Vino Italian Bistro

Update: I was so excited when I found this place. Sadly, based on my latest visit, I must change my review. The food was just ok this time. It wasn’t hot enough. I had the lasagna and although over-​sauced, it was tasty. This update is based on the awful service. After our waitress Hannah brought our drinks we expected her to come back with bread. Nope. The couple at the next table came in after us, had gone through their bread and appetizer; still no bread. We tried to flag down our waitress but she never looked our way. Getting frustrated we asked another waiter if he could send over our waitress. He ignored us. I felt invisible.
When she finally returns, it’s with our entrees. I asked her «What happened to the bread». She said in a snippy way «I’m bringing it». What?! After the entrée? So instead of apologizing for forgetting it, she made it worse by acting like this is the norm. We cut dinner short, skipped dessert and left. We never did get our bread which is included in the cost of the dinner. No adjustment made to the check.
I don’t know if I’ll go back but I’m certainly in no hurry.

I don’t often eat lunch out but today I seized on a rare opportunity to finally try out the lunch buffet at Vino that I’ve heard so much about. Vino has an adequately sized parking lot but getting into and out of it can be a challenge. It’s located on very busy Battlefield Blvd. in the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake. If you are approaching from the south you have to pull into the turn lane then wait for people in two lanes of traffic to allow you to turn left into the lot, approaching from the north there is no issue. When you want to exit the parking lot don’t even think about turning left because there’s no way it’s going to happen unless it’s late in the evening after traffic has thinned. Your only choice is to turn right then find the first place you can turn left to get yourself turned around.
Upon entering the restaurant my wife and I were greeted promptly and seated in a very large and comfortable booth. The dining room was nearly full and they were short staffed so the same young lady served as hostess, bartender, server, salad and dessert bar replenisher, and cashier. I was in awe as I watched her traverse all areas of the dining room and take care of so many tables at once without missing a beat. It helped that most people were ordering the buffet but her service was amazing nonetheless. When I asked her she said they usually have two servers in the dining room but the other was sick so she was on her own. I don’t know how she managed to keep our drinks topped off but somehow she made it happen with a smile and friendly demeanor and a wonderful attitude. An older gentleman helped out by removing the used items from the tables, he constantly had a smile on his face.
The young man creating the pizzas and baking them in the wood-​fired brick oven was also warm and friendly while keeping the pizzas fresh and hot and preparing various pastas and sauces to order. He was happy to answer questions and explain things. If you want a particular type of pizza just let him know and he will make it and put it on the buffet for you. As they appeared shorthanded on staff he had to leave his station a few times to replenish plates, supplies and condiments but there was always plenty of food available. He was very fast and efficient without taking shortcuts and really put out quality products.
Alright, enough about the wonderful crew at Vino. Let’s move on to the food. I’m going to say the two salad choices (Caesar and a mixed-​greens) were pretty ho hum. In fact, they were actually pretty bad. They were pre-​dressed and the croutons were already in the salads so they were soggy and did nothing to add texture to the lettuce and greens which were already not very crispy. The salads were bland and I added salt and cracked black pepper from the nearby pepper mill to improve them. Cavatappi and farfalle were the available pastas on the buffet with a choice of pomodora, alfredo or vodka tomato cream sauce. I had some of the cavatappi with pomodora sauce, it was very tasty. Since the pasta was on the buffet I expected it to be mushy but I found it was done perfectly and was absolutely delicious with a very nice pomodora sauce and some grated parmesan. My wife also really enjoyed the dish.
PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! Absolutely incredible and delicious. A wide variety of mouth-​watering pizzas kept being delivered to the buffet and I just kept enjoying them. I started with a very nice margherita. It didn’t have the big pieces of mozzarella that I am accustomed to but the crust was dynomite and I really enjoyed it. I rarely eat plain cheese pizza but I had a slice fresh from the brick oven and it was amazing as was every other slice of pizza I sampled. The Mediterranean was my wife’s favorite but I couldn’t pick a favorite because every single slice was so amazing. The crusts were so enjoyable I even ate the heels which were delicious dipped in the available olive oil sauces. The sauces and toppings on the pizzas were just incredible, so packed with flavor. I must have eaten seven or eight slices (the slices aren’t that big so don’t judge me) and each one was simply awesome. The chef produced a wide variety of flavor profiles in his pizzas and each was stunning. I might still be eating if my wife hadn’t stopped me.
Dessert choices were a triple chocolate brownie (too sweet for me but very rich and tasty), Tiramisu which was okay but nothing special and amaretto cheesecake that may be the best dessert I’ve had in the past few years. It was so amazing with incredible flavor and just the right amount of sweetness and presented beautifully with a crunchy bottom crust. My wife ate two pieces, it was her favorite item on the buffet.
Like I said earlier I don’t get out to lunch often but the Vino buffet has to be my favorite lunch in ages. If you enjoy pizza there’s nothing like a fresh hot slice right out of a wood-​fired brick oven.

