We search for excellent Italian food in Arkansas--all too often in vain. Alas, though, last year we finally discovered Mezza Luna, whose food was consistently nothing short of outstanding. In preparation for out first fall visit back to the mountains of God, we eagerly looked for the Mezza Luna web site--just to see what changes might be in store for us. Horror of horrors, we discovered that the restaurant was closed. This was extremely disappointing news, and it led us to search for alternatives. After some reasonably extensive fact-finding, we settled on Vetro 1925. Our experience began during the sacrificial thrashing of the Nicholls State Colonels on September 6, 2014. I say "during" because we left DWR Razorback Stadium after the half-time show by the best in sight and sound--the Razorback Marching Band--with the score 56 - 0. We arrived at ~5:25 p.m. and found the restaurant completely devoid of other patrons. Despite every table being available, and despite the fact that we had reservations for 6:00 p.m., we were seated at a table very near the rather busy entrance to the kitchen--one of the worst locations in the restaurant. I might also mention here that my partner was seated directly on a crack in a long, padded bench seat that abuts a charming exposed brick wall. She didn't complain, but I'm sure it was an uncomfortable arrangement. Vetro 1925 apparently won a local award for the quality of its renovation of a historic downtown building. If we had served on the award committee, I'm not so sure we would have been as effusive in our praise. The ambiance is okay, but the goal they achieved involved modern decor, which means the owners almost completely whiffed on an excellent chance to develop a rustic, classic Italian eatery that would have been a much better complement to their traditionally-prepared culinary offerings. Speaking of the food, we were EXTREMELY disappointed to discover a single-sheet "Game Day" menu on the tables. When fact-finding about the restaurant, we were delighted to find a traditionally-prepared carbonara on the menu we found online. In all of our travels throughout Arkansas, we have been unable to find a good carbonara, so the prospects for this were mouth-watering. Alas, it was not listed on the truncated menu! To the chef's credit, however, when we asked Brian, our outstanding server, if the chef would be kind enough to prepare a carbonara for us anyway, he returned from the kitchen with good news. The chef had agreed to do so, which boded very well for the restaurant. After enjoying some excellent bread dipped in herbed olive oil, we began with the Caesar Tradizionale salad and the Bella Zuppa of the day, which was a cream of mushroom infused with garlic and olive oil. When considering the best food I've ever had in my mouth, this soup absolutely must be in the conversation. It was delectable! The Caesar salad also was quite good--adorned with some flash fried capers that were a welcome substitute for the anchovies advertised by the online menu. In addition to the carbonara, we selected the agnolotti, which Brian explained would be quite different from the online menu. This turned out to be a ravioli fried in sage butter--stuffed with a very earthy, tasty filling that featured a very subtle pumpkin flavor. It was a treat, albeit somewhat dry and very modestly-sized entree, which would have benefited from a bit more of the sage butter flavor. And speaking of dryness, the much-anticipated carbonara suffered more than a bit from this problem. This COULD have been because it was prepared with bucatini instead of the spaghetti that the chef normally uses. Since no spaghetti was on the reduced dinner menu, apparently the chef had none on hand with which to make his traditional carbonara. For whatever reason, though, the flavorful carbonara suffered a bit from a lack of sauce, leaving it disappointingly dry. We'll wrap up this review with some well-deserved kudos to Brian, our server. One mark of an outstanding restaurant is a well-trained staff. Brian certainly fit that bill. His knowledge and description of the beer and wine offerings was impressive--not to mention his exhaustive familiarity with the subtleties of the menu offerings. His help was invaluable in making our experience a pleasant one. In fact, the service overall was impeccable. Empty plates and unneeded silverware were whisked away in a very timely manner, and the overall attention to us was notable. Our total bill for the two of us, including the tip, was just short of $90. This probably is modest by Vetro 1925's standards, but still is a bit too high for normal folks to dine there on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the restaurant is on our list of places to visit again. It definitely qualifies as a fine dining establishment.
(4)
Lauren C.
Franciscan cab 2012 was excellent as was the arugula salad. The penne vodka was cooked perfectly al dente but on the salty side with the unexpected bacon! The complimentary bread was good with the spicy olive oil. Our server Amber was great!
(4)
Winnie L.
We were so glad that we finally tried this restaurant. We usually avoid Italian restaurants in order to avoid pasta BUT much to our delight, Vetro has a really great antipasto selection! The food was really really delicious!! Can't wait to go back again. *would give 5 stars if there were a changing table in the bathroom :/
(4)
D D.
I was pretty disappointed with my experience here. Drinks are fair but not worth the time due to quality. They failed to prep drinks accurately and failed to get water after being asked twice. The service was not impressive. Now the food.... The menu reads fairly well but isn't that impressive on the plate or in the mouth. Presentation is good but the taste is fair at best. The atmosphere and ambiance is minimalist and very contemporary. I'm still considering if it is worth going back.
(1)
Byrd B.
We came on a weeknight pretty early in the evening and we had the place pretty much to ourselves. I had the filet and it's totally worth the price. The hubby had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing. The bread with oil......OMG good! Everything is fresh and the chef is definitely talented! BRAVO!
(4)
Lanny C.
Very nice evening with an excellent Italian red wine, Torcicoda. My server was very knowledgable about the menu and I was not hurried at all. Eggplant Parmigiana had great flavor and well prepared. Also appreciated the maître'd coming by to chat. Can't wait to travel back to Fayetteville!
(5)
Lori L.
After being told by colleagues that this is the best restaurant in Fayetteville, I have to say I was not impressed. I was there for a business activity, the menu read well, but the food was mediocre at best. The calamari appeared to be gray in color vs golden, several colleagues ordered filet mignon and it was not served to order, leaving them disappointed and eating after everyone else had finished. The chicken was still pink in my dish, which really was just ok.
