Vic & Ola's — Restaurant in Scottsdale

A Culinary Symphony at Vic & Ola's: An Unforgettable Evening in Scottsdale

Nestled in the heart of North Scottsdale, Vic & Ola's is a true gem that transforms a simple dinner into a multi-sensory celebration of Italian artistry and warm hospitality. From the moment we stepped inside, the elegant ambiance enveloped us—think soft golden lighting from crystal chandeliers, intricate Moroccan-inspired screens casting playful shadows, and a lively hum of conversation mingling with the clink of wine glasses. The space feels both intimate and grand, with plush velvet booths and a gleaming bar that invites you to linger. It's the kind of place where you forget you're in Arizona and imagine yourself transported to a sun-drenched villa in Tuscany.

Our meal began with a generous serving of amazing calamari and velvety roasted tomato mushroom basil soup, a deceptively simple starter that arrived in a pristine white bowl, crowned with golden croutons and fresh basil leaves. The flavors were pure sunshine—rich, herbaceous, and subtly smoky, with just enough warmth to tease the palate for what was to come. It was the perfect prelude to the parade of dishes that followed.

The highlights? Oh, where to start. The salmon ravioli in a vibrant cream sauce was a revelation—plump pockets of pasta bursting with sweet, tender salmon, nestled in a silky orange-hued broth flecked with chives and a sprinkle of microgreens. Each bite was a luxurious hug, balancing brininess with creamy elegance. We couldn't resist the pan-seared salmon over handmade pappardelle, where the fish's crispy herb crust gave way to flaky perfection, swimming in a lemony beurre blanc alongside charred lemon, asparagus, and artichokes. It was fresh, zesty, and utterly refined. For the pasta lovers at the table, the rigatoni sausage delivered waves of comfort—al dente tubes coated in a slow-simmered meat sauce that sang of tradition, topped with a blizzard of Parmigiano-Reggiano. And the eggplant parmigiana? Layers of golden-fried slices, gooey mozzarella, and San Marzano tomatoes, garnished with basil and olives—a vegetarian masterpiece that even carnivores devoured.

We ventured into the unexpected with squid ink linguine tossed in a spicy nduja ragu, the jet-black strands providing a dramatic canvas for the chorizo-like heat and briny feta crumbles. It was bold, innovative, and a nod to Vic & Ola's creative edge without ever straying from their Italian roots. Portions were generous yet refined, leaving room for indulgence.

But let's talk dessert, because that's where the magic peaked. The butter cake arrived warm and gooey, drenched in caramel sauce and paired with vanilla gelato and whipped cream—a decadent embrace of British-Italian fusion that had us scraping the plate clean. Close on its heels was the molten chocolate butter cake, its center oozing like liquid gold under a scoop of vanilla ice cream and mint sprig. Served with a flourish (and a spoon for good measure), it was the ultimate crowd-pleaser, rich yet not overwhelming.

What elevated this already stellar experience to five-star perfection? Our servers, Zev and Hannah. Zev's encyclopedic knowledge of the wine led us to a Restaurant Week pairing that paired each wine flawlessly with every course, while his genuine enthusiasm for the menu made recommendations feel like insider secrets. Hannah, with her infectious smile and effortless grace, anticipated our every need—from fresh bread refills to swapping out a side without missing a beat. Their teamwork was seamless, their energy warm and unpretentious, turning our table into a personal fete. In a city full of spots chasing trends, Vic & Ola's shines because of people like them—attentive pros who make you feel like family.

Vic & Ola's isn't just a meal; it's a memory-maker. Whether you're celebrating a milestone or just craving elevated comfort food, this Scottsdale standout delivers on every level. We left stuffed, smiling, and already plotting our return. Bravo—don't walk, run to book a table. You...

Come here fast! From the moment you see the decor perfumed with the sound of cool bossa nova to the moment you leave, the only time you will not be smiling is when you are eating/drinking. Then you will be moaning in pleasure giving Meg Ryan a run for her money.

As someone who traditionally does not like Italian food, I was pleasantly surprised at this menu and the quality of the food. Pasta dishes take up a small portion of dishes on offer. This month I am trying the keto diet and found 6 appetizers to choose from: the dry cured bresola carpaccio on arugula with pecorina cheese, the eggplant paolozana with mozzarella, calabrian chilis, basil and dry cured olives, the eggplant meatballs, the pork and beef meatballs and the zucchini crusted pizza. They also have a homemade burrata with heirloom tomatoes, pancetta, figs n walnuts.

