What a wonderful addition to the Rockford area, a real favorite. The homemade sauce and culinary creations from Chef Vito are sure to impress. Great atmosphere. Love the bar area. It's always fun grabbing a drink after dinner. The people are fantastic. A lovely family owned restaurant earning my highest recommendation.
(5)
Jan R.
We often have our Christmas parties here. The food is outstanding, as is the service. They bend over backwards to meet all the different meal requirements of everyone of us . Vegeterain, no problem... no dairy, they got it....If you let them know before you come , they will have it for you!! What more can you ask ?
(4)
Truth H.
Good service, Food was good but not great. Alfredo is good Lasagna not so much
(3)
Shawna B.
We had a lovely evening out, starting with wine and bruschetta. We both ordered pastas - quite tasty. The atmosphere was really nice, and we enjoyed a quick visit by the owner/chef who made sure we enjoyed our meal. We ordered a raspberry creme brulee - that was the highlight of the dinner for me! We will definitely go back and try another dish!
Delicious food and one of the best espresso Martina's in the area. Also, service comes with great conversation too. Love the owners.
(5)
Stephanie R.
We chose Vito's for a meetup to celebrate Mother's Day. They were featuring what I expect was a limited menu due to the holiday which featured some brunch items and some heartier entrees. The restaurant is in a strip mall, with a nice, simple decor with neutral ceramic tile floors and a large scenic mural on the wall in the side dining room. I decided that since it was just a dollar or two more than the other dish I was considering, that I would go with the Conchiglie alla Sarda, said to be their signature. A basket of room temperature rolls were brought out, and there was olive oil and a bowl of parmesan on the table. As my starter I chose the seafood bisque, which was delicious. My pasta was also a good choice. The shells were in a tomato cream sauce with peas topped with flavorful ground sausage. I believe I could taste red wine in the sauce, and the whole dish was very nice. Mr. R had a salad rather than the bisque, since he will pretty much avoid seafood at all costs. The salad was topped with slices of Italian sausage, which my dad ended up eating. For his entree, Mr. R had the lasagna. As with most Italian places, the piece of lasagna looked like it could make about four meals. I took a bite of it after trying my meal, and I detected a decent amount of garlic, my old friend. I decided to get a cup of cappuccino, and it was piping hot and served with a small piece of biscotti, and Mr. R ordered a cannoli which we shared. Chef Vito visited our table both before and after our meal, which was nice, and our server took good care of us.
(4)
Jax D.
Truly just so-so... Light pours on wine. Lava cake with no lava. Calamari over battered, over cooked, rubbery and chewy, no flavours of calamari. I do not believe the raviolis we made in house, reminded me of costcos brand. The bread served for the table seems a weird choice for Italian- raisin bread at dinner? Anyone? The bruschetta was over toasted making it break apart and not hold the toppings. It tore at the roofs of our mouths. While Vito tried to be engaging, it felt forced and I wondered why he wasn't in the kitchen, isn't he the chef? They need a chef in the kitchen. The waitress did not know the menu, did not offer specials, I had to pull information out of her. It's trying to be fine dining by the prices but the food just doesn't live up to it. Over-blown reviews for sure. :( We wasted $150 on a dinner worth $45.
(2)
Ben K.
Really great local place, I love the experience the chef gives you. Olive Garden doesn't have anything on this place.
(5)
Jen J.
Everything about Vito's made me smile. The food, the service, the owner. Fantastic! We (6 of us) all had different meals. All top notch! Soup is delicious. Yum!
(5)
Jennifer C.
The service, atmosphere, and dining experience was excellent, but i wish the food had just a little more flavor. This is definitely traditional, simple Italian. The portions are generous. The soup was excellent. Definitely worth trying...just not my favorite.
(3)
E L.
I lived in Italy for several years, and really appreciate the authenticity of this local place. It has a little bit of an upscale feel with cloth napkins and a pretty ambiance, though we have worn jeans and taken our toddler son there a few times and they have always been very welcoming and accommodating when we ask to sit in the back. So far, I've had the spaghetti with meatballs (which are gigantic and delicious), the steak sandwich and a vegetarian panini on ciabatta. All have been good, though I liked the spaghetti with meatballs and stark sandwich the most. The spaghetti with meatballs is really some of the best I've had in the U.S., and the portion was more than enough. Vito is friendly and the service in our experience has consistently been excellent.
(5)
Mike K.
Great food and staff. The spicy pasta was perfect And the seafood bisque was to die for! Will be back for sure!
(5)
Thomas K.
The food and service were excellent. Vito came out to our table twice. The wine had nice selections at reasonable prices. We will make this a regular place
(5)
Margaux D.