(2)
S Z.
Food is amazing, the chef really tries hard to accommodate any special requests. They only have so many of each special dish, so once it's out.. it's out! Lunch is much more laid back than dinner. You'll need a reservation most nights. Lunch menu is priced just right (in my opinion).
(5)
Amanda M.
I've been to Vetro many time for many occasions, and I've always had a great experience. Service is always attentive. The downstairs area is quiet and more private-- perfect for business dinners or larger parties. Upstairs is brighter and a bit more lively. Bar area upstairs is also great for more casual cocktails and appetizers (date night or girls night). Can't-miss dishes include the charcuterie plate, penne a la vodka, duck, and carbonara! Also, if you're a fan of Moscow Mules you *must* order one here... they have a house-made ginger beer that is fantastic. This is one of my favorite spots in Fayetteville, hope you enjoy it, too!
(4)
J N.
Wonderful food and atmosphere and likely the finest restaurant in Fayetteville. The bolognese and carbonara are true tests of the quality of ingredients and preparation. Great atmosphere and solid well trained servers.
(5)
Tracy G.
Visiting from Texas, and the college students in our group picked Italian. Had great service from the bar, and the wine list was very nice. I believe our server's name was Brian, he was knowledgeable and very competent. The house cocktail menu was impressive (says a Dallas girl). I really wanted to try the Sidecar with fig-infused brandy (!) but the blood orange martini won out for aperitif. Two in our group had risotto which was nicely done (a little less fluffy than I make mine, but still delicious), one had the pasta purses, and I had the gnocchi with smoked chicken. My gnocchi were excellent; it's a creative and compelling dish and I'm impressed with the chef. A tinge too sweet on the sweet potato filling, but still very memorable. The pepper-infused oil that comes out with the bread basket is remarkable; our table practically scraped out the ramekin. We also thoroughly enjoyed a hazelnut creme brulee and a lemon curd and mascarpone tart that was essentially like the best lemon cream pie you ever tasted. Great pastry crust. We were not as impressed with the bruschetta starter. The menu says grilled bread but I agree with other posters: this was thin, hard and crunchy as though it were oven-toasted hours before. I believe a bruschetta plate should be first about good grilled bread, so this was the one let-down in an otherwise lovely meal. Look forward to returning on another visit to Fayetteville, and will try the antipasto plate next time!
(4)
K C.
Excellent food, wine list, ambience n service. Tammy was an excellent guide through the menu. I was visiting from Chicago and asked Tom at The Feemch Metro shop for a recommendation. He suggested Vetro. Great choice!
We made a reservation a few weeks ago at Vetro so please forgive me if I cannot remember all details of our dishes! Definitely make reservations for this place. We had a cocktail while we waited on two members of our party. Cocktails are great, pricier than your average AR restaurant, but what can you expect. Staff was friendly and sat us as soon as everyone arrived. The waitress was knowledgable but it seemed most of the specials were "sold-out". I ordered the gluten free vodka pasta which was a perfect size (plate wasn't the size of Texas). Pasta sauce was tasty! We ordered a mixer of appetizers and I remember someone in our party ordering the trout and it was just as tasty. I would recommend any item on the menu! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Stephanie S.
Great staff and the food was excellent. A great place on the Fayetteville square. A must for everyone to try.
(5)
Javier O.
Great Ambience! My Mother and myself dwere invited by a friend (John) to have a quick lunch. My Mother and I are from out town. My Mom is very picky eater especially when comes to Italian restaurant. She order Scallop Arugula Salad and bruschetta. I ate simple salad with grilled prawns. My friend order Panini sandwich. The food came on time except my friend the mixed up the order. I course, when you have a waiter that takes your order with out writting down. Yes, chances are is going to forget something... Overalll its was an awesome meal.
(4)
Christine S.
Wish I could give this place a better review. Used to go there a lot, but it's not consistent. That's ok if it's a casual dinner w/spouse, but can't take business folk here. The food is Italian but creative and tasty ... if it's hot. I've had lovely waitstaff here and the worst ever. It has to be absolutely terrible before I won't leave a tip, and that has happened. I like the antipasto platter and the salads. Some think the pasta is not homemade, but it is very good.
(3)
Tiger S.
The food is consistently excellent. The bar is stocked with an impressive selection of amaros. The service is good. The atmosphere is great for date night or business lunch. Unfortunately it's quite spendy. Gelato will ease the pain of the check.
(5)
Morgan E.
Wow, Vetro. So I was in Fayetteville visiting a friend and he kept raving about this place. From the servers and bartenders (The one I remember is Nelson), to the excellent service- it was great. We went in a bit before they opened to make a reservation for Saturday night, not knowing it was Grad weekend for UofA. Nelson was great in finding a time that worked for us. We came back a little after our set reso time at 8:30 and the place was packed. They got us seated immediately and our server was super helpful. The wine was amazing, and I had the special, what he referred to as "An Italian Beef Stroganoff." It was full of flavor, the beef cooked perfectly, and a good portion size. My date's meal however, left something to be desired. It was a white fish dish, with grilled brussel sprouts. The fish tasted way too fishy and wasn't what we were expecting, but the brussel sprouts were delicious, with a grilled side and great flavor. We ended the meal with a delicious crumbly cake, and a shot. Random combination, but it was a great evening. I would like to go back on a night that didn't have a set menu (Grad weekend and all) but I would probably still get that beef stroganoff dish. YUM.
(4)
Gregorio S.
