Via

I went to Via on a Saturday night at 7pm for the kick off of a bachelorette party. It was nice we had our own private room but that's about the only positive unfortunately. I had heard from friends that Via was expensive, small portions and not great good, but that had been a year ago and was hoping maybe they had got their act together. Unfortunately they haven't. Mediocre service, one dish was delivered to the wrong table so she had to wait an addiitonal 10 minutes while the rest of the table ate and although it was in the 90's outside, they hadn't really cranked the AC making it ""stick to the chair"" hot and uncomfortable. The restaurant ran out of Peroni half way thru the meal and many of the guests at the table found their food not to be very tasty. Since it was a bachelorette party (and possibly to make up for the lousy food and service) they offered us free dessert. Sadly, dessert was not worth the calories or the free price tag.. their tirimisu had lousy texture and wayyyy too much cocoa powder. The restaurant was only about a quarter to a third full at 7 pm on Saturday night - probably not a good sign. I'd be surprised to see Via las much longer. Not recommended! Pros: easy to be seated as nobody was there on sat. night! Cons: everything! more

Pros: The food is great. Cons: Where did all the great staff go??? more

I recently went to this location for dinner for the first time in late December after realizing it was affiliated with another Denver favorite Cucina Colore. My wife and I shared the 'cutting board', spinach salad, and lobster ravioli, and we loved every bit of it. Our server was attentive and helpfull, and had a great personality. The portions were large, and the food was really very good... it was very busy the night we visisted the first time, so it was a bit loud- but overall, this was a unique and enjoyable experience. We will certainly be back and we will bring friends. Pros: interesting space and delicious food Cons: loud, parking more

We were the first of the lunch rush to arrive, so we were promptly seated, thirsts quenched, and orders taken . . . and then we were forgotten. Drink glasses set empty until you could flag down the waiter on his mad dash to return to something very important in the kitchen. Half empty dishes sat on the table until noticed and boxed by the manager. The creation of the tiramisu must have been sub-contracted to diner across the street because it took over 15 minutes to plate and serve one slice. Overall, two of five in my party liked their meals (orecchiette and spaghettini), two found the food bland and flavorless (fettuccine and conchiglie), while the other tried to figure out why the fries tasted like a sugared dessert. Mediocre food and poor service - avoid Via if you really like Italian food. Pros: Interesting decor, mood lighting, easy walk from lightrail Cons: Noisy, poor service, limited menu more

My husband and I went here last night as our first time. We live downtown and know all the great restaurants, but wanted to try something new. We ordered everything our waitress recommended and had a few good items and a few bad ones. First off we ordered what they call Italian Sushi consiting of olives, meats and cheeses - very small portions and it added up to like $16 for not very much food to taste at all. The table bread was the worst I have had. I ordered the lobster ravoli and LOVED it. Really recommend it, but because our tasting was pretty small and the meal was very small, I have to admit I was still hungry after spending $17 on the main course and $16 on the appetizer and a couple glasses of wine I couldn't justify getting more. This is esspecially after the review my husband had of the Hanging Steak and french fries that was supposed to be named best in 5280. He said it wasn't good at all. I tried a fry and it was so bad. He also ordered the house Chianti which he said was very good, but didn't know it was at $10 a glass till the bill. So after spending almost $100 on one main course we didn't like, one that was way too small and a very small appetizer I can't see how the $$ cheap rating got on here. Next time I think we will go to one of the many other Italian restaurants downtown where we get a much better value - and stick to the steak houses for great steak and potatoes. Pros: Great service and wonderful ambience Cons: Food average with very few choices, value is poor unless you are just ordering pizza more

We had our rehearsal dinner here and it was just amazing. All the guests raved about the food and service. Chef Wessen created a special menu just for us and it was fantastic. We've been back several times since and it has been nothing but wonderful. Don't miss the delicious boards and appetizers! Pros: Great pizza, excellent food Cons: You have to pay for parking, but its worth it. more

This was the best dinner I have had in Denver after living here for 7 years. Everything was exactly how it was supposed to be. If you are from NYC this is the place for you to eat. FINALLY! Thanks Chef Rollie! Pros: delicious gorgonzola and prosciutto, veal scallopine unbelievable Cons: the plate for the ceaser salad was too small more

I had been going to Via for over a year, just for this absolutely fabulous desert - peach bread pudding with caramel sauce, and one night found out that the chefs had changed and the restaurant was ""new"". So, I tried it and it was great! We started with arugula salad and crab cakes, both of which were very nice. The arugula was fresh and the thick tasty crab cakes were lightly pan-fried. We then had gnocchi with an oyster mushroom and fresh snap pea red sauce and a magherita pizza made with San Marzano tomatos (the best from Italy). Oh my goodness, the gnocchi were the best I have EVER had in a restaurant! I actually compared them to my grandmother's recipe. :~) They have a pizza certification from Italy and it shows. The margherita was light, well-balanced, with a thin crust that was just the right thickness to make it chewy, not a cracker. The service is very good as well, and the staff overall is very friendly. Ask David, who is from Northern Italy, for a recommendation or just information about things on the menu. And so we are back to the desert - that bread pudding is awesome. I am not someone who really goes for deserts especially bread pudding, but this one is incredible. Everything about it is perfect. I could just drink the caramel sauce as a main course and be very very happy. And it's unique in a Denver desert landscape that consists mostly of the same chocolate cake and creme brulee everywhere you go. Combine the pudding with a cappucino, and share it with your special someone, and it's the perfect way to end a romantic evening. OK, I know I sound like the restaurant paid me to write this, but really it was that good. Pros: Food, service, outdoor seating Cons: Parking can be a hassle, and the valet parking service is a little slow, but the valet is nice. more

I went here several nights ago (I think it was a Wednesday) to dine. The place was nearly deserted inside although it looked as if the patio was full. It took a while for the host to seat us although I can't blame him as there was nobody else around the entrance. Our waitress was nice but at several times during the evening we felt a little neglected. The samplers are very good and very cheap as someone mentioned previously. I thought the entres were somewhat limited and my choice of a lobster raviolli wasn't something I'd ever order again. My date has a lasagna which was good but ordinary. The place is diffietely very well done with a pleasing ambience. Maybe try it on a busier night for a more well rounded dining experience. Pros: Appetizers, decor Cons: Average food, average service more

I am not sure what the new combination at Via Italian Trattoria in LoDo is, but it works. It could be the great deck, the sleek and hip interior, the great price, the new chef Rollie Wesen, or that the food is out of this world. Maybe it is a combination of all those things but it works and Denver should be thrilled to have a new way to experience Italian food. The small plate list is exciting and allows the diner to move through the menu and taste an array of palate teasers without stuffing yourself or killing you wallet, the poached tuna is one of the best things I have tried. The pastas are fresh and stimulating. The large plate menu is great with some small plates to ad variety to the dinning experience. The pan-seared trout is out of this world. Denver should be excited! Pros: Small Plates, Ambiance, Deck Cons: Parking, Spotty Service more

I had a great evening at Via - the staff was very friendly, the food was fantastic, and the prices were reasonable. Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Price more