This review is for takeout. I am a huge gnocchi fan, so any time I can find a restaurant that makes it I am pretty happy, as long as I am not getting a dish of mush. Vin Santo delivers on the Gnocchi. It's smaller, and has a bit of chew to it, but they are puffy pillows of goodness (to quote my niece). I don't really like red sauce, so I get their Gnocchi con Gorgonzola. The Gnocchi con Gorgonzola is really good. The Gorgonzola is on the mild side though, for me. I like that little pungent kick you get with most Gorgonzola sauces, but it's kind of absent with their sauce. Nonetheless, the sauce is still tasty. It's the right amount of thickness and creaminess. Coupled with the gnocchi it's a yummy dish. The amount looks small at first glance, but it's a lot and makes two meals for me. As I mentioned, I normally do not like red sauce. After being fortunate enough to travel to Italy, I realize I just don't like American-ized red sauces. They are just too sweet for me. I know adding sugar is to help cut down the acidity, but there are other ways to do that without creating a sugary tasting red sauce. That being said, the red sauce Vin Santo uses for their Umberto Meatballs E Garlic Bread is pretty good. It's one of the few I will order. The meatballs are flavorful and taste good. Their marinara is savory and couples well with the meatballs. I also like the garlic bread when it shows up not completely immersed in the sauce. I wish they would send it separate from the meatballs and marinara because by the time it arrives the bread is sometimes a soggy mess. When it hasn't soaked up all of the sauce prior to arrival, it's tasty and a nice add to the dish. I definitely would like to dine there soon, but I will also continue to use the takeout option with them to get my gnocchi fix.
Mona Schorow
Great place to celebrate birthdays! We ordered cake which came with a spectacular candle.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
San F.
We went to Vin Santo for a family brunch this past Easter. In the beginning, I thought we had to choose either a family style breakfast or lunch and not both. The breakfast was tasty and it consisted of an egg dish, fruit, bakery items, bacon and sausage. Soon after we finished, they started bringing us the lunch items! Two different pastas dishes, arancini, chicken cacciatore, salad. Everything was tasty, and I couldn't believe how much food there was! And, after we couldn't finish another bite, they brought us dessert. The service was perfect. We were so impressed that we are thinking about making it an annual tradition.
Abril M.
Celebrated my birthday here! I loved the food and so did the rest of my family. If you want an elegant vibe , Vin Santo is a good place for pictures and has a low light aesthetic. The best part about my meal was desert , the restaurant gave me a tiramisu cake and sang happy birthday.
Bill Rehbock
A wonderful intimate Italian place on Lincoln in Willow Glen. Fresh, high quality food, decent wine list, and amazing service.Parking: Be aware that there is parking behind the restaurant with a convenient walkway to the front.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Umberto Meat Balls E Garlic Bread
Cynthia G.
Dined here for the first time. The wait staff was wonderful & attentive. Our food was delicious too. I had their Cesar salad & burrata raviolis....so good! I hope to return again when I'm back in San Jose!
Ash V.
My family went to this place this past weekend and it was quite nice. Ambiance: it is awesome if you're on a date, with your parents, and (my favorite) with your kids! It's nice inside and very clean. Service: We had an amazing experience with the staff and I'd recommend it. Book your reservations though and parking is a pain near there. Food: We ordered the following: - Appetizers: We got the Burrata Capresse - Main: * Gnocchi with Bolognese- my younger son ordered this and it was delicious but VERY heavy so if you order it maybe consider sharing. * Salmon - my father in law ordered the Salmon and it was beautifully presented but a large portion enough for takeout. * Chicken Picata - my wife ordered this and she liked it a lot but had leftovers * Cacio e Pepe - I had this and it was so good. Jason at the restaurant prepared it and he let us take pictures (see attached). In general the portions at the restaurant are large so you should know. It's good because the price is very high for this place but commensurate with the portions. I'd come again.
Quynh Pham
Great Italian restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I. Bernardino
One of the best servers I’ve had in a while works here! He was so attentive to our table despite the rush of diners. The food is good enough for a special celebration, but the only problem as expected with a condensed downtown area of a small community is parking. I would definitely come back if craving for Italian - service is awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce, Lobster and Shrimp Pasta with Pistachios
Lea S.
Made a reservation for a birthday. Was seated in the worst area when nicer tables were available. Asked to move because it was cold. Put us outside. Ordered an appetizer of garlic bread and it was sawdust. We closed our ticket and went somewhere else.
They have excellent Italian food and wonderful service. It is an exceptional experience if you are on a date.