My dishes were tasty. I had the pasta carbonara, which was thankfully, traditionally prepared unlike some awful "Americanized" versions! However, my pasta was slightly overcooked and under seasoned or I would rate it a 5.
(4)
Chris H.
Went with a small group one chilly, cold evening. Place has a nice vibe and food was very good. Service good. The main rub was that it was cold in the restaurant...task..tisk! Still, one in the running for fav in Fayetteville.
(4)
Corinne H.
I am a frequent business person in the Wal-Mart area...and I have finally found my favorite restaurant - Vetro! All homemade pastas, amazing menu, and a wine list to die for! The owner is from the Almalfi Coast of Italy. My favorite are the pasta purses filled with cheeses with bolognese --I add roasted shrimp on top! Yum! Blueberry gelato too! Reasonable for the quality! And a lovely quiet restaurant evening!
(5)
Billy K.
Went for our anniversary last night, after reading review's for a month or so. Everything from the bread with Olive oil dip, & imported meat &cheese app was great. Now the entrees where out of this world. We will be back again.
(5)
Sam K.
This is my second trip to Vetro and my second review. I'll preface this one by saying I was drinking heavily before and after so the fine details are kind of fuzzy. I already had a buzz working when i got there so I hurried up and ordered Bruschetta. I said "bru SHET a" she corrected me with "bru SKET a." Thanks for the lesson in Italian. I'm trying to get drunk. Bring my damn appetizer. When it showed up it looked like Melba Toast. Ever had that stuff? They sell it in the cracker aisle at Wally World? It's a dry-ass toasted cracker. That's what the toasted bread was like for the Bruschetta. I mean, you could hear the crunch and watch the toast shatter as you ate it. Impossible to eat without making a huge mess. I made an awesome pyramid on the tablecloth from all of the crumbs. I'm hungover. still. Here are some lovely Bullet points: *They've ironed out some of the kinks. -Good for you guys. *They're the most expensive place to eat in town. -ouch. $$$ means quality right? Nope. Pretentious crap. I'd love someone like Pete Wells from the NYTimes to review this place. It would get skewered. *Downstairs blows. -if you get seated downstairs they hate you. You'll have one server who's running up and down the stairs for you and all the other tables around you. They could use a second server down there for sure. *They overcooked a Medium Rare Filet --after the server explained how a Medium Rare steak should be cooked. medium well? Did they forget it? The server kept pulling the wine list off of the table. Are there only a few of them so she just needed to keep handing to new tables? Or is it the fact that it's as thick as War and Peace and takes up an entire place setting? Either way it's almost pointless to go through. Better server still didn't know much about the Italians that comprise the latter portion of the list. I gave it a scathing 1 star review and hated it? So why did I go back? I needed to know if the meal I had 8 months ago could be repeated. It couldn't. Thank god.
(2)
Teresa C.
Nice wine list, decor and ambience. Pricey for Fayetteville, but the waiter explained the beef is prime special from Kansas City and the fish is flown in, and you know all travel to XNA is jacked up! Cocktail list was compelling. A friend in the bar was trying a drink with rose petals and said it was yummy. Creme brulee was the best I've had.
(4)
Craig P.
Great ambiance means you could be forgiven for forgetting this is downtown Fayetteville not New York. The food measures up too and would highly recommend the Carbonara (but don't expect pasta drowning in Alfredo sauce - this a real Italian restaurant, not Olive Garden).
(4)
Jay D.
Service was awful. The wait staff was nice enough but waited over an hour between appetizer and entree even though we order both at the same time. When I finally asked for the check, ready to leave, our food arrived. Not a lot of tables in this place and several were empty so hard to imagine the kitchen was over run. This was a Wednesday evening by the way. When the check arrived the waiter mumbled something but my wife nor I could make it out. I was glad to see they did not charge for the entrees but not a single person stopped by to apologized or take responsibility. Did the waiter forget to turn in the order? Was the chief offend we didn't order the special? I have have no idea. The food, on once it arrived, was pretty good but too heavy on the salt.
(2)
Bruce J.
It was a really nice place. A little more upscale than your normal restaurant, but not too fancy or anything. Collared shirt and slacks or jeans are the norm. Prices were in the $25 a plate range, with some less and some more. It's definitely someplace to take someone for a special occasion, and not a normal thing. They had a really cool bar with these changing lights, which was definitely an eye grabber if you were walking by. Until we left, I didn't know there was a downstairs area. They had some interesting choices, like elk, lots of different fish, veal. The lobster ravioli looked good. We weren't in any kind of rush, so we just chatted and got some drinks and appetizers. We started off with some calamari and bruscetta. All very good. The bruscetta had this like sun-dried tomato stuff on it that was awesome. It like popped in your mouth with flavor. little sweet tinge to it too. Next we ordered. I got this pork shank with some potatoes. One of my friends got this veal dish, and I forgot what everyone else had exactly. Chris got this saffron and veal dish that was soooo good. I don't think I've ever had Saffron before. Apparently the spice is very expensive. I could see why, that stuff was the bomb! We all tried each others dishes though and they all rocked. It was just an amazing meal; between the food, the conversation, the drinks, it was a great start to the night. I had some fat tires, some white wine, and ended with some coffee and Grappa, which is like a liqor that i'd never heard of. It's suppose to help digest after a big meal. It started real stout at first, but finishes warm, and it surprises you. We ended with some coffee and deserts. I didn't get any desert because I was absolutely stuffed. The fellas got some sorbet and 'Semifrodo'. It reminded me of dippin dots. It was pretty damn good. All their deserts and everything was made there in the restaurant, including the ravioli noodles. Nothing was pre-made, which really is awesome if you think about it. Our waiter, who I made an appoint to get his name, Steven, was very very good. He was very good at what he does. Knew the menu very well, and was very passionate about the restaurant he worked at, and I could tell he enjoyed his work.