Maybe I caught these guys on an off day. I wouldn't normally write a two-star review for anything that isn't a chain (I'm all for local business, guys). But I went in with my aunt just after lunchtime and the experience at Vito's was just bizarre. It took the waitress a good ten minutes to come and ask for our drink orders, and another ten or fifteen to actually give us our diet sodas. We contemplated leaving there, but decided that would be rude. Then there was the temperature. I was there in January, they sat us by a wall of windows and it was FREEZING. I was wearing my snowboarding jacket during my nice Italian meal. And I had to run to the car to find pants to put on because I was wearing a skirt before. Like... arctic. Anyways, the food was pretty good, but the service was lacking. It was a beautiful restaurant, but I had a view of someone's yard. This just made me uncomfortable. I would say give it a shot, but I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)
Road W.
Portions were generous and the pasta Fagioli was fresh and tasted home made. My son had the linguine Alfredo and really enjoyed it. The chef came out early to say hello and chat. Coming from NY metro, I miss the local trattoria and appreciated the family atmosphere. Why not 5 stars? Service was good, not great. Service was "OK", as our waitress was a bit dry and unfriendly, but the others hustled a little more than her and presented more welcoming smiles. Chef, if your reading: A table walked out after hearing the fish specials. Likely due to price, but the dishes are fairly priced for the nice atmosphere. I blame the server who simply stated the fish and price. There was NO sale of the dishes preparation and accompanying sides/starters. (Too bad for the owner) My pasta was slightly overlooked (far from al dente). If you are an Italian restaurant, the pasta HAS to be right for 5 stars!
(4)
Dennis F.
Vito's is a wonderful family owned restaurant where they treat you like family. The service is excellent as is the food.
(5)
Jason K.
Went to Vito's for the first time this past Tuesday evening (10/30) with a group of 5, and was pleased with the experience! First impression was that the restaurant was actually larger than I had always thought that it was (from outside appearance). That said, while there is plenty of seating room, they've taken care to segment the restaurant off so that there remains some privacy so that you don't feel like you're surrounded by patrons. The service was good, with our waitress providing good information about drinks and menu selections, while also exhibiting some "personality" (in a good way). The food was good...and definitely plentiful. For appetizers we had the Bruschetta al Toscana & the Calamari Fritti. The bruschetta was interesting as it had more balsamic vinegar in it that I (or my group) am accustomed to...but was definitely good! The calamari was also interesting as Vito's does a little different spin on their calamari, using a heavier breading than what most folks might be accustomed to. Still, even with the apps being a little different than traditional preparations, they were both very good! For my dinner entree, I had the Spicy Linguine con Scampi Fra Diavolo...which was excellent! Pasta was cooked to a good "al dente", but not chewy/gummy, and the spicy sauce had just the right amount of kick. I will say, that this entree was HUGE! I ended up finishing about a third (maybe half) of the entree, then boxing up the rest of it to go. The rest of my group seemed happy with their entree selections as well. A nice side note about the restaurant...while we were dining, the owner (Vito himself!) was out and about, greeting customers and checking to see how they were enjoying their meals. In some (most?) cases, this can come off as insincere and "fake"...but Vito seemed to be genuinely interested in hearing about his diner's experience and making folks feel welcome. That was a nice touch to the experience. All in all, I (and the rest of my group) were very pleased with our experience, and I look forward to returning to Vito's!
(4)
Luda K.
Went back for a second and third time, and my glowing review still stands. Now my favorite Rockford area Italian restaurant. Vito's does consistently what few restaurants seem to be able to do, they serve hot food hot and cold food cold. It is amazing how much better food tastes when served at the optimum temperature.
(5)
Judi G.
We love Vito's . The food is wonderful. The owner make everyone feel at home, he personally visits every table. The bartender makes awesome drinks. The waitress's are attentive. We suggest this place to everyone we know. We love this warm and medium priced dated night non-chain restaurant . Worth a try, the food will bring you back.
(5)
Jeff P.
Fantastic place! I travel to Rockford for work frequently, and after one trip Vito's has vaulted into my top 2 or 3 places in town. Nice ambiance and the wait staff was friendly. The appetizer (flat bread) was OK. But all of our entrees were delicious. I ordered the 7 oz. filet (I almost NEVER order a steak at an Italian restaurant), and it was ridiculously good. Others ordered a ravioli and sausage special, and the lasagna. Both were very good as well. Prices were very reasonable also. We'll be back.
(4)
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Address :1620 N Bell School Rd
Rockford, IL, 61107
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes 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.
Abbey L.
What a wonderful addition to the Rockford area, a real favorite. The homemade sauce and culinary creations from Chef Vito are sure to impress. Great atmosphere. Love the bar area. It's always fun grabbing a drink after dinner. The people are fantastic. A lovely family owned restaurant earning my highest recommendation.
