Vanda

Reviews

• Jerry F.

  star star star star star 23 October 2026

  The two of us went on the recommendation by a coworker who said this restaurant was great.  She was right!  When we arrived, a man greeted us very cordially who we found out was the owner Dino.  After greeting us, Dino asked if we wanted to sit at the bar and made sure that there were two seats for us.  He said that he would ask his partner to move from his bar seat, which his partner graciously offered to move.  We declined to take the seats and had a quick but wonderful chat with Dino.
  
  Our waitress, Brianna, was fantastic!  So friendly and efficient.
  
  We split the calamari appetizer.  Wow!!!  This is a must-have.
  
  My partner had the calamari special and he thoroughly enjoyed it.  I had the cod.  The blend of ingredients was incredible!
  
  Now for the atmosphere.  For its unassuming exterior, you'll find a gem.  Tastefully renovated from the previous restaurant.  Windows are big and make the place feel very open.
  
  Dino came back to our table at my request to finish his story about the restaurant.  Not many owners would take the time to do that.
  
  Vanda can contend with any restaurant from Federal Hill in Providence or Main Street in East Greenwich.

• L S.

  star star star star star_border 19 October 2026

  Updated review.
  Food was good but the portions were smaller than average, especially for dinner portions  and pricier than your average local Italian bistro
  Got a few things wrong as far as service.... waited a bit for server to come back for the grated cheese/pepper-mill after meals dropped, forgot my husband's beer, apparently didn't hear spaghetti with just butter for the little one.  All was rectified but it downgrades the experience.  Server made up for it as she was very personable. Pasta is very good there, however the chicken risotto special was a little bland. I will probably just go back for drinks/apps at the bar or perhaps lunch which has always been very good there.

• Adam S.

  star star star star star 11 October 2026

  We were on our adventure in New England and traveling from Newport to the Providence area, trying to figure out where the best place to eat would be according to my car's GPS system. Thinking it was going to be a seafood restaurant, we accidentally entered THIS Italian restaurant with some great expectations.
  
  The food is just extraordinary! What we had for the food are the Caprese salad, the calamari for an appetizer, and the Italian panini sandwich for lunch. Everything was amazing!
  
  The server who took our order for lunch this afternoon was courteous and attentive. The decor and bar are very elegant for such a small-spaced restaurant.
  
  Definitely worth checking out if you're searching for a place to eat in Warwick!
  
  ~ Chew Castle

• Chelsea M.

  star star star star star 2 October 2026

  Was given a kindly heads up about this spot from my AirBnB hostess. I'm traveling from out of town and initially thought, hmm I may be too underdressed for this restaurant, but I went inside, sat at the bar, and immediately felt so welcome. The glass of Chianti helped!
  
  The ambiance is warm and friendly, as are all of the staff and patrons I met. I began with the meat and cheese board, which was beautifully presented and equally tasty. Next was the arugula salad, and I can not recommend this enough. Next time I would probably request extra figs as they were my favorite part of the dish! I only got pasta after the salad, but after a long day of traveling, the fusilli dish really hit the spot. It was simple, warm, full of comforting flavors. I completely recommend Vanda to anyone traveling up 95!

• Ginnie G.

  star star star star star_border 2 October 2026

  Vanda is a culinary delight and quite popular!  We had a reservation for 6:30, stayed til about 9:45 and the restaurant was busy the entire time we dined.  The decor is pleasing; dining room is intimate with a bar, but comfortable.  It is tastefully appointed with mementos from the owner's mother and shelves of live plants lined the glass windows above the dining area along the perimeter of the restaurant.  The staff was warm and accommodating.
  
  6 of us ate here last night and we ALL enjoyed our meals.  The ingredients are fresh and dishes are made to order.  The owner credits his mother with the recipes for the dishes on the menu.  The restaurant is willing make substitutions for dietary restrictions, though there is a charge.
  
  Brown paper bags of bread are served with dipping oil before the meal (a mishap occurred here; I'll explain below).  Some in our party chose salads and these were savory and ample enough to share.  For dinner we chose Fettuccini Bolognese, Vongole (clams) with garlic, white wine and crostini, roasted Statler chicken with zucchini, red bliss tomatoes and mushrooms demi glaze, Sirloin medallions with onions in a Demi glaze, broccoli and broccoli mashed potatoes, Cod with rabe, lemon, capers and anchovies and Mafaldine (pasta) aglio e olio.  After the meal ALL of our plates returned to the kitchen emptied.
  
  Accidents happen!  A dish of dipping oil spilled onto one of our purses staining the leather.  The waitstaff quickly cleaned up the mess and the management offered to replace the purse at their expense.  KUDOS to the restaurant!!
  
  We have only two minor critiques.  The noise level is quite high and a side order of polenta was never served.  We'll concede the missing polenta was a oversight, though we think we were charged for it.  (We should have reviewed the bill more closely).  As for the noise, well, the other diners were enjoying themselves too and it didn't interfere with the experience.
  
  If you like fresh ingredients, served to order then Vanda should be on your restaurant 'bucket list'.  We'll be back.