Vita del Lago — Restaurant in Michigan City

Vita del Lago in Michigan City!

On our way home my wife and I were evaluating our evening experience that we had just enjoyed and were hard pressed to think of a time we had had a better, complete date night adventure from a restaurant. Many places were exceptionally good on the food front and we enjoyed them very much, Cool Runnings, Bon Viet, Ivy's Bohemia House... are a few of our top contenders we have been blessed to try out and have (or at least tried to) revisit. Vita del Lago is absolutely in that tier! Food quality and flavors is among, if not the BEST we have EVER had.

Then there is the atmosphere! Our evening together was very pleasant as the venue was such a comfortable and warm setting. The number of other guests was extremely light (which no doubt helped with the more romantic tones) and the softly played music of soft rock from our younger years made it just that much more enjoyable. I told my wife that this place is somewhere a young couple could come and enjoy a romantic dinner with each other. In that regard I have to rate them, HANDS DOWN the best restaurant we have ever visited since we began these Friday Date Night adventures.

We did agree that, for Italian, this was the BEST meal we have had.

The complementary bread and seasoned oil with grated parmesan was warm and good. We decided to sample the meat ball appetizer (I believe we were told it was the owner's grandfather's or great-grandfather's recipe). Our waiter suggested a blend of the marinaras they offer, both tomato based but with with a spicy kick, the meatballs were tops, and combined with he marinara sauces... YUM!

She went with the special of baked cod on smoked paprika orzo, the fish was as near perfect in how it was cooked as well as in seasoning. The orzo was an exceptional pairing with a touch of heat, that intensified throughout the dining, and she enjoyed it immensely!

I got stuck on the brown butter and hot honey seasoned Shrimp Scampi with fresh made linguini, I had to try it and was glad I did. The sauce started with the sweetness of the honey and after a few bites the heat started to kick in... an excellent combination!

As she was feeling the heat from the main entrée she made her mind up that she needed ice cream or something to cut the heat, cue the gelato! They offered a dessert called Gelato Bombs and it was just that. 3 exceptionally large portions of Lemon, Pistachio, and Chocolate Gelato. Each layered in flavor, the lemon (wonderfully tart) being her favorite.

I was going to have to try the Pastel deNada, Spanish custard in a puff pastry shell, satisfyingly sweet and a perfect pairing with a good strong coffee.

A top 5 for...

We were driving from WI to Holland MI and came across this lovely restaurant to have lunch. There are exciting renovations going on in this Uptown Arts District, but it was well worth our time locating in the midst of street closures. We enjoy dining experiences that offer culinary expertise that also embodies the essence of 'Lake Life and historical buildings.

Don’t miss the in-house made bread with a dipping olive oil and herb companion.

For appetizers, I highly recommend the Baked Goat Cheese, Tomato confit and rosemary ciabatta. We were torn between ordering the fresh burrata u bruschetta, apricot prosciutto, oysters rockerfeller, meatballs and marinara, toasted baguette. My Mediterranean Salad was very, very tasty. It comes with large lettuce leaves on the side so that you can eat it as a wrap if you wish to. All ingredients were fresh, but the secret must be in the sauce.

We are very impressed with the family recipes that inspire this exceptional Italian food at restaurants.

Currently they lack a website but can be found on Facebook, Google, and Yelp. We had no problem finding curbside parking over the lunch hour. They have beautiful men’s and women’s restrooms and both front and patio access are street level. Meaning, they offer easy handicapped access.

It is amazing with this small staff accomplishes. Our waitress was exceptional, and we enjoyed the opportunity to meet the restaurant owner and operator, Lynne Leckie. This wonderful place truly was a gem in our travels. We plan to come back and try more on the menu. The atmosphere is tremendous; it took us by surprise. W permitting, the large patio is a great place to hang out with wonderful plantings and decor. The entire location can be booked for special events.

I highly recommend taking in the exceptional...

We were me and my wife and Michigan city looking for a new place to get a bite and we cross with this Italian restaurant they come to be a jam a restaurant with very nice atmosphere. Very nice installations our waiter hostess very nice beautiful service food was outstanding we start with appetizerthat we ordered a grilled calamari with shrimp. That dish was amazing seafood, and shrimp. Well perfectly cook the balsamic vinegar and the lettuce, and the bed of the seafood was buried delicious Two things is an entry one my wife ordered that chicken marsala with very nice marsala sauce, very creamy very perfectly executive and I order for me. The Payega the funny thing of this is that the paella they make it was very well different style not a classic by yeah but well, very nice. Make very nice flavor the shrimp it is amazing again the shrimp it is they use the really jumbo size shrimp I can say was U10 and don’t forget the first thing coming in the table. It is a very nice love of bread, warm with fresh Parmesan and olive oil on the side that you can dunk the bread in the olive oil and the cheese. There was a minor blowing flavor of the olive oil. very nice to eat with your pasta soup or anything else we don’t in this time we don’t eat the shirt because we were Keep up for sweets for a little bit me and my wife and but the next time probably we gonna try the suites but definitely un recommend this location in Michigan city it is a very humble beautiful and very relaxing restaurant with good food make that and recommended definitely the seafood. I don’t go to say anything else except you can tell it was the first quality cooking the moment and grill to perfection. Give it a shot and believe me you’re not...