The secondi portion of the menu is filled with keto friendly chicken saltimbocca, lamb chops, flat iron steak, Tuscan ribs, and bacala (cod) with chilis, olives n basil. My husband is got the seafood pasta; a squid ink tagliatelle with a lobster tail, prawns, mussels and clams in a spicy tomato sauce. Our friend got the bolognese lasagna; a ricotta less delight with a meaty bolognese sauce much like a bechamel. It was so creamy and light it melted in our mouth. (I decided to start keto next month). My sister got the 9 hour slow braised veal osso bucco on a bed of saffron risotto and I got a delicious swordfish dish on roasted cauliflower with an eggplant caponata that was juicy and succulent.

The menu also has wonderful salads and great crusty italian bread with a featured butter that changes nightly. When I was there it was a pancetta and mushroom butter. The restaurant not only has a knock out food menu and elegant interior but also an incredible assortment of italian wines and creative cocktails made with italian liquers and spirits. I loved the sorrentochello ( martini made with lemonchello) and this tequila rhubarb martini with a flaming rosemary twig to give the drink a fragrant essence. For dinner our table shared the famous Jermann label chardonnay " Where dreams have no end" by the premier winemaker Jermann. We also shared the Caja mix blend of sangiovese, merlot and cab. From what I learned, the Caja family is the Rolls Royce's of reds in Italy. We finished off with a bottle of Amarone. If you havent had it, it's a must! It smells like raisins and walnuts with a dark cherry, prune quality. It smells like a port but is dry, light and succulent.

After sharing 3 bottles of wine and having 2 cocktails I threw keto out the window and went for dessert. I shared the dark chocolate chestnut ravioli which was beautifully complimented by a choc dessert wine. My husband got an affogato made with their gelato and topped with frangelico. My sister got the torte de lemon gelato and topped it with lemoncello. Our friend did the banana de leche gelato with walnut liquer.

Truly a 10 star meal and experience with lovely, attentive staff. I made a reservation for next Friday night before leaving as the restaurant is small and although it gives the space a romantic, intimate feel, spaces...

Absolutely the worst management in the area. We understand restaurants are struggling attracting good employees but twice in the last year we have encountered terrible, lazy and now even extremely rude managers at this restaurant. We have never had this experience anywhere else in the area. The manager on duty, Steven Bissel, was shockingly rude and disrespectful. Many patrons and we mean MANY were freezing with the misters on the outside and asked repeatedly to turn them off. He had no concern for this. His words were, “no one at those tables”, as he pointed, “have said they are cold.” We mentioned how we asked a table if they were cold after we saw two of them shivering and they replied, “yes freezing.” We simply said, “we have asked them to turn off the misters and they will not.” We literally watched 5 people go out to their cars to get sweaters and jackets as well as 3 additional people move inside to the bar and even they said it’s still cold. These weren’t elderly people, they were people of all ages and some that say they never get cold. Several said they don’t have any other tables inside to sit so they have to suffer through and uncomfortable dinner.

Most shocking was Steven’s reply when we said that we asked the table behind us if they were cold, he said, “It’s none of your business if a table is cold.” We couldn’t believe our ears. It’s not as if we just walked up to a table and sad, “hey are you cold?” It was a table behind us that we were relating to in discomfort. This is NOT acceptable. I calmly addressed this rudeness with him and told him he was out of line speaking to us like that. He didn’t even apologize. He literally said, that’s why we have inside and outlet side seating, different people prefer different things.

Wow! This speaks volumes! He completely missed the entire point. Sadly, he had many, many unhappy and uncomfortable patrons but-, he could care less.

Patrons near us mentioned they saw him walking around on the phone immediately as if he was calling the owners before we did. If so that says something. The people next to us couldn’t believe his disrespect either. They even said we were more polite than they would have been as he wasn’t doing much except slowly walking around the previous 2 hours while everyone else was racing around. He needed to lift a hand as good managers at a restaurant would do. This is true!

There are too many good dining options in the area. It’s unfortunate because they have a prime spot. They need...