Vino Italian + Bistro — Restaurant in Chesapeake

Decided to go here last night, to celebrate our anniversary. This was our first night at this restaurant. I will admit from the get-go, that we did not make reservations. Nowhere did I see this recommended. The place was packed! We had a hard time finding a parking place, but lucked out when someone left as we circled through the limited parking place designated for this restaurant. When we walked in, we were asked if we had reservations and we admitted we did not. The only option was to sit at the bar, which we agreed to do. The bar is right next to the brick pizza oven, so I could check out how they were making their pizzas, how many and how quickly they were being picked up. Unfortunately, this was the same area where people stood and waited to be seated, included bored kids that were hungry and antsy.

I noticed that they made their own bread and pizza dough. According to their menu, they also make a lot of their own pasta. The bartender was completely swamped! Not only was she tending the bar, she was also serving the many people who had opted to sit at the bar for dinner. Between making drinks and serving patrons, she was constantly running for clean glasses and anything else that was needed. Props to her for being such a hard-working employee!

I think the thing that really struck me was the overwhelming feeling that none of the employees seemed happy. They were all on edge and overwhelmed by the number of patrons they had to serve. I saw a lot of anger, frustration and impatience in these employees. I'm going to assume they, like most businesses during the pandemic, are short on staff and long on hours and responsibilities.

I rarely ever sit at a bar to eat, so I'm not sure if it's just this place or this is the drill in most places, but I feel that we were definitely treated as walk-ins, compared to those who had reservations. We had to ask for silverware (upon which we were just given forks only) and bar napkins. Forget about salt, pepper, olive oil, red pepper, etc. We seemed to be a burden, rather than a patron. We had to ask for each little item that would normally be set up at a table.

The bread tasted hard and stale and our pasta dishes were meh. I ordered the bolognese and my wife ordered the penne with tomatoes and spinach. My pasta tasted homemade, but it lacked enough meat sauce to make it a really good dish. My wife's entree was very dry and consisted primarily of dry penne. Our Di Capris salad was pretty tasty. It consisted of mixed greens/dried cherries/almonds/goat cheese/red wine vinaigrette. I'd say it was the best thing we had all night.

Overall, I was not impressed and don't plan...

Not what we expected. My sister & I had read the reviews and decided to try Vino’s for dinner. Our drink order was unsweetened iced tea, which melted the ice very quickly. We asked for extra ice but it too melted and we had no ice left for us to add as needed. When we placed our order, my sister ordered the lasagna and I ordered the Margherita pizza. She ordered a house side salad and I ordered the Greek side salad. We both agreed that the salads were delicious. The Greek salad had dried cherries, roasted almond slices and goat cheese- simple but very tasty. The house salad had the usual vegetables but a hidden surprise of artichoke hearts- which added to it’s simplicity with a welcomed tangy flavor. From the time we had placed our food order to the time we received our salads, it was approximately 20 minutes.

Our entrees arrived approximately 20 minutes later. My sister told me her lasagna was lukewarm and it had no cheese inside, only cold Parmesan on the top. My margherita pizza had very little mozzarella on it, one slice would have cheese but the next slice was only olive oil & tomato. Another unusual feature was the amount of salt & pepper on the top. Neither of us finished the entree’s and we both packed them up to go home so we could possibly doctor them up for tomorrow’s lunch. I’ll add a picture of my pizza. We then ordered the white chocolate/raspberry cheesecake which came with strawberry gelato. By far we both agreed the best part of the meal was dessert.Sadly, I don’t think that it was made in house.

It took another 20-25 minutes to pay our check & receive the change. I gave the 3 star review because the salads and dessert was delicious but we both were very disappointed in the entree’s they had made. Needless to say we will not intentionally return but instead stick to a chain restaurant. Especially since the length of time was almost 2 hours for mediocre entree’s. I really have no idea why they skimp on cheese other than maybe cost??? See photo for...

Updated Review – New Location Experience

After our first visit, we honestly weren’t sure if we’d return — but we decided to give Vino Italian another chance at their new location, and I’m so glad we did. The improvement was night and day, and it really feels like they’ve hit their stride.

This time, I ordered the shrimp risotto, and it was excellent. The presentation alone was beautiful (see photo) — a creamy bed of risotto topped with a generous portion of perfectly cooked shrimp, finished with fresh greens and lemon for balance. The risotto itself was silky, rich, and seasoned just right, a big step up from our previous experience. Each bite felt thoughtful, and the shrimp had a delicate flavor that worked perfectly with the dish. Honestly, for the portion and quality, it was a fantastic value.

We also revisited the arancini, and it was much better this time around. The exterior was crisp, golden, and flavorful, with a nice contrast to the marinara. The rice inside could still use just a little more depth of flavor, but overall it was far more enjoyable than before.

The atmosphere at the new location really elevates the experience. It’s warm and welcoming, with upbeat Italian music and cozy lighting that makes you feel both comfortable and festive. It strikes a balance between casual dining and a special night out.

Another big highlight was the service. This time around, the staff felt genuinely personable, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu and drink pairings. That alone made the evening feel more polished and enjoyable. The wine and drink selection also impressed us — thoughtful without being overwhelming.

All in all, this second experience completely changed our opinion of Vino Italian. What once felt lackluster has now become a place we’re excited to return to. The food, atmosphere, and service all came together in a way that feels authentic and welcoming. This is now our go-to Italian spot — great job to the team for making such...