Best Italian food anywhere in this area. I went to Vinos on Sunday with a family gathering of 10 and it was amazing. The Waite staff was excellent, the Chef is truely amazing and friendly. I can’t say enough about the food. We all had the daily brunch with pizza, pasta, salad, bread and dessert. Everything was just amazing and the price blew me away. You can’t get flavor, service and atmosphere for this kind of price. VINOS is a must try.

A group I’m involved in had am event there on superbowl Sunday. I never new the place existed. The staff were great. The bar tender was very polite and friendly. The food was also very good. Overall a clean nice restaurant.

I went here with a friend for drinks, appetizer & dessert. We ordered the antipasto platter and Caesar salad to start. The meat on the platter was rancid. We had to send it back and after only a couple bites my friend was sick on the way home. The salad was average. Desserts were tasty which is the one star. Staff were ok but we will not be back.

We held my friend’s baby shower there because we had the BEST experience at her 30^th birthday at Vino. Hannah and Megan were our servers and they were awesome, so attentive, quick and friendly. The buffet was phenomenal and the desserts were delicious. We are die hard Vino and Lockside fans and they are our go to restaurants for any occasion.

Service was excellent as always! I really enjoy coming here to eat. I recommend this place 100%. Food is always excellent, service is great, the servers are always so friendly.

I had an amazing experience at Vino for dinner tonight! I had the Chicken Francese, which was cooked to perfection with the best sauce in town! My lovely bartender, Dawn, made me a great drink– perfect for after dinner… the pear pomatini– absolutely delicious. I’d give this place 5 stars any day of the week…

First of all it’s fantastic to know we have a place where you can get an AYCE Italian lunch. It included several pizzas including custom ones they would make to order and cook in their wood fired oven, two salads, three deserts, and two pastas that can be paired with one of three sauces.
The pizza was fantastic, especially the sausage. The deserts were amazing, salads were solid but nothing special.
I can confirm what others have said about things not packing much flavor.
While otherwise fine, the alfredo sauce was bland. The cavatappi I had was also a bit too soft for my liking though that may have been since I arrived for lunch at about 2pm and it had been absorbing water for a while. Pasta is combined with sauce to order.
Everyone was welcoming and friendly and I was actively encouraged to take all I wanted from the buffet. I definitely recommend giving them a try.

Stopped in because the traffic was so horrific on Battlefield around 5 PM. Was a little concerned because there was no one in the parking lot but so glad we did!!! I love the atmosphere in this place and it’s totally different looking than in years past with other restaurants that were there. Our waiter was a great and the woodfired pizzas were off the chart! The red wines offered by the glass were so delicious and some great local brews on tap. My husband and I were craving pizza and this is going to be our new favorite pizza joint in Chesapeake. I’m looking forward to our next visit for some classic Italian entrées, if it’s anything like the pizza, it’s going to be delicious.

