Founded by one of the most prominent and successful restaurateurs, Via Vite offers an authentic Italian dining experience right in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. Enjoy our 5-layer house-made Lasagne for dinner every Friday! Every Tuesday we feature a full portion of our delicious Bolognese, a side salad, and a slice of Allez bread for only $14!
Got into town in time for dinner and went to the most wonderful restaurant right in fountain square. Our meal was absolutely awesome and the service alone earns a five-star rating. Had a window seat overlooking the ice rink and enjoyed the ambiance even on a cold winter weeknight. Try the bruschetta with fig and goat cheese and you'll find yourself smiling during the rest of your meal.
Got into town in time for dinner and went to the most wonderful restaurant right in fountain square. Our meal was absolutely awesome and the service alone earns a five-star rating. Had a window seat overlooking the ice rink and enjoyed the ambiance even on a cold winter weeknight. Try the bruschetta with fig and goat cheese and you'll find yourself smiling during the rest of your meal.
Services
Born and raised in Florence, Italy, Chef Cristian Pietoso is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Florence, Bernardo Buontalenti. Chef Pietoso has worked in some of the world's top restaurants including Cibreo in Florence, under Chef Fabio Picchi and the Savoy Hotel in London. In 2004, Cristian moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to join his father at Nicola's Ristorante as the Executive Chef.
A continually evolving repertoire sourcing the finest imported and local ingredients; some classics, some reworking of old favorites, and new dishes for each season! Fulfill your craving for old world Italian service and authentic cuisine while taking in the breathtaking views of downtown Cincinnati!
5-6 Guests or more, we allot 2 and a half hours for the reservation (depending on size of party, this amount can be adjusted accordingly). Due to reduced capacity, we kindly ask that you stay within that time frame so that we can ensure every guest has an exceptional experience. We will hold your table for 10 mins after reservation time.
Reviews (22)
Kasey H.
Jan 20, 2022
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Jennifer Berry
Jan 01, 2022
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Codee R.
Dec 31, 2021
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It was not up to par. We waited over an hour for our Entrees after being told there was a printer issue about 45 minutes in and that our food would be right out. Another 20 minutes at least before we received our food. My meatballs were mediocre and very tangy, almost bitter. The mushroom au gratin was nowhere near what I hoped, very watery. The bruschetta was delicious and left a positive lasting impression. We also wanted to order dessert even after all that and asked for a menu. The waitress acknowledged and came back 10 to 15 minutes later asking if we wanted to order dessert. We kindly let
Ryan Traxler
Dec 24, 2021
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Samantha Lairson
Dec 22, 2021
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We went to Via Vite for pizza, which do not serve any longer. We did end up getting appetizers and drinks. We ordered the Fig and Goat Cheese Bruchetta, which was different and amazing! I also ordered the Sgroppino drink. It was absolutely delicious and sweet. It was Ruby Red Grapefruit Sorbet, Grapefruit Vodka and Prosecco. Very light sweet drink ❤
Kelly L.
Dec 17, 2021
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I reluctantly gave this a 3 star review but that feels especially generous! We've been coming here for years. The last two visits have been extremely disappointing. Tonight, we found out they have discontinued pizzas (one of our main reasons to come here). When I ordered a Cabernet (basic wine to expect at an Italian restaurant), they said they were 'Out of cab' - really?? Swap out the offering for another cab!! The meatball apps were cold!!! Ick! Dinner was okay at best! No butter available for the bread (which was not complimentary), no steak sauce for the filet. Cristian
Nicole W.
Dec 01, 2021
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Making reservations was the beginning of my great experience at Via Vite- they accommodated a group of 10+ even while having wedding dinner rehearsals and other parties going on and the service was still so amazing for my birthday dinner. First, this octopus was the best I've had so far away from the ocean and I was so impressed by how great it was. Also the gnocchi??? The truffle shavings on top really made it for me it was so rich I couldn't finish it but I definitely would have if I could. Not pictured, but I tried their fizzy grapefruit sorbet cocktails and they were soo yummy. My
Veronica V.
Nov 28, 2021
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Great service and the best bolognese, vodka pasta and desserts I've ever had. I love a good meat sauce and that's what you'll get here.
We came in on a cold evening and were seated right away at the chefs bar which was an exciting treat. We had the opportunity to sit in on the wondrous adventures of a chefs world. The entire night we watched endless meals be prepared and carried out as well as our own. An abundance of bread baskets were served with dipping oil.
I tried other spots in the area and Via Vitae by far has the most flavorful pastas. I wish I had tried them sooner!!
