My family and I decided to eat here because we've never tried it before. It has its ups and downs. I had the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken that was good just needed a little salt. My wife had fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp was the flavor was complicated. The pasta and sauce were good but unfortunately the shrimp was boiled but had no flavor. Her mother had spaghetti and meatballs that were good but the sauce wasn't exactly bursting with flavor. Our appetizers were garlic knots that had way more garlic than necessary and the inside was raw dough. We also had mozzarella sticks that were good but they use a universal marinara. I understand that there are a variety of diets out there but a little seasoning could go a long way.

First class, top notch, everything that you could ever want in a restaurant. Customers start lining up before opening for their Sunday only special which is the lobster ravioli. Delicious, as was everything else we ordered. What a great staff too. Could not be happier with our dining experience. 😃

WOOHOO!!!!! Great place! DO NOT drive by here! Your taste buds and stomach WILL regret it! Have lived here all of my life and had never been. Should have way sooner. Hubby took me for an early birthday supper. OMGosh-FABULOUS....AWESOME.....AMAZING!!!!. Friends had recommended Vinnie's and it was everything they said it was and more. The vibe of community and friends was all around. It was old school New York according to my friend who is a Carolina transplant via Queens. Seriously Colby was great-loved his attentiveness and knowledge of the menu and the items on it. Appreciate everyone and YES they sang Happy Birthday to me!! Please do yourself a favor, stop by.... soak in the great energy and wonderful food. Your mouth will have a party. We ordered lasagna and eggplant parm-yummy to both. I forgot to take a picture until I was finished with the complimentary birthday cheesecake. Haha! creamy deliciousness! Treat yourself!!! Enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine! I even bought a tee!!! Have fun and go often!!! It truly was a great dining experience!!!

Took my mother here for for 79th birthday dinner. Hoping for great Italian food, but instead got subpar food. The only great thing was the mozzarella sticks. The garlic knot was the worst, couldn't even eat them, just hunks of garlic, doughy on the inside just gross. The Spaghetti and Meatballs was good, but not brusting with flavor. Shrimp Alfredo and Chicken Alfredo was complicated the Alfredo was good, good flavor and cheesy, but the Shrimp was BOILED with no flavor and over cooked. The Chicken was not seasoned and was a little dry. But overall not that bad of an experience. I kinda Recommend just be cautious of what you order.

Locally owned & operated New York style Italian place. Good menu with nightly specials. Indoor & dog-friendly patio seating. Plenty of free parking. Garlic knots were good, but a little on the crusty side. Sausage Peppers & Onions entree was flavorful & satisfying. NY Cheesecake is ricotta-based. Good, but not what people tend to think of as NY cheesecake. Service was very professional & knowledgeable.

$6 martinis on Friday nights are the best mixed drink deal you're going to find that isn't mass made ahead. They make them all to order, I like the lemon drop. Last I checked they do not take reservations, so usually there is a wait. They do have a nice waiting area set up though and I would recommend you get a drink while you wait. Been here a few times now, love this place. It has a great atmosphere and the food is amazing. We had the arancini appetizer, absolutely amazing. It's basically risotto balls stuffed with cheese and deep fried. Cesar salads with anchovies followed by the linguini and scallops for me and the twice baked lasagna for my boyfriend.

Excellent Italian restaurant. I had the lasagne with extra meat sauce and wifey had the Spaghetti with Sunday Gravy (meatballs and sausage). Both were excellent and highly recommended. The $6 martinis didn’t hurt either. NOTE: Even though there is a picture of pizza in some of the first photos, this restaurant does not serve pizza, at all. I think they used to but quit some time ago.

This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a restaurant! Amazing atmosphere and a wonderful, fun staff- our server Mike was amazing, we loved how he shared some fun details about the restaurant and gave us great recommendations on the menu. The food of course was impeccable also, loved the classic spaghetti and meatballs. Definitely a must if visiting Asheville!

If you know what "real" Italian food taste like, you must go to Vinnie's!! Amazing meal from start to finish. Best lasagna I have ever had! Top notch service as well!

From the moment my boyfriend and I walked in we felt welcomed. I loved that everyone says "welcome to Vinnie's" every time someone walks in. The staff was very friendly and approachable. Our server, Dan, was attentive and observant. The food was incredibly delicious. Hands down the BEST Italian food we have ever had in the United States.