There is nothing negative about this place. The service was spot on. The food was spectacular. The drink selection more than expected. Absolutely a wonderful experience. My wife and I plan to bring our loved ones here. We were planning our next meal while indulging in the one we were enjoying.

3 friends and I went here after I saw it on Unilocal,and had no idea a lunch buffet was offered! For 9 $ you can get AYCE pizza, and even make to order any kind of pizza you want, salad, bread, 3 types of pasta (alfredo, tomato, and creamy vodka (SO GOOD BTW)) and we had our choice of 3 different AMAZING desserts! What an absolute steal. I loved the pizza, it was thin crust which helps let you eat way more pizza, and everything tasted great. I wish I could’ve made my own just to taste a fresh pizza out of the brick fire oven, but I will most certainly come back. Service was very nice, fast but often enough to not intrude on us 4 catching up. Highly highly recommend for a casual lunch or date night. The interior is very pretty and rustic, and kind of romantic, I absolutely loved it. And the bathrooms are very clean, with a pretty cool sink and vanity. I can’t wait to come back!

My friend and I visited Vino on a rainy Monday night looking for carbs and cheese. We found a surprisingly classy, cozy place. Our waitress was super nice, she explained she was new from another restaurant the owners run, and was willing to find out any information we needed that she couldn’t provide. Service was excellent and she was marvelous and friendly.
We started with a Caprese salad appetizer that was very good. They have a great mixture of basil sauce and oil. The salads with the meals are generous and tasty. There was some struggle involved with getting the greens on the fork. The ratio of crinkly spinach and lettuce had both of us playing the scooping game. (I got some on my shirt twice.)
The highlight of the night was the entrees. They were HUGE! My Chicken Parmesan covered the whole plate! It was giant! I thought the sauce could have been a little more exciting… but hell, I could order something more exciting than Chicken Parmesan too! I wasn’t thrilled by the delicate noodles that came with it, and there was little sauce on them, since the sauce was applied after the chicken was placed on top of them. Luckily the 5 Star Waitress got me some more sauce. My friend really enjoyed her pasta, the Tortellini Carbonara, and she was able to switch out the pasta type from what was listed on the menu.
I ate leftovers for breakfast AND lunch. Yum!
Not a fan of the parking lot. Try and park on the side by the door, it’s easier to get out. If you park on the street side, by the sign, it’s difficult to get out since there are some parking slots behind you with little clearance.

Came in for dinner on a Monday night for some drinks and tapas. Order a few appetizers which were good. Then ordered chicken picatta, which after a few bites I realized the chicken was raw. When I showed the waitress she swiftly took the dish and returned saying the chef apologizes and was remaking the dish. I’m sorry, but this was not a steak that was ordered med and came out med rare. This was visibly raw chicken, chicken that was only about a quarter inch thick so you almost have to try to undercook. Check came and figured the least they would do is not charge for the picatta but it was on the bill. For the first time in as long as I could remember left less than 20% tip. Been there a few times before, but never going back. Mistakes happen but how you handle it speaks volumes.

Good food, enjoyed my meal and nice to have a variety of pasta and sauce for the buffet.

Went tonight for a family meal. We have been there for lunch but first time for dinner. The bread before was served with roasted red pepper oil and garlic oil with Parmesan cheese. Even my picky eater liked the bread.
Husband had a Caesar salad and I had the house salad. Ceasar is better.
My 10 year old son had the child’s cheese pizza and it was the same size as my husbands. He couldn’t even eat half.
My 2 year old has the child’s marina pasta and it was enough for an adult. It was very good. Their sauce is the fantastic.
My 12 year old ordered the adult Alfredo pasta and she said it was exceptional. She ate ¹⁄₃ and brought the rest home.
I had the chicken Parmesan. Again sauce is amazing. The chicken was a little tougher that I would have liked but overall a good dish. The breading was really good.

