice on how to walk off our meal, and enjoy the finer parts of Duluth. I'm beyond impressed! A Must Try, just don't expect to find parking very easy, in this bustling and beautiful area.

Such a great little Italian restaurant! All of the food is so amazing, and the staff is so professional and nice. You can be just as casual as you want, or dress up and make it a special date for fine dining. There is absolutely nothing not to love about this place!

Excellent meal! They have three separate eating areas in summer: inside dining room, enclosed patio, and a covered downstairs open air patio overlooking the water. We sat in the third space mentioned and it was wonderful! The pesto frutti di mare was, hands down, the best meal. It isn’t a typical pesto, it’s more of a pink sauce and it’s soooo good. Accompanied with great scallops and shrimp. Perfection. The pasta primavera was also high quality; we changed to angel hair pasta and added meatballs. 👍🏼 finally, the Sicilian pesto with chicken added was also delightful, just not as much as the frutti di mare. 🤩

Location is the best in Duluth. Have been there couple of times whenever we go from Twin Cities to Duluth. The view to the bridge, lake and port is just so good and relaxing. This place takes you to the Mediterranean Sea and coast. Service is good, food is nice! Definitely recommended.

Va Bene has a very small space, and it’s always as packed as it can be. The food is great. Its the best pasta you’re going to find in town, and they usually have something interesting to offer for dessert. Great wine list. There are also several seating options that give great views of the lake during good weather. Less great - it’s busy, so it’s hard to get a table, especially as tourist season ramps up. I have never been able to walk in and get a table. You need a reservation, but even if you make one, there’s a high chance that your table won’t be ready and you’ll be waiting anyway. Sometimes 30 minutes. The service is also…something. It isn’t bad, exactly? That’s not the word I’d use. More like a culture of standoffishness permeates the place. The servers are not there to serve, they are there to churn you through and flip the table, and they aren’t good at hiding it. I felt rushed and like they were impatient, except all the guests are supposed to be patient for the wait staff. It’s strange and doesn’t make the restaurant feel welcome. As for the food, it is really great, but if you are a local looking for some change…the menu here doesn’t. Same old standards, every time you come in. If you’re looking for some variety, it does get old after a bit if you’re planning on being a repeat customer.

Whenever I visit Duluth, this is the restaurant that I always make an intentional effort going to. The food here is great. What makes this place even better is the fact that diners have the ability to sit right next to the window to have a view of the lake! On a day with good weather, especially when the sun is out, sitting by the window or even outside is just perfect! In terms of food, some of my strongest recommendations are the pesto frutti de mare, the gnocchi, the caprese, the honey goat cheese with pear crostini, the pomodoro e palpette di carne, the pasta alla zucca violina, and the bruschetta. Among all of them, the honey goat cheese with pear crostini is a very pleasant surprise because I have not had anything similar in other Italian restaurants, so when I ordered them, they left a huge impression in my brain. The pistachio gelato is a an excellent dessert, too. This is not to discredit any of the other dishes I have gotten, though! Almost everything has been great. The only dishes that I think can use some improvement are the salmon fresca and the Italian sausage soup (the salmon was slightly fishy and did not mesh with the rest of the ingredients in terms of flavor, and the Italian sausage soup was not seasoned enough in general). In conclusion, I recommend everyone visiting the Duluth area to give this establishment a visit as I consider it a staple restaurant in the city!

Va Bene was recommended to us by a friend. We made a reservation for 5pm and requested the lake view. We were sat immediately, our server was friendly, and food came out fast. Incredibly cozy ambience. Espresso martini was delicious. Also highly recommend the Roasted Red Pepper Spread for an appetizer. I had the Pasta Alla Zucca Violina (incredible) and my husband had Gorgonzola Al Peperoncino. There isn’t anything I would change about this experience. It was a memorable night, thank you Va Bene!

Be sure to make a reservation as they fill up fast! Beautiful spot to enjoy delicious meals! We were sitting in the grotto around 11:45am, so it was very sunny but had spectacular views. Also, depending on when you go, the north shore train passes by the restaurant! Would 100% recommend coming here!

Nice Italian spot right off Lake Superior. I had the Honey Goat cheese w/ Pear Crostini, and the Prosciutto, Gorgonzola /fig jam Crostini, and a Latte. It all was quite good! Staff were nice, seated promptly after arriving for reservation. View of the lake is also quite nice.

Drove up from Minneapolis to dine here & was not disappointed! Amazingly attentive service, beautiful lake view. The food is so authentic and bursting with flavor. Everything I tried was mouth watering and satisfying. Highly recommend! One of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in the state. My 3 year old even enjoyed his whole meal and he’s a picky eater. Chefs kiss!