First time, went on a Friday. It's hectic at peak times since they don't do reservations, but you can get seating at the bar if you're dining in. There's even a 'back' bar where a few young kids were eating with their folks. An option if you like bar stools and dining facing a wall! If you're in for a wait, half the outdoor patio space is dedicated for waiting. It's got water, seating, it's covered, and you can order drinks at the bar. I can't imagine coming here with more than four people and not expecting to wait. Fortunately, Fridays are $6 martini nights (well gin or vodka). Parking is nuts. Their parking lot does not match their capacity, so plan on finding alternate parking. Or take Lyft and then take advantage of the daily drink special. Solution-oriented folks appeared to be parking in the lots across Merrimon, the larger of which didn't appear to have a parking notice posted. I arrived at 6, sat myself at the bar and ordered a dirty gin martini (no vermouth), half an order of the garlic knots, the linguini with clams in white wine, and the white cake. All 5/5. The garlic knots were sitting in a yummy pool of garlic and olive oil and were liberally doused with Parmesan. The linguini was a large portion of pasta, cooked beautifully al dente, with six or so clams-in-shell on top and absolutely chock-full of chopped clams and garlic. They should call it garlic lovers linguini and you should avoid it at all costs if you don't like garlic. They also do table side Parm grating, if you're into that. Every bite was a delight, and i enjoyed spinning my forkfuls of pasta on the giant spoon that came with the dish, using it to load up each bite with sauce, clam, and garlic. The ladies beside me ordered the Caesar without anchovies, which tells me they make the dressing in-house. Noted for next time. I also want to try the red sauce with pasta - the garlic knots were served with a side of red sauce, which I wasn't overwhelmed by, so ordering another plate of pasta is the clear scientific solution. The white cake I ordered to-go, so it came packed in a sturdy container and cute little bag stamped with the Vinnie's name. I didn't have any expectations, hadn't read anything about it, didn't look at pictures. But I've had tiramisu and it was the one different dessert they offered and I was curious. Y'all, it's gonna be this year's birthday cake. The cake is so yummy, but the texture threw me off at first bite. I was expecting a light, airy, vanilla cake. So I went in for another bite and it was like that scene from Ratatouille when Remi ate the cheese and fruit together for the first time. Fireworks. It's denser, like almond cake (could BE almond cake), isn't too sweet, and pairs beautifully with the slightly sweeter velvety, airy, white frosting. The cake has three layers, is frosted and filled with what I assume is Italian meringue, coated with shredded coconut, and filled in the middle with almond slices. The cake is a joy of flavor and texture. Is Vinnie's authentic Italian? I'm not Italian, so I couldn't tell you. I can tell you that I had a wonderful meal, and that's what counts.

Excellent food! We ordered garlic knots, fried calamari, Caesar salad & spaghetti with Sunday gravy meatballs and sausage. Everything was amazing! $6 martinis on Friday nights!!!

Ah, amico! Let me share the delightful experience I had at The Original Vinnie's. First off, the fried cauliflower, it's unique! Think of it like a fun twist on a classic, with a texture that reminds you of those adventurous days with uncle Luigi. The dressings? They're a lively blend; think Italian dressing and mayo putting on a festive show, with just the right touch of spice. The garlic knots? Truly a work of art. You'll appreciate their robust character, reminiscent of the handcrafted goods from Nonno's time. It's an acquired taste for those who adore the rich history of Italian cuisine. Our waiter was bursting with enthusiasm. He took his time to ensure everything was just right, like a master craftsman. The seafood pasta? It's a refreshing plunge into the Mediterranean, with an unexpected citrusy twist. The mushrooms have a classic, age-old taste, reminiscent of the stories from the old country. The bread? Authentic and hearty, bringing back memories of traditional Italian households. The pasta is nostalgic, reminding you of those simpler times when creativity was king. As for the wine, it tastes like a young vine's eager attempt to impress. For the prices, think of it as paying for an experience; it's not every day you get to feel like you're in a charming Italian trattoria! Keep shining, Vinnie, we believe in your magic!

I’ve wanted to try this place for a while. It’s good. I always thought I can do pasta at home. Not even. The sauce on the meatball appetizer was delicious. The ricotta balls rocked and the sauce had a slight cream. However the Marsala was super bland even the potatoes and spinach were blah. And the carbonara was also uninspiring. That said I will give it another shot. They do allow dogs on the patio. The inside is small and cramped.