(5)
Kelli H.
I made reservations via Urbanspoon 3 weeks prior to my Mom's birthday dinner for a Saturday night at 7:00. We showed up 5 minutes early and the girls had a hard time finding our reservations. They took us to a table in the front of the restaurant in the bar area, the air conditioning vents were right below the table, I asked if there was an available table in the "dining room", and we were told no because they were booked full that night. I asked the young lady if she had found our reservation and she slightly verified they had. I made the reservation on 3/27 and our reservation was on 4/20. The table they were going to seat us at was part of the bar, not part of the restaurant, we did not feel welcome, we were not given an option to sit somewhere else, and we decided to leave. I don't know that I will go back again. I made plans because I had been one other time and thought my Mom would enjoy a nice birthday-evening out. This was very disappointing.
(2)
Steve H.
Very good. I had the spaghetti cabonara that had to be sent back because the pasta was well underdone, but they replaced it very quickly. Food and wine were both about an 8 out of 10.
(4)
Carl W.
Went hear cause it got great reviews - yet being from NYC some say Olive Garden is too die for, worst of all the chains. I picked this instead of Carraba's and I was sorry to say I had better at C's. First the place is nice in DTN Fayetteville but tables to close I choose the bar. Pricey except for the pasta dishes. Everything ala carte. Ceaser Salad was good but for $7 it did not blow me away. Bread was fresh but again nothing special. The big disappointment was with main course - I read the review about the penne ala vodka and that is why I made the extra 10 minute trip off the highway instead of C's up the road. The pasta was hot and cooked el dente just the way I like it. But the sauce was too spicy.... Did not know Vodka sauce had kick?? Not that Iam aware of?? There were no peas, proschut or sun dried tomatoes, only small fresh tomatoes, it was lacking that special taste u get only when u make it right. For me it was spiced up tomato cream sauce. Too bad I thought I had found a real Italian restaurant in the south. Two final notes the service or bartender was great. The price for an entree starts @ $20 up and all ala carte...
(2)
Albion S.
My wife and I ate at Vetro last night with two other couples. Nice atmosphere, good service, food was fantastic! I had the filet, perfect, and my wife had the salmon. Others at our table had sea bass, elk, and veal and we all tried each others, not a complaint. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars vs. 5 is that the food took a bit long to get there, we ordered at 8pm and got our main dishes at 9:15. However we had plenty of drinks, bread, and salads in between to hold us over. It was very busy, but that is one place they can improve on. The owner was wonderful and they sent over a complimentary Creme Brulee. Prices are about what you would expect at Ruth Chris etc. $55 for the Elk, $34 for the Filet, etc. Stick to the wine and beer, wasn't crazy about the Tuscan cocktail. Will go back for sure though!!
(4)
Andrea K.
Great food and service, portions are small but high quality .
(4)
Blake P.
I went there recently over the pre-Valentine's Day weekend with the GF. Since it is a new "hot spot," I made a reservation a few weeks in advance and I'm glad I did because the place was packed. I was initially struck by the ambiance - I guess I was expecting more of a traditional Italian style restaurant. Instead, it was pretty trendy with high back leather booths and a very urban feel. Almost as soon as we were seated, the owner came to our table to offer up a few wine suggestions. My date and I are both big fans of pinot noir, so we went with the Renato Ratti Torriglione - great choice. The owner poured the wine himself and made sure that we were both satisfied. The waitress later came by to confirm the bottle that we purchased as we were informed that someone had called in advance to buy us a bottle of wine and dessert (more on this later). As for food, my date ordered the pork chop, which was served with this amazing sweet, nutty cream sauce. I went with the veal shank that came with candied parsnips - unreal! Both were amazing and cooked to perfection. We both had salads to start off with, which were pretty much your average salad. We opted out of dessert, since our next stop would be at the Lambeth Lounge at the Inn at Carnall Hall for a night cap and we had champagne and chocolates back at the hotel. As we're waiting for the bill to arrive, my date goes to the restroom and the waitress came to my table to inform me that the card number given by the mystery person (my date's mom) for the bottle of wine would not run. I informed her that it was most likely simply an error in the credit card number (missing a digit or two) and that I would be happy to cover the bottle of wine if she would put in on my bill. After speaking with her manager, she returned and said that the restaurant had had a "really good night" and after making sure that we both also thoroughly enjoyed our meals, she said that the bottle of wine would be on the house. I personally thought that this, above all else, was a telling sign of the class that this establishment brings to NWA. Instead of risking the embarrassment that a phone call to the card holder might have caused, they decided to write off the bottle completely. I was impressed! Btw, we later found out that it was a miscommunication of the card numbers and it was corrected the next day. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I'll definitely be returning. Bravo!
(5)
Meredith M.
I got sick after eating the seafood pasta. Woke up at 3:30 am with Montezuma's Revenge...need I say more? The bathroom was a mess. Our check was charged with a higher gratuity than the menu stated. My husband's lobster pasta was good, but the meal was average overall. It does not warrant the high prices demanded on the menu. I guess they need to pay for the blown glass lighting and decorations in the restaurant. They should worry about their food instead!
(2)
William S.
Extremely high prices, food lacked flavor, waiter pushed the higher-priced items... Better Italian in Fayetteville at Geraldi's or Pesto.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Boyce L.