Pete S
Vin Santo is a keeper! Enjoy the experience, food, and service when you go.Approaching the ristorante Vincente greeted us warmly and welcomed us inside. Being the first ones in the ristorante that evening we had our choice of tables. We had the prix fixe dinner for our party of four, which included antipasto, salad, main meal and a dessert to share for two.The antipasto and salads were large, which was unexpected. My wife and I shared the antipasto misto (mixed antipasto with prosciutto, salami (which was excellent [and I and not a fan of meats that end in the letter “I”], mortadella, grana padano, caprese, port wine chees, sage cheese, Brie, jam, and olives) and Caesar salad (REAL Italian Caesar salad, not what you get in most places!); while our friends shared birrata and prosciutto antipasto and an insalata afrodisiaca. As I said, large portions—and tasty!For our main dishes the ladies both chose wild boar with flat noodles (very tasty—and filling!), while our friend had lasagna and I chose the chicken breast scalopini with lemon piccata.We chose a red wine to go with dinner (if your tastes run toward tannins, the Merlot is for you; less tannins, the Zinfandel would match your taste; more fruit-forward, the house red—a special blend from Italy the owner crafted—you should enjoy) and enjoyed the leisurely meal with Vincente and Jose taking care of us.Dessert was delightful with our friends choosing the limoncello cake and my wife choosing tiramisu. We were all too full to add after dinner drinks but next time we’ll know to enjoy only half the antipasto and salad so we have room in our stomachs for coffee or port or other such after dinner delight.So, yes, when we are in the Willow Glen section of San José Vin Santo will be at the top of our list!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Caprese, Caesar Salad
Carl Foisy
Ever since Vin Santo opened in Willow Glen, our family has enjoyed dining and celebrating with them. Such a cozy atmosphere, very accommodating with large families, and Chef Umberto is a positive fixture in the community. The drinks and food are a’plenty, and the flavors are also robust n delicious. Authentic Italian restaurant in San Jose is Vin Santo….and we love it each time!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Gnocchi
Danielle H.
Another great evening at Vin Santo! Anna was a very attentive wait staff and the food service was timely. We thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu option, the creme brûlée was a great way to end the evening! An earlier dinner time gave us some quiet ambiance, but as we left things were picking up, and the staff didn't miss a beat.
Lily Ma
We had a delightful experience, everything was delicious and the service was excellent. Highly recommend the Farfalle and Tiramisu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Farfalle Ai Crostacei
This review is for takeout. I am a huge gnocchi fan, so any time I can find a restaurant that makes it I am pretty happy, as long as I am not getting a dish of mush. Vin Santo delivers on the Gnocchi. It's smaller, and has a bit of chew to it, but they are puffy pillows of goodness (to quote my niece). I don't really like red sauce, so I get their Gnocchi con Gorgonzola. The Gnocchi con Gorgonzola is really good. The Gorgonzola is on the mild side though, for me. I like that little pungent kick you get with most Gorgonzola sauces, but it's kind of absent with their sauce. Nonetheless, the sauce is still tasty. It's the right amount of thickness and creaminess. Coupled with the gnocchi it's a yummy dish. The amount looks small at first glance, but it's a lot and makes two meals for me. As I mentioned, I normally do not like red sauce. After being fortunate enough to travel to Italy, I realize I just don't like American-ized red sauces. They are just too sweet for me. I know adding sugar is to help cut down the acidity, but there are other ways to do that without creating a sugary tasting red sauce. That being said, the red sauce Vin Santo uses for their Umberto Meatballs E Garlic Bread is pretty good. It's one of the few I will order. The meatballs are flavorful and taste good. Their marinara is savory and couples well with the meatballs. I also like the garlic bread when it shows up not completely immersed in the sauce. I wish they would send it separate from the meatballs and marinara because by the time it arrives the bread is sometimes a soggy mess. When it hasn't soaked up all of the sauce prior to arrival, it's tasty and a nice add to the dish. I definitely would like to dine there soon, but I will also continue to use the takeout option with them to get my gnocchi fix.
Great place to celebrate birthdays! We ordered cake which came with a spectacular candle.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We went to Vin Santo for a family brunch this past Easter. In the beginning, I thought we had to choose either a family style breakfast or lunch and not both. The breakfast was tasty and it consisted of an egg dish, fruit, bakery items, bacon and sausage. Soon after we finished, they started bringing us the lunch items! Two different pastas dishes, arancini, chicken cacciatore, salad. Everything was tasty, and I couldn't believe how much food there was! And, after we couldn't finish another bite, they brought us dessert. The service was perfect. We were so impressed that we are thinking about making it an annual tradition.
