Valentino's Pasta and Wine
104 West Main Street, Ottawa, IL 61350
Amenities
Reviews
Google ReviewsI went here for my birthday, we came rather late, but after the restraunt is officially closed they allowed us to sit and finish our meal. The bartenders and servers were fantastic. The food was amazing and the photos don't do it justice. The sangria flight was delicious. Overall, a great place with a relaxing atmosphere. Like dining in a restraunt in Italy.
Really amazing place overall. ESPECIALLY the speakeasy upstairs with the awesome view. I loved the setup, ambiance even the ceiling & lighting upstairs. Downstairs they did a good job flipping the restaurant to what it is but still it’s not as nice as the speakeasy. As far as the food goes the spinach dip appetizer was really good. The lasagna was a little bitter probably more traditional lasagna than American? Good, but wouldn’t order again. I ordered the chicken piccata what I received was a chicken dish covered in tomatoes & capers with potatoes. It was good but not at all anything like traditional piccata. I think it’s more, “their take” on this dish. Almost too many flavors happening with seasoning I can’t even pinpoint there was so much. Lots of garlic & on the little side of shrimp I got as well but good. Looked hand chopped which is a big plus. Service was excellent both upstairs & down. Prices reasonable. I will be back more likely for the cocktails upstairs & maybe an appetizer. I would like to try the salmon but now I wonder if it’s going to be drenched in too many flavors like my chicken.
I went during a rather busy time without a reservation and was seated quickly. Service was fine and without any issues. The bread board was fun and the bread was good, a nice way to start the meal. I enjoyed the food very much, but I’m guessing this is more traditional Italian rather than Italian-American. The ricotta in the Eggplant Parmesan was a little heavy for my taste, and both my friend and I felt his noodles in the Pomodoro Basilico were slightly undercooked, though I’m fairly sure that’s how they’re meant to be served. Flavors were excellent. The garlicky marinara sauce in the Pomodoro was delicious. I'd love to try some other dishes. I believe I noted 3 vegetarian options on the menu, which was nice. I’ve seen other reviews mention that the acoustics or music can be too loud, but that wasn’t something I noticed at all. I kind of wish the meals came with a small side salad with a house dressing before the meal, and that bread was served with the main course instead of only at the beginning. That said, I realize I’m probably more used to Italian-American restaurants, so what I’ve grown used to may not be what this restaurant is aiming for. Overall, I had a great time. The food was delicious, and portions were excellent. It was a lot of fun, and I’ll definitely return.
I don’t typically write reviews, but I’ve been to Valentino’s twice now, and both visits were great, so it felt like the right time to finally write a review! The pasta is unbelievably fresh and genuinely changed the way I think about pasta… It completely raised my standards. The appetizer menu is just as good; we had the spinach artichoke dip and the calamari, and both were delicious and generously portioned, just like our entrées. We sat at the bar, which turned out to be a wonderful experience. Our bartender (if I’m remembering correctly, her name was Bentley) was so kind, attentive, and welcoming. I really hope she gets to see this and knows how much my dad and I appreciated her excellent service. We’ll absolutely be back!
An absolutely excellent Italian experience, Valentino’s impressed on every level. Fantastic food, great value for the portions, highly engaged service staff, and a boldness of flavors above expectations. Our table had a host of appetizers including the Meatball Ricotta, Shrimp Oreganata, Fried Provolone, and Calamari. The meatball was absolutely enormous (enough for four to share easily), and was very well balanced by the sauce and creamy ricotta it was served upon. My personal favorite was the calamari though, which was a combination of the rings and tentacles perfectly salted and fried until delightfully crispy. Don’f forget to dunk those in the sauce they provided! For entrees, I tried a little bit of the dry aged pork chop (super smoky, immaculately tender, and subtly sweet), but the chicken piccata, was the star of the show for me. Refreshingly bright from the lemon, salty capers, and marinated artichokes, the dish was savory and refreshing when paired with the crispy fried potatoes. So good, and I think the best chicken piccata I’ve ever had! The tiramisu and lemoncello cake were big hits at the table, but the creme brûlée was so simple yet perfectly sweet and smooth that it would definitely be my go-to choice next time. You truly cannot go wrong at this place, and would certainly make an excellent date or celebration location that I’d recommend in a heartbeat.
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