We search for excellent Italian food in Arkansas--all too often in vain. Alas, though, last year we finally discovered Mezza Luna, whose food was consistently nothing short of outstanding. In preparation for out first fall visit back to the mountains of God, we eagerly looked for the Mezza Luna web site--just to see what changes might be in store for us. Horror of horrors, we discovered that the restaurant was closed. This was extremely disappointing news, and it led us to search for alternatives. After some reasonably extensive fact-finding, we settled on Vetro 1925. Our experience began during the sacrificial thrashing of the Nicholls State Colonels on September 6, 2014. I say "during" because we left DWR Razorback Stadium after the half-time show by the best in sight and sound--the Razorback Marching Band--with the score 56 - 0. We arrived at ~5:25 p.m. and found the restaurant completely devoid of other patrons. Despite every table being available, and despite the fact that we had reservations for 6:00 p.m., we were seated at a table very near the rather busy entrance to the kitchen--one of the worst locations in the restaurant. I might also mention here that my partner was seated directly on a crack in a long, padded bench seat that abuts a charming exposed brick wall. She didn't complain, but I'm sure it was an uncomfortable arrangement. Vetro 1925 apparently won a local award for the quality of its renovation of a historic downtown building. If we had served on the award committee, I'm not so sure we would have been as effusive in our praise. The ambiance is okay, but the goal they achieved involved modern decor, which means the owners almost completely whiffed on an excellent chance to develop a rustic, classic Italian eatery that would have been a much better complement to their traditionally-prepared culinary offerings. Speaking of the food, we were EXTREMELY disappointed to discover a single-sheet "Game Day" menu on the tables. When fact-finding about the restaurant, we were delighted to find a traditionally-prepared carbonara on the menu we found online. In all of our travels throughout Arkansas, we have been unable to find a good carbonara, so the prospects for this were mouth-watering. Alas, it was not listed on the truncated menu! To the chef's credit, however, when we asked Brian, our outstanding server, if the chef would be kind enough to prepare a carbonara for us anyway, he returned from the kitchen with good news. The chef had agreed to do so, which boded very well for the restaurant. After enjoying some excellent bread dipped in herbed olive oil, we began with the Caesar Tradizionale salad and the Bella Zuppa of the day, which was a cream of mushroom infused with garlic and olive oil. When considering the best food I've ever had in my mouth, this soup absolutely must be in the conversation. It was delectable! The Caesar salad also was quite good--adorned with some flash fried capers that were a welcome substitute for the anchovies advertised by the online menu. In addition to the carbonara, we selected the agnolotti, which Brian explained would be quite different from the online menu. This turned out to be a ravioli fried in sage butter--stuffed with a very earthy, tasty filling that featured a very subtle pumpkin flavor. It was a treat, albeit somewhat dry and very modestly-sized entree, which would have benefited from a bit more of the sage butter flavor. And speaking of dryness, the much-anticipated carbonara suffered more than a bit from this problem. This COULD have been because it was prepared with bucatini instead of the spaghetti that the chef normally uses. Since no spaghetti was on the reduced dinner menu, apparently the chef had none on hand with which to make his traditional carbonara. For whatever reason, though, the flavorful carbonara suffered a bit from a lack of sauce, leaving it disappointingly dry. We'll wrap up this review with some well-deserved kudos to Brian, our server. One mark of an outstanding restaurant is a well-trained staff. Brian certainly fit that bill. His knowledge and description of the beer and wine offerings was impressive--not to mention his exhaustive familiarity with the subtleties of the menu offerings. His help was invaluable in making our experience a pleasant one. In fact, the service overall was impeccable. Empty plates and unneeded silverware were whisked away in a very timely manner, and the overall attention to us was notable. Our total bill for the two of us, including the tip, was just short of $90. This probably is modest by Vetro 1925's standards, but still is a bit too high for normal folks to dine there on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the restaurant is on our list of places to visit again. It definitely qualifies as a fine dining establishment.
(4)Lauren C.
Franciscan cab 2012 was excellent as was the arugula salad. The penne vodka was cooked perfectly al dente but on the salty side with the unexpected bacon! The complimentary bread was good with the spicy olive oil. Our server Amber was great!
(4)Winnie L.
We were so glad that we finally tried this restaurant. We usually avoid Italian restaurants in order to avoid pasta BUT much to our delight, Vetro has a really great antipasto selection! The food was really really delicious!! Can't wait to go back again. *would give 5 stars if there were a changing table in the bathroom :/
(4)D D.
I was pretty disappointed with my experience here. Drinks are fair but not worth the time due to quality. They failed to prep drinks accurately and failed to get water after being asked twice. The service was not impressive. Now the food.... The menu reads fairly well but isn't that impressive on the plate or in the mouth. Presentation is good but the taste is fair at best. The atmosphere and ambiance is minimalist and very contemporary. I'm still considering if it is worth going back.
(1)Byrd B.
We came on a weeknight pretty early in the evening and we had the place pretty much to ourselves. I had the filet and it's totally worth the price. The hubby had the chicken Alfredo and it was amazing. The bread with oil......OMG good! Everything is fresh and the chef is definitely talented! BRAVO!
(4)Lanny C.
Very nice evening with an excellent Italian red wine, Torcicoda. My server was very knowledgable about the menu and I was not hurried at all. Eggplant Parmigiana had great flavor and well prepared. Also appreciated the maître'd coming by to chat. Can't wait to travel back to Fayetteville!
(5)Lori L.
After being told by colleagues that this is the best restaurant in Fayetteville, I have to say I was not impressed. I was there for a business activity, the menu read well, but the food was mediocre at best. The calamari appeared to be gray in color vs golden, several colleagues ordered filet mignon and it was not served to order, leaving them disappointed and eating after everyone else had finished. The chicken was still pink in my dish, which really was just ok.