After going through several other reviews, I was hesitant to select this establishment for an epic last night during my parents’ visit. We opted for cozy and tried our luck with Vino Bistro. We’re so happy that we did. I very much hope that my desire for this restaurant to succeed is evident in the time I’ve taken to provide feedback on my experience there.
I’m not quite sure where to start. I will say, that my family and I were thoroughly satisfied with almost our entire experience at Vino.
Also, when given the opportunity, always support a local fine dining establishment such as this one over a conglomerate. (Even if it’s in Chesapeake, lol)
Background to the food review: I lived in Sicily, Italy for 4 years, but grew up enjoying some very nice eateries here in the United States.
Dress: Business Casual. After skimming other reviews and price point estimates, I brought my underdressed family in sheepishly thanking God for our timing beating the dinner rush so nobody saw us.
Bottom line: my family (4 adults and 4 children) dropped about $ 500 here on dinner. We don’t regret it one tiny bit. We didn’t hold back.
The pros:
–Our server, Dawn, was remarkable, almost perfect.
–The entire staff did every thing they could to make our visit a good one. We saw everyone that worked there at some point either bringing drinks, food, or satisfaction checking (even after the dinner rush began arriving).
–Generally speaking, our food was authentic, cooked well, and made with fresh and well prepared ingredients. Both the veal and chicken picatta were amazing (one bite and I was immediately back on the island) and the accompanying angel hair was prefect (not overtly enjoyed in Italy, but it’s still my favorite pasta).
— The Chicken Marsala was made equally as well.
–The wine was pricey, but worth it. Well recommended per individual taste.
— From the children’s menu, the cheese pizzas were sublime, more Italian than American but delicious all the same and the grilled shrimp were cooked perfectly and disappeared within seconds!
–The in-​house crafted desserts were amazing to include the crème brule, tiramisu, and the brownie a la mode. I wonder though, if the «gelato» hadn’t thawed and been re-​frozen as it had a bit of an ice cream texture.
–The coffee was also very good following the meal.
Okay then, why not 5 stars? Good question! Let me share with you why not.
–As mentioned in another review, the pizza oven can smoke the place out. Their solution is to open a door on the other side of the dining room which can be disruptive for the diners on that side (summer heat/​road noise) as well as those in the main dining area (smoke).
–While not OVER priced, the place isn’t cheap. For such a cost, one might expect the finer points of a dining experience such as spotless dishes, silverware, and glasses. Linen tablecloths would be nice, and the fabric seat cushions were dingy. Though, table presentation and the linen napkins were excellent.
–The arancini (arr-​ahn-​chee-​née) were not as I expected them to be after getting so excited upon finding them on the menu. While outwardly cooked very well, the rice inside was undercooked and the grains were larger than I’m accustomed to. Also, there was nothing within the rice ball, I’m used to a small bit of beef and a cheese sauce sometimes accompanied by peas. Is that weird? Lol
–My wife mentioned after dinner that (despite her love for things «al dente»), the risotto could have been cooked for another 30 seconds.
–The bruschetta (bru-​skeh-​tah) was underwhelming. It was still VERY good; the bread perfectly toasted and the ingredients very fresh (no olives thank God, despite another reviewer’s experience), but it was still bland and lacked the pep that I’m used to. Regardless, it was good enough that I would order it again.
So, that’s my experience after one visit to Vino Bistro. I hope to return, but it is a bit of a hike for us so I don’t know how often we’ll be able to visit. If you are sensible diners making your money stretch by wise selections or if you just don’t care splurging as we did, you can definitely enjoy an evening here.