I loved this place very much. Small and cozy. Little cramped when it's busy but still amazing. Me and my wife sat in the area over looking the lake. It was very beautiful. The food was great but the biggest thing was our server Amanda. She was one of if not the best all around server we've ever had! You felt like you were visiting a friend at work while speaking with her. The entire service industry seems like they kind of forgot about being nice and personable but not Amanda. They definitely should recognize her extra effort to make everyone feel welcome. In a world of lackluster Customer service be more like Amanda. If you and your significant other want a nice little lunch or dinner stop by and you'll love it. 10 out of 10 will be back.

While the parking is definitely lacking the food and atmosphere DEFINITELY make up for it! The Italian sodas were to die for, and the food itself is amazing. I went in expecting freshly made pasta but was pleased with my order. Oh the snickers cheesecake is definitely a must get!

Great view overlooking the shore of Lake Superior. The spicy sausage soup was excellent. The wild caught salmon pasta was exceptional. Solid service and value.

First, there isn’t much parking around so be prepared. Second, the façade definitely fooled me. The back has beautiful views of Duluth and Lake Superior. You can specifically reserve for this spot, but only if there’s two of you. Third, the food is 4.5/5. We enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. The serving size I thought was a tad smaller than the usual American restaurants we’ve been to. Prices are very reasonable though.

Had a lovely dinner on a Friday night with a view of the lake from the solarium. We had made reservations, and ended up with a window seat. There's also a main indoor dining room and an outdoor patio during warmer months. I got the iced tea and chicken alfredo, which is usually my go-to for pasta. It was delicious and filling, especially after the bread they gave us to start the meal. Service was efficient and friendly. I'd definitely come back and visit in the summertime!

We adore this place. It holds a very special place in our hearts - we visited on our first ever trip as a couple, returned the day we got engaged, and then came back once again last weekend. Gorgeous views, attentive staff, and amazing food. I want to visit here every time I’m in the area! PS. The rainbow pic is from our first trip here.

Va Bene was delicious! Everything is mode-made and super fresh, and they have a wide variety of choices. I highly recommend the chocolate cake to finish off your meal. They also have a section of seating that has a beautiful view of the lake! Reserving a time slot for the sunset makes for an awesome meal. The staff were very friendly as well!

Great food, friendly people, and wonderful view! Please, take a seat outside, you won’t regret it! Our first meal while visiting Duluth was soooooo successful, thank you! I hope I can revisit sometime in the future. 😊 Best Italian restaurant ever! ♥️

HIGHLIGHT of our Duluth trip!!! We got lucky being seated in the Grotto, what a stunning view of lake Superior! The Bistecca, Preferto Della Casa, Alfredo, Honey goat cheese with pear crostini and Gelato were to DIE for. Fresh made pasta is made with so much love. They were out of the gnocchi which was devastating but only means I'll have to go back to try it!!

Best pasta ever! We absolutely loved the rosemary focaccia served before the main course. The drinks were well balanced and complimented our dishes well. We had a great seat by the window in the enclosed solarium and watched the train and ships go by. The service was excellent. Wish we would have saved room for Gelato as it looked enticing on the way in and out of the restaurant. Highly recommend reservations if you know you'll be in the area.

Definitely my favorite place to eat in Duluth! The appetizers and pasta are absolutely amazing, and the lake view is stunning. I love all their pasta but I’m partial to their shells because they hold a ton of sauce. The service is friendly but it is busy so make a reservation.

We were very happy with our dining experience. The service, food, and ambiance were wonderful. When making the reservation, I was able to get a table in the solarium (which I highly recommend). Great view. Hubby had the Salmon Fresca, and I had the Conchigle Con Funghi. Both were outstanding. Of course, we both had to try the Gelato. We will definitely come back next time we are in town.

Great experience at this restaurant. Service was on point, prices are fair and the food is really great. Better than we expected. Would be considered more pricey than most place’s probably but it’s worth it for the food. Environment is friendly, we wore shorts and there wasn’t any issues.

The food.. the service.. THE VIEW.. I can't say enough good stuff about this cute playing the shore. Trust me.. you need a reservation and trust me.. book it for the patio outside. There isn't anything between you and that beautiful blue water. The food is so delicious. The staff is so knowledgeable and has no problem explaining what everything is, if you're a sheltered foodie like myself. It is a bit pricey, but trust me... you're worth it!