(2)S Z.
Food is amazing, the chef really tries hard to accommodate any special requests. They only have so many of each special dish, so once it's out.. it's out! Lunch is much more laid back than dinner. You'll need a reservation most nights. Lunch menu is priced just right (in my opinion).
(5)Amanda M.
I've been to Vetro many time for many occasions, and I've always had a great experience. Service is always attentive. The downstairs area is quiet and more private-- perfect for business dinners or larger parties. Upstairs is brighter and a bit more lively. Bar area upstairs is also great for more casual cocktails and appetizers (date night or girls night). Can't-miss dishes include the charcuterie plate, penne a la vodka, duck, and carbonara! Also, if you're a fan of Moscow Mules you *must* order one here... they have a house-made ginger beer that is fantastic. This is one of my favorite spots in Fayetteville, hope you enjoy it, too!
(4)J N.
Wonderful food and atmosphere and likely the finest restaurant in Fayetteville. The bolognese and carbonara are true tests of the quality of ingredients and preparation. Great atmosphere and solid well trained servers.
(5)Tracy G.
Visiting from Texas, and the college students in our group picked Italian. Had great service from the bar, and the wine list was very nice. I believe our server's name was Brian, he was knowledgeable and very competent. The house cocktail menu was impressive (says a Dallas girl). I really wanted to try the Sidecar with fig-infused brandy (!) but the blood orange martini won out for aperitif. Two in our group had risotto which was nicely done (a little less fluffy than I make mine, but still delicious), one had the pasta purses, and I had the gnocchi with smoked chicken. My gnocchi were excellent; it's a creative and compelling dish and I'm impressed with the chef. A tinge too sweet on the sweet potato filling, but still very memorable. The pepper-infused oil that comes out with the bread basket is remarkable; our table practically scraped out the ramekin. We also thoroughly enjoyed a hazelnut creme brulee and a lemon curd and mascarpone tart that was essentially like the best lemon cream pie you ever tasted. Great pastry crust. We were not as impressed with the bruschetta starter. The menu says grilled bread but I agree with other posters: this was thin, hard and crunchy as though it were oven-toasted hours before. I believe a bruschetta plate should be first about good grilled bread, so this was the one let-down in an otherwise lovely meal. Look forward to returning on another visit to Fayetteville, and will try the antipasto plate next time!
(4)K C.
Excellent food, wine list, ambience n service. Tammy was an excellent guide through the menu. I was visiting from Chicago and asked Tom at The Feemch Metro shop for a recommendation. He suggested Vetro. Great choice!
(5)Teresa M.
Outstanding meal. I had the goat cheese and beet salad with the risotto special. For dessert, I had the chocolate Creme brûlée. Wow. Drinks were perfectly mixed, service was great, and the environment was great. Based on the folks in the crowd, this restaurant has a strong following of local, well known characters, who could afford to go anywhere. Kudos to you.
(5)Erin J.
We made a reservation a few weeks ago at Vetro so please forgive me if I cannot remember all details of our dishes! Definitely make reservations for this place. We had a cocktail while we waited on two members of our party. Cocktails are great, pricier than your average AR restaurant, but what can you expect. Staff was friendly and sat us as soon as everyone arrived. The waitress was knowledgable but it seemed most of the specials were "sold-out". I ordered the gluten free vodka pasta which was a perfect size (plate wasn't the size of Texas). Pasta sauce was tasty! We ordered a mixer of appetizers and I remember someone in our party ordering the trout and it was just as tasty. I would recommend any item on the menu! We will definitely be back!
(5)Stephanie S.
Great staff and the food was excellent. A great place on the Fayetteville square. A must for everyone to try.
(5)Javier O.
Great Ambience! My Mother and myself dwere invited by a friend (John) to have a quick lunch. My Mother and I are from out town. My Mom is very picky eater especially when comes to Italian restaurant. She order Scallop Arugula Salad and bruschetta. I ate simple salad with grilled prawns. My friend order Panini sandwich. The food came on time except my friend the mixed up the order. I course, when you have a waiter that takes your order with out writting down. Yes, chances are is going to forget something... Overalll its was an awesome meal.
(4)Christine S.
Wish I could give this place a better review. Used to go there a lot, but it's not consistent. That's ok if it's a casual dinner w/spouse, but can't take business folk here. The food is Italian but creative and tasty ... if it's hot. I've had lovely waitstaff here and the worst ever. It has to be absolutely terrible before I won't leave a tip, and that has happened. I like the antipasto platter and the salads. Some think the pasta is not homemade, but it is very good.
(3)Tiger S.
The food is consistently excellent. The bar is stocked with an impressive selection of amaros. The service is good. The atmosphere is great for date night or business lunch. Unfortunately it's quite spendy. Gelato will ease the pain of the check.
(5)Morgan E.
Wow, Vetro. So I was in Fayetteville visiting a friend and he kept raving about this place. From the servers and bartenders (The one I remember is Nelson), to the excellent service- it was great. We went in a bit before they opened to make a reservation for Saturday night, not knowing it was Grad weekend for UofA. Nelson was great in finding a time that worked for us. We came back a little after our set reso time at 8:30 and the place was packed. They got us seated immediately and our server was super helpful. The wine was amazing, and I had the special, what he referred to as "An Italian Beef Stroganoff." It was full of flavor, the beef cooked perfectly, and a good portion size. My date's meal however, left something to be desired. It was a white fish dish, with grilled brussel sprouts. The fish tasted way too fishy and wasn't what we were expecting, but the brussel sprouts were delicious, with a grilled side and great flavor. We ended the meal with a delicious crumbly cake, and a shot. Random combination, but it was a great evening. I would like to go back on a night that didn't have a set menu (Grad weekend and all) but I would probably still get that beef stroganoff dish. YUM.
