VIA VAI

"The perfect balance of comfort food and elegance in an unassuming part of Astoria. A must visit if you’re a local. And if you’re not, stop in anyway. I can’t imagine anyone not loving the food and wanting to come back again and again."

"The best Italian dishes for homesick Italians 40.77421 -73.91272 Italian restaurant, featuring Roman chef Antonio Morichini, next to the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard subway station has the obligatory photos of the chef with celebrities on the wall. The menu is pure Italian with specialties of today. Work on your Italian at this Michelin Bibi Gourmand restaurant. In June 2023, the calamari as an appetizer were very good. Deliciously fresh and cooked well. The risotto was creamy but not too soft. I always need 30 minutes to get to this point. How does the chef do it? The restaurant serves only Italian wines. The white Verdiccho was good. Via Vai serves the best Italian food for homesick Italians and all people who love Italian food. Highly recommended."

"Absolutely great. The wood fired pizza was crispy on the bottom and had the perfect amount of substance to the dough. I often find this style of pizza can become too floppy when the dough is too thin, but this had the perfect balance of being delicate and thin, but still having a body that holds the structure. The daily special was shrimp ravioli, which was *divine*. Perfectly cooked, thin delicate wrappers, with a light yet flavorful butter thyme mixture. The flavors are so delightful, and you can tell the pasta is really high quality. The bolognese was also amazing - the meat sauce was very rich and the pasta is made fresh. Service was extremely kinda and welcoming. Not too busy for a weekend, and the server was extremely helpful in understanding the menu. A limited amount of outdoor seating and a large window perfect for summer evenings. There’s a nice wine selection that I hope to try when I visit again."

"I had a great experience at Via Vai! The ambiance is cozy and inviting, and the service was attentive throughout my meal. The salmon tartare was a highlight of the meal, with fresh and delicious flavors that left me wanting more. The pappardelle with lamb and asparagus was also quite tasty, with a nice balance of flavors and textures. While I found the pizza to be average (it wasn't quite neapolitan style, which is my personal preference, but roman style), I still enjoyed it. The biggest disappointment for me was the pistachio gelato - I found it too sweet and couldn't taste as much pistachio flavor as I had hoped. The restaurant has a good selection of wines to pair with your meal. Overall, I would definitely recommend giving Via Vai a try and enjoying their flavorful dishes!"

"The food was delicious. All our pasta dishes were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I also love the meatballs (I ate everything before the picture). The service was a little slow, but we didn’t mind it; we had a great time."