(5)Jan R.
We often have our Christmas parties here. The food is outstanding, as is the service. They bend over backwards to meet all the different meal requirements of everyone of us . Vegeterain, no problem... no dairy, they got it....If you let them know before you come , they will have it for you!! What more can you ask ?
(4)Truth H.
Good service, Food was good but not great. Alfredo is good Lasagna not so much
(3)Shawna B.
We had a lovely evening out, starting with wine and bruschetta. We both ordered pastas - quite tasty. The atmosphere was really nice, and we enjoyed a quick visit by the owner/chef who made sure we enjoyed our meal. We ordered a raspberry creme brulee - that was the highlight of the dinner for me! We will definitely go back and try another dish!
(4)Sarah C.
Found Vito's on a recent business trip with a coworker. We searched around for a while for a place with good reviews, glad we did as we were very pleased with Vito's. Drinks were great, meals were great, ambiance was great, service was great, we even got to meet Vito! My only complaint was I requested salad dressing on the side and the waitress didn't do that. To be honest we went to another local Italian restaurant called Franchescas the next night and Vito's put them to shame!! P.S. Creme Brûlée was the best one we have ever had, super fresh and light!
(5)Andrea M.
Delicious food and one of the best espresso Martina's in the area. Also, service comes with great conversation too. Love the owners.
(5)Stephanie R.
We chose Vito's for a meetup to celebrate Mother's Day. They were featuring what I expect was a limited menu due to the holiday which featured some brunch items and some heartier entrees. The restaurant is in a strip mall, with a nice, simple decor with neutral ceramic tile floors and a large scenic mural on the wall in the side dining room. I decided that since it was just a dollar or two more than the other dish I was considering, that I would go with the Conchiglie alla Sarda, said to be their signature. A basket of room temperature rolls were brought out, and there was olive oil and a bowl of parmesan on the table. As my starter I chose the seafood bisque, which was delicious. My pasta was also a good choice. The shells were in a tomato cream sauce with peas topped with flavorful ground sausage. I believe I could taste red wine in the sauce, and the whole dish was very nice. Mr. R had a salad rather than the bisque, since he will pretty much avoid seafood at all costs. The salad was topped with slices of Italian sausage, which my dad ended up eating. For his entree, Mr. R had the lasagna. As with most Italian places, the piece of lasagna looked like it could make about four meals. I took a bite of it after trying my meal, and I detected a decent amount of garlic, my old friend. I decided to get a cup of cappuccino, and it was piping hot and served with a small piece of biscotti, and Mr. R ordered a cannoli which we shared. Chef Vito visited our table both before and after our meal, which was nice, and our server took good care of us.
(4)Jax D.
Truly just so-so... Light pours on wine. Lava cake with no lava. Calamari over battered, over cooked, rubbery and chewy, no flavours of calamari. I do not believe the raviolis we made in house, reminded me of costcos brand. The bread served for the table seems a weird choice for Italian- raisin bread at dinner? Anyone? The bruschetta was over toasted making it break apart and not hold the toppings. It tore at the roofs of our mouths. While Vito tried to be engaging, it felt forced and I wondered why he wasn't in the kitchen, isn't he the chef? They need a chef in the kitchen. The waitress did not know the menu, did not offer specials, I had to pull information out of her. It's trying to be fine dining by the prices but the food just doesn't live up to it. Over-blown reviews for sure. :( We wasted $150 on a dinner worth $45.
(2)Ben K.
Really great local place, I love the experience the chef gives you. Olive Garden doesn't have anything on this place.
(5)Jen J.
Everything about Vito's made me smile. The food, the service, the owner. Fantastic! We (6 of us) all had different meals. All top notch! Soup is delicious. Yum!
(5)Jennifer C.
The service, atmosphere, and dining experience was excellent, but i wish the food had just a little more flavor. This is definitely traditional, simple Italian. The portions are generous. The soup was excellent. Definitely worth trying...just not my favorite.
(3)E L.
I lived in Italy for several years, and really appreciate the authenticity of this local place. It has a little bit of an upscale feel with cloth napkins and a pretty ambiance, though we have worn jeans and taken our toddler son there a few times and they have always been very welcoming and accommodating when we ask to sit in the back. So far, I've had the spaghetti with meatballs (which are gigantic and delicious), the steak sandwich and a vegetarian panini on ciabatta. All have been good, though I liked the spaghetti with meatballs and stark sandwich the most. The spaghetti with meatballs is really some of the best I've had in the U.S., and the portion was more than enough. Vito is friendly and the service in our experience has consistently been excellent.
(5)Mike K.