Celebrated my birthday here! I loved the food and so did the rest of my family. If you want an elegant vibe , Vin Santo is a good place for pictures and has a low light aesthetic. The best part about my meal was desert , the restaurant gave me a tiramisu cake and sang happy birthday.
A wonderful intimate Italian place on Lincoln in Willow Glen. Fresh, high quality food, decent wine list, and amazing service.Parking: Be aware that there is parking behind the restaurant with a convenient walkway to the front.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Umberto Meat Balls E Garlic Bread
Dined here for the first time. The wait staff was wonderful & attentive. Our food was delicious too. I had their Cesar salad & burrata raviolis....so good! I hope to return again when I'm back in San Jose!
My family went to this place this past weekend and it was quite nice. Ambiance: it is awesome if you're on a date, with your parents, and (my favorite) with your kids! It's nice inside and very clean. Service: We had an amazing experience with the staff and I'd recommend it. Book your reservations though and parking is a pain near there. Food: We ordered the following: - Appetizers: We got the Burrata Capresse - Main: * Gnocchi with Bolognese- my younger son ordered this and it was delicious but VERY heavy so if you order it maybe consider sharing. * Salmon - my father in law ordered the Salmon and it was beautifully presented but a large portion enough for takeout. * Chicken Picata - my wife ordered this and she liked it a lot but had leftovers * Cacio e Pepe - I had this and it was so good. Jason at the restaurant prepared it and he let us take pictures (see attached). In general the portions at the restaurant are large so you should know. It's good because the price is very high for this place but commensurate with the portions. I'd come again.
Great Italian restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best servers I’ve had in a while works here! He was so attentive to our table despite the rush of diners. The food is good enough for a special celebration, but the only problem as expected with a condensed downtown area of a small community is parking. I would definitely come back if craving for Italian - service is awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce, Lobster and Shrimp Pasta with Pistachios
Made a reservation for a birthday. Was seated in the worst area when nicer tables were available. Asked to move because it was cold. Put us outside. Ordered an appetizer of garlic bread and it was sawdust. We closed our ticket and went somewhere else.
Restaurantji Recommends
They have excellent Italian food and wonderful service. It is an exceptional experience if you are on a date.
Vin Santo is a keeper! Enjoy the experience, food, and service when you go.Approaching the ristorante Vincente greeted us warmly and welcomed us inside. Being the first ones in the ristorante that evening we had our choice of tables. We had the prix fixe dinner for our party of four, which included antipasto, salad, main meal and a dessert to share for two.The antipasto and salads were large, which was unexpected. My wife and I shared the antipasto misto (mixed antipasto with prosciutto, salami (which was excellent [and I and not a fan of meats that end in the letter “I”], mortadella, grana padano, caprese, port wine chees, sage cheese, Brie, jam, and olives) and Caesar salad (REAL Italian Caesar salad, not what you get in most places!); while our friends shared birrata and prosciutto antipasto and an insalata afrodisiaca. As I said, large portions—and tasty!For our main dishes the ladies both chose wild boar with flat noodles (very tasty—and filling!), while our friend had lasagna and I chose the chicken breast scalopini with lemon piccata.We chose a red wine to go with dinner (if your tastes run toward tannins, the Merlot is for you; less tannins, the Zinfandel would match your taste; more fruit-forward, the house red—a special blend from Italy the owner crafted—you should enjoy) and enjoyed the leisurely meal with Vincente and Jose taking care of us.Dessert was delightful with our friends choosing the limoncello cake and my wife choosing tiramisu. We were all too full to add after dinner drinks but next time we’ll know to enjoy only half the antipasto and salad so we have room in our stomachs for coffee or port or other such after dinner delight.So, yes, when we are in the Willow Glen section of San José Vin Santo will be at the top of our list!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Caprese, Caesar Salad
Ever since Vin Santo opened in Willow Glen, our family has enjoyed dining and celebrating with them. Such a cozy atmosphere, very accommodating with large families, and Chef Umberto is a positive fixture in the community. The drinks and food are a’plenty, and the flavors are also robust n delicious. Authentic Italian restaurant in San Jose is Vin Santo….and we love it each time!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Gnocchi
Another great evening at Vin Santo! Anna was a very attentive wait staff and the food service was timely. We thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu option, the creme brûlée was a great way to end the evening! An earlier dinner time gave us some quiet ambiance, but as we left things were picking up, and the staff didn't miss a beat.
We had a delightful experience, everything was delicious and the service was excellent. Highly recommend the Farfalle and Tiramisu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Farfalle Ai Crostacei