(4)Gregorio S.
My dishes were tasty. I had the pasta carbonara, which was thankfully, traditionally prepared unlike some awful "Americanized" versions! However, my pasta was slightly overcooked and under seasoned or I would rate it a 5.
(4)Chris H.
Went with a small group one chilly, cold evening. Place has a nice vibe and food was very good. Service good. The main rub was that it was cold in the restaurant...task..tisk! Still, one in the running for fav in Fayetteville.
(4)Corinne H.
I am a frequent business person in the Wal-Mart area...and I have finally found my favorite restaurant - Vetro! All homemade pastas, amazing menu, and a wine list to die for! The owner is from the Almalfi Coast of Italy. My favorite are the pasta purses filled with cheeses with bolognese --I add roasted shrimp on top! Yum! Blueberry gelato too! Reasonable for the quality! And a lovely quiet restaurant evening!
(5)Billy K.
Went for our anniversary last night, after reading review's for a month or so. Everything from the bread with Olive oil dip, & imported meat &cheese app was great. Now the entrees where out of this world. We will be back again.
(5)Sam K.
This is my second trip to Vetro and my second review. I'll preface this one by saying I was drinking heavily before and after so the fine details are kind of fuzzy. I already had a buzz working when i got there so I hurried up and ordered Bruschetta. I said "bru SHET a" she corrected me with "bru SKET a." Thanks for the lesson in Italian. I'm trying to get drunk. Bring my damn appetizer. When it showed up it looked like Melba Toast. Ever had that stuff? They sell it in the cracker aisle at Wally World? It's a dry-ass toasted cracker. That's what the toasted bread was like for the Bruschetta. I mean, you could hear the crunch and watch the toast shatter as you ate it. Impossible to eat without making a huge mess. I made an awesome pyramid on the tablecloth from all of the crumbs. I'm hungover. still. Here are some lovely Bullet points: *They've ironed out some of the kinks. -Good for you guys. *They're the most expensive place to eat in town. -ouch. $$$ means quality right? Nope. Pretentious crap. I'd love someone like Pete Wells from the NYTimes to review this place. It would get skewered. *Downstairs blows. -if you get seated downstairs they hate you. You'll have one server who's running up and down the stairs for you and all the other tables around you. They could use a second server down there for sure. *They overcooked a Medium Rare Filet --after the server explained how a Medium Rare steak should be cooked. medium well? Did they forget it? The server kept pulling the wine list off of the table. Are there only a few of them so she just needed to keep handing to new tables? Or is it the fact that it's as thick as War and Peace and takes up an entire place setting? Either way it's almost pointless to go through. Better server still didn't know much about the Italians that comprise the latter portion of the list. I gave it a scathing 1 star review and hated it? So why did I go back? I needed to know if the meal I had 8 months ago could be repeated. It couldn't. Thank god.
(2)Teresa C.
Nice wine list, decor and ambience. Pricey for Fayetteville, but the waiter explained the beef is prime special from Kansas City and the fish is flown in, and you know all travel to XNA is jacked up! Cocktail list was compelling. A friend in the bar was trying a drink with rose petals and said it was yummy. Creme brulee was the best I've had.
(4)Craig P.
Great ambiance means you could be forgiven for forgetting this is downtown Fayetteville not New York. The food measures up too and would highly recommend the Carbonara (but don't expect pasta drowning in Alfredo sauce - this a real Italian restaurant, not Olive Garden).
(4)Jay D.
Service was awful. The wait staff was nice enough but waited over an hour between appetizer and entree even though we order both at the same time. When I finally asked for the check, ready to leave, our food arrived. Not a lot of tables in this place and several were empty so hard to imagine the kitchen was over run. This was a Wednesday evening by the way. When the check arrived the waiter mumbled something but my wife nor I could make it out. I was glad to see they did not charge for the entrees but not a single person stopped by to apologized or take responsibility. Did the waiter forget to turn in the order? Was the chief offend we didn't order the special? I have have no idea. The food, on once it arrived, was pretty good but too heavy on the salt.
(2)Bruce J.
It was a really nice place. A little more upscale than your normal restaurant, but not too fancy or anything. Collared shirt and slacks or jeans are the norm. Prices were in the $25 a plate range, with some less and some more. It's definitely someplace to take someone for a special occasion, and not a normal thing. They had a really cool bar with these changing lights, which was definitely an eye grabber if you were walking by. Until we left, I didn't know there was a downstairs area. They had some interesting choices, like elk, lots of different fish, veal. The lobster ravioli looked good. We weren't in any kind of rush, so we just chatted and got some drinks and appetizers. We started off with some calamari and bruscetta. All very good. The bruscetta had this like sun-dried tomato stuff on it that was awesome. It like popped in your mouth with flavor. little sweet tinge to it too. Next we ordered. I got this pork shank with some potatoes. One of my friends got this veal dish, and I forgot what everyone else had exactly. Chris got this saffron and veal dish that was soooo good. I don't think I've ever had Saffron before. Apparently the spice is very expensive. I could see why, that stuff was the bomb! We all tried each others dishes though and they all rocked. It was just an amazing meal; between the food, the conversation, the drinks, it was a great start to the night. I had some fat tires, some white wine, and ended with some coffee and Grappa, which is like a liqor that i'd never heard of. It's suppose to help digest after a big meal. It started real stout at first, but finishes warm, and it surprises you. We ended with some coffee and deserts. I didn't get any desert because I was absolutely stuffed. The fellas got some sorbet and 'Semifrodo'. It reminded me of dippin dots. It was pretty damn good. All their deserts and everything was made there in the restaurant, including the ravioli noodles. Nothing was pre-made, which really is awesome if you think about it. Our waiter, who I made an appoint to get his name, Steven, was very very good. He was very good at what he does. Knew the menu very well, and was very passionate about the restaurant he worked at, and I could tell he enjoyed his work.