My partner and I had lunch here last weekend. We made a reservation for the grotto, but got a text about being moved due to inclement weather. We assumed we’d be moved inside, but we’re pleasantly surprised that we were moved to the atrium. The view was perfect. Even on a rainy day, just beautiful. Definitely make reservations. Other reviews have complained about parking, but even on a Saturday afternoon we got lucky and quickly found close, free parking. We also did not feel rushed during our meal at all as others have noted. Service was good, though the waitress was kind of touchy with my partner, which made both of us a little uncomfortable. We had the burrata appetizer, Italian sodas, the pear and goat cheese panini with the beet salad, the salmon filet pasta and Italian cream cake with espresso. Everything was delicious. The one disappointing part of the meal was that the pasta we ordered did not match what we expected to get, based on the description. The menu said that it was a seared salmon filet with a light lemon cream sauce. What we got were chunks of salmon that didn’t seem to have any sear, and what was much more of an oil-based sauce than any sign of cream. There was no lemon flavor, and the flavor of the dish came, instead, largely from the tomatoes. The flavors didn’t necessarily mesh the best together for us, but the individual parts of the dish were still very enjoyable. When eaten together, it seemed to bring out an unpleasant fishiness to the salmon. An adjustment to the description of this dish could resolve the issue of misled expectations. We will be back up north in a few weeks and already have reservations to return, so all in all, would definitely recommend.

We were seated outside (made a reservation) with a breathtaking view of Lake Superior. The wait staff was very prompt and our drinks and food were absolutely amazing. It was all very fresh, extremely flavorful, and we savored every bite. We will definitely be back!

I got the Alfredo which was delicious! It was just the right amount of creaminess and didn’t lack any flavor. We also got the focaccia which was only $4 and came with 6 pieces of focaccia. Everything was delicious and the view was the cherry on top. Love this place!

My daughters and I enjoyed our experience sitting outside with a beautiful view of the lake. It was quite a chilly evening but the heaters and blankets made it cozy and fun. Service was lovely. The food was really nicely prepared and we all enjoyed our dishes. Prices hover around $20-$25 for most entrees on the dinner menu. Portions are generous. Each of us will have a nice lunch with the remaining that we just couldn't finish. We shared the lemon cello cake and cup of espresso. It was so amazing. You must check this place out on your next trip to Duluth.

Excellent..Excellent. Our first visit & we secured a lakeside table outside during a beautiful day. Great drink selection & we shared a pasta dish which was superb! Wanted their house made gnocchi, but they sold out by 1:00pm. Had two desserts...all very tasty. Beautiful setting and plan to go again.

If I could rate this place an 8 star, I would! Awesome birthday lunch ever!!! Husband Let our waiter decide a dish for him..and it was a great choice and Gluten-free! ♥️♥️

I was sold on the view before I went here as I’m sure you’re checking it out on these reviews as well? The view is great as you can see in my photo, but and there’s a big BUT, you are packed into a very small box like space to have that view. You’re on top of the next table which is no different than if you’re eating in Manhattan. I’ve been to New York City countless times and this is the type of Little Italy close proximity dining space you’ll encounter, if you want that lake view. The table next to you could reach over and grab the pepper off your table, it’s that close. You can hear everyone’s conversations clearly since sounds get amplified in the small box like space. Also, being it’s such a small space (lake view section), you’re either going to be freezing or very hot due to the lack of ventilation and/or airflow in that particular space. Food was good but nothing that will make you crave anything after you leave.

Always wanted to go here for the view with dinner. The food was good. The salmon risotto was flavorful, and the portion was large. The gnocchi with pesto sauce was kinda boring without a protein. Can't remember the name of the other pasta dish; it was supposed to be pasta with veggies, but there was hardly any veggies in it. The best entree and the one I highly recommend is the risotto with the steak and mushroom sauce. It was so so good!

Came here for Gelato. My partner got the chocolate and I got lemon. The chocolate was some of the best I have ever had. The lemon was too sweet. The place was clean and staff was sweet.

Our experience was okay. Service was a little slow. We started with the honey goat cheese with pear crostini and that wasn't too bad. Our food took a long time to come so they gave us some free focaccia with olive oil and balsamic vinergar to tide us over in between. I got the conchigle con fungi and it was rather tasteless. My husband got the Salmon Fresca and he enjoyed it. It had much better flavour. Ambience is more of a cafe feel rather than a proper sit down restaurant. If you can get a seat in the grotto, the view is truly spectacular. This seems to be one of the better places to dine in Duluth.

Excellent service and food! I had the beef tips with pasta and gorgonzola sauce and it was incredible! Beautiful setting right on Lake Superior.