We came in on a cold evening and were seated right away at the chefs bar which was an exciting treat. We had the opportunity to sit in on the wondrous adventures of a chefs world. The entire night we watched endless meals be prepared and carried out as well as our own. An abundance of bread baskets were served with dipping oil.
I tried other spots in the area and Via Vitae by far has the most flavorful pastas. I wish I had tried them sooner!!
Taylor L.
Nov 14, 2021
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Christine P.
Nov 12, 2021
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Lovely little restraunt with very friendly staff. Asked the bartender to surprise us with two dessert cocktails, they were fantastic!!! The best names we could come up with for them were a Coco-cherry-tini and a Chocolate Russian. Ask for them, hopefully they keep track of the receipts! Absolutely fantastic restraunt. 5 stars is too few.
Ashlyn A.
Nov 07, 2021
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Lokesh
Oct 31, 2021
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Steve S.
Oct 30, 2021
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We stopped here for dinner as we were staying in a hotel close by. For the amount of money we paid and the level of satisfaction, I'm not sure we would return. Here's the run down.
We started with an expensive wine that was just wonderful. A basket of delicious bread came next, served with olive oil. Loved that! Next came the bruschetta - maybe the best bruschetta I've ever had! And we also had Brussel sprouts - they were over-cooked and the sauce lacking in any complementary flavors. We didn't eat much of this. (To their credit, was taken off our bill and not by our request
We started with an expensive wine that was just wonderful. A basket of delicious bread came next, served with olive oil. Loved that! Next came the bruschetta - maybe the best bruschetta I've ever had! And we also had Brussel sprouts - they were over-cooked and the sauce lacking in any complementary flavors. We didn't eat much of this. (To their credit, was taken off our bill and not by our request
Aditi R.
Oct 27, 2021
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A friend and I dropped in for a celebratory dinner. We were immediately taken care of, and given waters. Our server was very attentive throughout.
Among us, we got the:
1. Burrata appetizer
Very good. The fried croutons were damn oily, but everything else was top notch.
2. Vodka sauce pasta
This was actually average. Not too bad, not fantastically delicious.
3. Lamb shank
My friend loved it! He said it was juicy and the flavors were good.
4. Salmon
This was good too. The butternut squash puree was a delight. I wish they gave a lil more quantity.
For dessert, we had the Dark chocolate creme
Among us, we got the:
1. Burrata appetizer
Very good. The fried croutons were damn oily, but everything else was top notch.
2. Vodka sauce pasta
This was actually average. Not too bad, not fantastically delicious.
3. Lamb shank
My friend loved it! He said it was juicy and the flavors were good.
4. Salmon
This was good too. The butternut squash puree was a delight. I wish they gave a lil more quantity.
For dessert, we had the Dark chocolate creme
Paige Losoya
Oct 02, 2021
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Eunjee K.
Sep 25, 2021
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Jacob M. Jumonville
Sep 23, 2021
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Jeralyn B. Pasinabo Peagler
Sep 16, 2021
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Great tasting food. Huge appetizer portions. Soup is perfectly warm and tasty. The salmon is just cooked well and beautifully decorated. Entrees are a little bit more expensive but worth it! The restaurant is conveniently located at the Fountain Square, Downtown Cincy. Inside decor is very elegant. We got here at 10pm on a Saturday. Just glad it was open coz all others are already closed early. I would recommend to others and i will definitely be back!
Winston C.
Sep 16, 2021
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Second time back dining at via vite and the quality wasn't as great as I remembered. I had the bolognose and found the pasta to be too starchy. I also thought that the sauce wasn't spectacular and was lacking in salt. I also got the octopus as an appetizer. I also found that average with the octopus seeming a bit over cooked lacking some of the chewiness that goes along with a perfectly cooked octopus. I had the lamb shank which was the best dish but found the polenta to not match well with the dish. I found the food at pep and Dolores to be more enjoyable although slightly different
Draco
Aug 12, 2021
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Dinner was excellent. I tried the gnocchi and the mushroom gratin. The gratin was creamy and rich, with a great texture to the mushrooms. The gnocchi came served with crispy Italian sausage and a cheese sauce and had an excellent texture while not feeling too heavy. The overall experience was incredibly and I would highly recommend a visit.
Courtney T.
Jun 02, 2021
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Italy is for lovers and this is the best place get your fix of real Italian food in Cincy. I'm partial to an aperol spritz and the Octopus, which is an app but can easily paired with a salad or eaten alone. However, on Friday nights you need to get their lasagna, which is equally massive as it is decadent (Definitely shareable) with a glass of their super tusacan, Carmignano. You won't regret coming here for a fun date night or just to get your Italian fix.
Dan Scheid
Apr 13, 2021
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