I really wanted to like this place because Chesapeake needs more independent dining options. My husband and I refer to Chesapeake as the «land of the chains». Unfortunately I have to say that I was not satisfied with my experience at Vino.
For anyone reading this review, believe what other reviews say about the service really lacking. Although we were seated very promptly, we sat for almost 10 minutes with nobody acknowledging us. They were not busy, there were only two other occupied tables. There were 3 employees standing around the bar talking to each other. Not cleaning, not taking orders, not restocking the bar, just talking. They were less than 50 feet away. After we were finally noticed, someone went to go «get our server» who very promptly came to our table. She was very good and her service the rest of the night was fine. The owner of this place needs to take note that having your employees standing around doing nothing while your paying customers are waiting is bad business. Employees might get bored but go be bored in the back where it’s not so noticeable to the customer.
The food was not good. The pasta was way over done to the point of being mushy and the sauce tasted overly processed as if it might have come out of a jar. One of our dishes was referred to on the menu as Carbonara but anyone who has had authentic Carbonara knows it is egg based yet what we were served was very definitely Alfredo Sauce. There is nothing wrong with Alfredo but if that’s what you are serving be honest about it. I don’t like it when an establishment tries to pass a dish off as something that it’s not. People that appreciate food know the difference!
We are considering going back to try the pizza. With their wood burning oven I have to believe they should be able to turn out a decent pizza. I will update this review if that is the case.
Whoever owns this place spent a fortune on the décor. The food just doesn’t live up to the atmosphere and the employees may need to be retrained to give the standard of service that a plate of $ 20 pasta deserves!

Enjoyed the lunch. The pizza was pretty good, the salad was decent, but the most tasty part was the dessert. They had a wonderful mousse dessert that was awesome. I would go back again, not for pizza, but for the dessert :)

Walking into Vino, you feel like you’ve found your spot. It’s beautiful inside, a great view of the wood-​burning oven & has an ambience we’ve yet to find in GB. Hubby and I both splurged on a $ 12 glass of Cabernet when we sat down. Delicious, yet pricey, but we were feeling fancy when we walked in!
We started by ordering the arancini (rice balls) & bruschetta for appetizers, margherita pizza & salsciatta pizza for our entrees. Arancini was perfectly cooked with the right amount of crisp & texture. The waitress came back to tell us they didn’t make cold bruschetta, just warm. Confused, we reopened the menu, pointed to it listed under the «COLD» appetizer & asked her to check with the cook. She came back & again said, no cold bruschetta was offered. We asked another waitress about the Bruschetta on the menu. She confirmed they have bruschetta, but it’s considered «WARM» b/​c the breads toasted. We showed her it’s listed under «COLD» & again ordered the bruschetta.
As we patiently waited for our entrees, we noticed several tables being served bread and dipping oils while reviewing their menus. We asked if this was complimentary, and our waitress nodded and brought us out some bread, sans the dipping oil and seasonings. If it’s complimentary, why do we have to ask for it?
Our pizzas arrived with decent plate appeal and a presentation that looked promising. Salsciatta pizza was good. Nothing to write home about sausage, but the fresh red peppers, basil & garlic were tasty. My margherita pizza was covered in tomatoes that were more pink than red & completely tasteless.
Then, the much talked about bruschetta arrived. Thick slices of bread, covered in halved grape tomatoes, halved olives, and mozzarella melted over the top… this is not bruschetta. My husband-​not a picky eater– tried it, but pushed the plate away.
The manager came around to each table kindly greeting and checking in with patrons. He noticed we «were the ones with the bruschetta» and even verbalized that to us. I said, this is not even what your ingredients are listed as on the menu. He said, «well, I guess I’ll have to take a look at the menu.» hmmmmm?! We are at an Italian restaurant, yet nobody knows what or how to make bruschetta? Needless to say, we left hungry and completely disappointed in this new, local restaurant. We hit DQ up on the way home for a tried and true dessert!
Hoping the well-​dressed wait staff, and beautiful atmosphere will be enough to keep these doors open. Maybe in the next couple of months, the staff and manager will learn the menu, the bus girls will keep their snide comments about patrons «leaving such a mess» to themselves and the cooks will work out the kinks in the kitchen.