Great food and staff. The spicy pasta was perfect And the seafood bisque was to die for! Will be back for sure!
(5)Thomas K.
The food and service were excellent. Vito came out to our table twice. The wine had nice selections at reasonable prices. We will make this a regular place
(5)Margaux D.
Maybe I caught these guys on an off day. I wouldn't normally write a two-star review for anything that isn't a chain (I'm all for local business, guys). But I went in with my aunt just after lunchtime and the experience at Vito's was just bizarre. It took the waitress a good ten minutes to come and ask for our drink orders, and another ten or fifteen to actually give us our diet sodas. We contemplated leaving there, but decided that would be rude. Then there was the temperature. I was there in January, they sat us by a wall of windows and it was FREEZING. I was wearing my snowboarding jacket during my nice Italian meal. And I had to run to the car to find pants to put on because I was wearing a skirt before. Like... arctic. Anyways, the food was pretty good, but the service was lacking. It was a beautiful restaurant, but I had a view of someone's yard. This just made me uncomfortable. I would say give it a shot, but I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)Road W.
Portions were generous and the pasta Fagioli was fresh and tasted home made. My son had the linguine Alfredo and really enjoyed it. The chef came out early to say hello and chat. Coming from NY metro, I miss the local trattoria and appreciated the family atmosphere. Why not 5 stars? Service was good, not great. Service was "OK", as our waitress was a bit dry and unfriendly, but the others hustled a little more than her and presented more welcoming smiles. Chef, if your reading: A table walked out after hearing the fish specials. Likely due to price, but the dishes are fairly priced for the nice atmosphere. I blame the server who simply stated the fish and price. There was NO sale of the dishes preparation and accompanying sides/starters. (Too bad for the owner) My pasta was slightly overlooked (far from al dente). If you are an Italian restaurant, the pasta HAS to be right for 5 stars!
(4)Dennis F.
Vito's is a wonderful family owned restaurant where they treat you like family. The service is excellent as is the food.
(5)Jason K.
Went to Vito's for the first time this past Tuesday evening (10/30) with a group of 5, and was pleased with the experience! First impression was that the restaurant was actually larger than I had always thought that it was (from outside appearance). That said, while there is plenty of seating room, they've taken care to segment the restaurant off so that there remains some privacy so that you don't feel like you're surrounded by patrons. The service was good, with our waitress providing good information about drinks and menu selections, while also exhibiting some "personality" (in a good way). The food was good...and definitely plentiful. For appetizers we had the Bruschetta al Toscana & the Calamari Fritti. The bruschetta was interesting as it had more balsamic vinegar in it that I (or my group) am accustomed to...but was definitely good! The calamari was also interesting as Vito's does a little different spin on their calamari, using a heavier breading than what most folks might be accustomed to. Still, even with the apps being a little different than traditional preparations, they were both very good! For my dinner entree, I had the Spicy Linguine con Scampi Fra Diavolo...which was excellent! Pasta was cooked to a good "al dente", but not chewy/gummy, and the spicy sauce had just the right amount of kick. I will say, that this entree was HUGE! I ended up finishing about a third (maybe half) of the entree, then boxing up the rest of it to go. The rest of my group seemed happy with their entree selections as well. A nice side note about the restaurant...while we were dining, the owner (Vito himself!) was out and about, greeting customers and checking to see how they were enjoying their meals. In some (most?) cases, this can come off as insincere and "fake"...but Vito seemed to be genuinely interested in hearing about his diner's experience and making folks feel welcome. That was a nice touch to the experience. All in all, I (and the rest of my group) were very pleased with our experience, and I look forward to returning to Vito's!
(4)Luda K.
Went back for a second and third time, and my glowing review still stands. Now my favorite Rockford area Italian restaurant. Vito's does consistently what few restaurants seem to be able to do, they serve hot food hot and cold food cold. It is amazing how much better food tastes when served at the optimum temperature.
(5)Judi G.
We love Vito's . The food is wonderful. The owner make everyone feel at home, he personally visits every table. The bartender makes awesome drinks. The waitress's are attentive. We suggest this place to everyone we know. We love this warm and medium priced dated night non-chain restaurant . Worth a try, the food will bring you back.
(5)Jeff P.
Fantastic place! I travel to Rockford for work frequently, and after one trip Vito's has vaulted into my top 2 or 3 places in town. Nice ambiance and the wait staff was friendly. The appetizer (flat bread) was OK. But all of our entrees were delicious. I ordered the 7 oz. filet (I almost NEVER order a steak at an Italian restaurant), and it was ridiculously good. Others ordered a ravioli and sausage special, and the lasagna. Both were very good as well. Prices were very reasonable also. We'll be back.
(4)