ViA VECCHiA

This place was packed on a midweek mid-November and I understand why: good food, great atmosphere. The prices are high but the portions are larger than normal. Especially good was the campanelle pasta with loads of shrimp and ‘nduja cream. High wine prices. There is an added kitchen wage fee. Nov 2025

On a quiet winter Sunday evening in downtown Portland, when the streets were nearly empty, ViA VECCHiA was absolutely buzzing. We arrived to a packed restaurant and waited only about 10 minutes for our table—a great sign right away. The ambience and décor are truly next to none. The front room alone feels warm, festive, and refined, with a perfect blend of high-end elegance and cozy holiday charm. But the real surprise came when we were led to our table in the back room. It is massive—at least four times the size of the front—with both upstairs and downstairs seating, a stunning large bar, and dim, atmospheric lighting. The space is beautiful, lively, elegant, and incredibly comfortable all at once. Walking into that back room was such a delightful surprise; I couldn’t stop smiling at how

Lovely spot for a date night! Decor was gorgeous and the staff were incredibly friendly. We got the brussels sprout app, radiatori and agnolotti as our mains, and the semifreddo for dessert. The radiatori was spectacular. The agnolotti was unfortunately undercooked, and the cream sauce was overly sweet with the hot honey drizzle on top. Brussels were great, as was the dessert. Highly recommend the teardrop martini!

Beautifully decorated and classy and sophisticated. Food was delicious. I was a little disappointed that I made a reservation over a month in advance and was seated in the corner at the bar versus a table, even though almost every table was open, but maybe you just have to specify in your reservation request. The hostess was very friendly and offered local recommendations as we were leaving for places to grab additional drinks or dessert.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. We’ve been here maybe a half dozen times in the last few years and it’s always our go-to for special occasions when we go downtown! They take reservations which is great, the food is phenomenal, and the service is divine. Plus that environment— just love it all! We came for dinner before the Nutcracker show and it was wonderful. The Christmas decorations are always such a beautiful sight. The photos don’t do it justice but I’ll share some!