Vinnie’s was a wonderful experience. Hit the spot for pasta craving! Ordered the famous garlic knots. Chicken parm. Everything was delicious and cooked well. No complaints! Will definitely return if I’m in the area again.

This place is awesome in my opinion. Asheville has a lot to offer but Vinnie's is 5 star in quality, service and consistency. It may sound crazy but we drive over an hour and stay in Asheville to enjoy this experience. The mussel appetizer with spicy sauce , well it didn't last long enough to photograph sorry.

Small town gem! Started with fresh, homemade bread and olive oil/balsamic vinegar. I ordered a lemon drop martini and the penne vodka… both were delicious! I’ve never had such quick service. Affordable, high-quality, and such a cute place! Highly recommend.

We really enjoyed our date night out at Vinnie’s! Friendly staff and great service. The bread was great. We enjoyed our meals. The chicken Parmesan was very good and plenty to eat. It was a laid-back atmosphere. Reasonably priced. It’s not too fancy of a place. We would definitely return!

Don’t go if you can’t go back the next day! ITS THAT GOOD!!! Everything we ordered was amazing! Tiramisu is to die for! Place was great, people where nice! This is the all time best place I have ever ate at!!!! Only bad thing is that it is almost 3 hrs away from my home! 😭

I haven't eaten here in a few years, and was a little disappointed in the food and service. The Aracini this time was very thick and gummy, and had a LOT of cheese, versus the lovely creamy risotto insides that we had last time. And I didn't care for the smoked red sauce that came with it, but instead preferred the marinara sauce we got last time. Our server was perfectly nice, but not very attentive. However, it was very busy, and she may have had too many tables to give us much attention, which is not really her fault.

The fettucine alfredo was excellent. Once I can get over ordering it, I'll actually try other dishes. It is a bit pricey and has other extra charges which I'm not use to but at least the food was delicious.

Delicious Italian food with great service. Our server Harry was fantastic and made sure our order was taken promptly and we had everything we needed. We enjoyed the garlic knots and fried calamari for the appetizers, which were delicious. Loved the entrees as well, which were the chicken parmesan and linguine pescatore. The restaurant was a bit busy during our visit on a Friday night, so the entrees took roughly 30 minutes or so after ordering, but the flavor was fantastic. The linguine pescatore also came out cold, but our server was great and ensured that the dish would be cooked fresh again, which was very much appreciated. Overall, great service and delicious food! Excellent spot for an Italian dinner in Asheville.

Italian restaurant with great food and service. The baked ziti and salmon were very good. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Wait for a table was about 30 minutes on Wednesday at 6:30p. Ample parking surrounds the restaurant. Unisex restrooms were very clean. Easy to see why this is one of Asheville's favorite restaurants.

We had a blast at Vinny's Italian Restaurant! It was a lively crowd who yelled, Hey, welcome to Vinny's!", whenever anyone came in the door. My mom had delicious scallops over pasta. There were only three, but they were very large, seared, and fantastic! (Oops forget to take a pic). I had eggplant parmesan that was delicious! Nearly as good as the eggplant I've made for years. He, he, 😆 A little one in our family had a child's portion of spaghetti with one giant meatball. It was a noisy fun place. You do not want to take a quiet date there.

I am from the Northwest, Seattle area and I am not sure if we at just spoiled with excellent Italian cuisine but I was disappointed with Vinnie’s. It had been recommended by a couple of people at the Biltmore for Italian food. The parking is terrible. The restaurant is clean enough and acceptable and the service was efficient but not necessarily prompt. The wait time for food was excessive for dishes that we all know are already prepared like the lasagna. The lasagna was very basic with very basic layering. The portion was big though. I had the lobster ravioli, a special on the menu… but it wasn’t. I actually would give it 3.5 stars but it is not an option. It certainly is not a four star. So it’s a three. It might be the best local option available and that just makes it more sad. The calamari was chewy. I have had tiramisu at restaurants around the world, it’s always my go to desert. On a comparable scale, this was the second worst tiramisu I’ve had. I could tell them how to fix it if they read this review but they probably won’t.

Man were we disappointed. We were staying in Asheville for the night and wanted a nice authentic Italian restaurant, so we got off the main strip and headed north to Vinnie's. We should have known what we were getting into when we were seated and not waited on for 15 minutes. As you can see from my photo the serving size was a disgrace. Unfortunately cannot recommend this place. Better service & food at an Olive Garden.