(5)Kelli H.
I made reservations via Urbanspoon 3 weeks prior to my Mom's birthday dinner for a Saturday night at 7:00. We showed up 5 minutes early and the girls had a hard time finding our reservations. They took us to a table in the front of the restaurant in the bar area, the air conditioning vents were right below the table, I asked if there was an available table in the "dining room", and we were told no because they were booked full that night. I asked the young lady if she had found our reservation and she slightly verified they had. I made the reservation on 3/27 and our reservation was on 4/20. The table they were going to seat us at was part of the bar, not part of the restaurant, we did not feel welcome, we were not given an option to sit somewhere else, and we decided to leave. I don't know that I will go back again. I made plans because I had been one other time and thought my Mom would enjoy a nice birthday-evening out. This was very disappointing.
(2)Steve H.
Very good. I had the spaghetti cabonara that had to be sent back because the pasta was well underdone, but they replaced it very quickly. Food and wine were both about an 8 out of 10.
(4)Carl W.
Went hear cause it got great reviews - yet being from NYC some say Olive Garden is too die for, worst of all the chains. I picked this instead of Carraba's and I was sorry to say I had better at C's. First the place is nice in DTN Fayetteville but tables to close I choose the bar. Pricey except for the pasta dishes. Everything ala carte. Ceaser Salad was good but for $7 it did not blow me away. Bread was fresh but again nothing special. The big disappointment was with main course - I read the review about the penne ala vodka and that is why I made the extra 10 minute trip off the highway instead of C's up the road. The pasta was hot and cooked el dente just the way I like it. But the sauce was too spicy.... Did not know Vodka sauce had kick?? Not that Iam aware of?? There were no peas, proschut or sun dried tomatoes, only small fresh tomatoes, it was lacking that special taste u get only when u make it right. For me it was spiced up tomato cream sauce. Too bad I thought I had found a real Italian restaurant in the south. Two final notes the service or bartender was great. The price for an entree starts @ $20 up and all ala carte...
(2)Albion S.
My wife and I ate at Vetro last night with two other couples. Nice atmosphere, good service, food was fantastic! I had the filet, perfect, and my wife had the salmon. Others at our table had sea bass, elk, and veal and we all tried each others, not a complaint. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars vs. 5 is that the food took a bit long to get there, we ordered at 8pm and got our main dishes at 9:15. However we had plenty of drinks, bread, and salads in between to hold us over. It was very busy, but that is one place they can improve on. The owner was wonderful and they sent over a complimentary Creme Brulee. Prices are about what you would expect at Ruth Chris etc. $55 for the Elk, $34 for the Filet, etc. Stick to the wine and beer, wasn't crazy about the Tuscan cocktail. Will go back for sure though!!
(4)Andrea K.
Great food and service, portions are small but high quality .
(4)Blake P.
I went there recently over the pre-Valentine's Day weekend with the GF. Since it is a new "hot spot," I made a reservation a few weeks in advance and I'm glad I did because the place was packed. I was initially struck by the ambiance - I guess I was expecting more of a traditional Italian style restaurant. Instead, it was pretty trendy with high back leather booths and a very urban feel. Almost as soon as we were seated, the owner came to our table to offer up a few wine suggestions. My date and I are both big fans of pinot noir, so we went with the Renato Ratti Torriglione - great choice. The owner poured the wine himself and made sure that we were both satisfied. The waitress later came by to confirm the bottle that we purchased as we were informed that someone had called in advance to buy us a bottle of wine and dessert (more on this later). As for food, my date ordered the pork chop, which was served with this amazing sweet, nutty cream sauce. I went with the veal shank that came with candied parsnips - unreal! Both were amazing and cooked to perfection. We both had salads to start off with, which were pretty much your average salad. We opted out of dessert, since our next stop would be at the Lambeth Lounge at the Inn at Carnall Hall for a night cap and we had champagne and chocolates back at the hotel. As we're waiting for the bill to arrive, my date goes to the restroom and the waitress came to my table to inform me that the card number given by the mystery person (my date's mom) for the bottle of wine would not run. I informed her that it was most likely simply an error in the credit card number (missing a digit or two) and that I would be happy to cover the bottle of wine if she would put in on my bill. After speaking with her manager, she returned and said that the restaurant had had a "really good night" and after making sure that we both also thoroughly enjoyed our meals, she said that the bottle of wine would be on the house. I personally thought that this, above all else, was a telling sign of the class that this establishment brings to NWA. Instead of risking the embarrassment that a phone call to the card holder might have caused, they decided to write off the bottle completely. I was impressed! Btw, we later found out that it was a miscommunication of the card numbers and it was corrected the next day. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I'll definitely be returning. Bravo!
(5)Meredith M.
I got sick after eating the seafood pasta. Woke up at 3:30 am with Montezuma's Revenge...need I say more? The bathroom was a mess. Our check was charged with a higher gratuity than the menu stated. My husband's lobster pasta was good, but the meal was average overall. It does not warrant the high prices demanded on the menu. I guess they need to pay for the blown glass lighting and decorations in the restaurant. They should worry about their food instead!
(2)William S.
Extremely high prices, food lacked flavor, waiter pushed the higher-priced items... Better Italian in Fayetteville at Geraldi's or Pesto.
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