Valbella

My boyfriend and I reserved a table at Valbella on a Saturday night for our anniversary. First and foremost, the service alone merits this establishment 5 stars. Our server, Onder, was exceptional. I couldn’t decide between two entrees, so he said he would surprise me, and came out with half and half of each entrée. Then, he surprised us with a hazelnut ice cream dessert with a candle, since we were celebrating. At the end of the meal, we were debating between ordering espressos or having another drink, and he came out with two espresso martinis — which were absolutely delicious!
As for the food, I had raviolis stuffed with shrimp, crabmeat, and lobster, and I also had seafood linguini. The linguini was good, but the raviolis were out of this world. I’m still dreaming about them. My boyfriend had the penne vodka, which he didn’t exactly rave about, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. Overall, Valbella was a lovely experience from start to finish. Take someone here you’re trying to impress.

Nothing short of perfect! The owner personally walked us to our table and the waiter treated the ladies like true princesses
Appetizers will have you stuffed before the food comes. I was torn between two entrees and the waiter had the chef make me both! The Ruby Red Grapefruit Martini (I think that was the name) was delicious. They will catch up if you are sipping to fast!
A true dining experience!

One of the best Italian places in NYC. The small plate of pasta Alfredo with truffle oil is a great starter. It a hefty dollar for larger groups but it’s well worth the price tag.

This place has it all. In the heart of the meat packing district, I found Valbella to be unassuming from the outside with all the glitter on the inside. With its rustic chic interior, its undeniably incredible food and a wait staff that is clearly its backbone, this place scores high marks on every level. I was here for a surprise birthday party and not for one second did they miss a beat. The food! OMG, the food was truly outstanding, the fish extremely fresh and prepared to perfection. The eggplant rolatini and rice balls, amazing!!! You would think, its only eggplant rolatini and rice balls, but they do it to perfection. Being a first generation Italian American, you have to trust me on this one. This was followed by the veal chop, again done to perfection. Grilled perfectly and slightly charred and smoky on the outside, so so juicy on the inside, accompanied by a medley of beautiful vegetables. Wine selection is infinite and the desserts don’t disappoint. The vibe and energy is something you can only find in NYC. Great spot to bring a date or just hang with friends. One of my favs!

I hosted a large party (40ppl) in their chef’s room upstairs. Elva was so outstanding at helping me plan and was happy to answer my one million questions about every detail. Service was absolutely top of the line… my guests had a new drink in their hand as the old glass was empty. Food was delicious… every single course was amazing. Room was so elegant and warm. I will absolutely host my next party here!!!

I love everything about this place!!!
The food and the service is top notch !!! Been here more than once and have yet been disappointed.

This place is AMAZING! Went here for our anniversary dinner and we had a wonderful time. We are vegeterians so I can’t speak too much for the specials. We got a burrata salad I believe which was delish. Our waitor was super chatty though which wasn’t too annoying or anything. but just surprising. Later though he took us upstairs and let us meet the pastry chef. which was really like icing on the cake for me.:D. Its located in the very trendy meatpacking neighborhood. near the highline etc. Would definitely go here again for any special occasions!

I hosted a client business dinner for a party of 21 in Valbella’s «International» private room. Elva, the Director of Private Events, was absolutely fantastic in helping me figure out the seating, menu options, and everything else needed to make sure our dinner was great. We had a fabulous cocktail reception in the private upstairs area prior to seating with delicious hors d’oeuvres. Everything was delicious, I couldn’t even pick a favorite, we had the bacon wrapped filet mignon, pancetta shrimp, mushroom crostini, crab cakes, caprese skewers, and fried eggplant balls.
The restuarant is gorgeous, the upstairs area is spacious and has a beautiful rustic European feel. The staff that assisted us on the night of the dinner made us feel right at home and were very attentive and welcoming. They were so hospitable and paid extra attention to detail to everything we needed. We had no problem coordinating special menu options for guests with dietary restrictions. Everyone was pleased with the level of service and quality of food. All of the entrees were delicious, especially the veal chop! We will definitely be coming back!

Had an okay Valentine’s Day dinner here. The atmosphere was great but the food was sub par. Service was excellent, but will probably not return.

Wonderful experience… pricey beverages, but wonderful service and delicious food. Huge wine list. And super friendly owners. Great place for a high end work event or fancy date.

Excellent food and exemplary service, not to mention fabulous wine cellar! The staff surpassed my expectations, everything was on point with that evening without having to ask. I will definitely be returning here for many more dinners and parties!!!

Sweeping, beautiful space; attentive professional service; fairly sizable portions; and a deep and diverse menu, transform the above average food being pumped out of this kitchen in a workmanlike manner, into something better than it would otherwise taste in a blind taste test. Worthy of a trip for a celebration or a romantic dinner for two, but not solely as a culinary destination.

We came her for a birthday party, we had the large room upstairs. Wine cellar feel — clear glass doors. Waiters were very at tentative. Amazing food. One of the best steaks I’ve ever had, me and my husband couldn’t stop raving about the place. Everything we ordered was phenomenal — cannot wait to go back!

This restaurant was truly extraordinary! It was a family event and the entire staff was so accommodating; any time we needed anything the staff brought it to us in a second. The food was amazing. We had shrimp, lobster, several types of delicious pastas and finally meets like steak and veal. The venue was also beautiful; we didn’t have to help set anything up or worry about getting it done in time because of the accommodation we received. I will definitely be back and can’t wait for another excellent meal and service!

The place is stunning. Was here for a company Christmas party, everything from the drinks and food to the service was wonderful.

As always, Valbella is a solid choice for steaks. Enjoyed a terrific bone-​in behemoth of a steak, and several sides (fried potato slices, onion rings…), along with a fantastic cab. Service staff was attentive and prompt, in spite of the swelling mass of people. Pricey, but expected here.

One of the best dinner experiences I have had in NYC! Amazing food and wine, friendly staff. Perfect place to be for the holidays.

Valbella on 13^th is a bright attractive restaurant. Visually perfect in «so many ways» — especially during the Christmas Season. The bar area is cozy — bartenders friendly.
However when considered upscale dining expectations go beyond visual experiences.
Visited recently for a group holiday dinner — the results mixed. The large table was comfortable — spacious. The waiters alert with perfect description of specials — and there were plenty to remember.
The seafood appetizer with gigantic shrimp, crab meat and lobster tail was excellent. Everyone agreed as this was the popular starter choice. Things however went a bit astray with the main courses. Large selection of steak orders (Filet Mignon’s /​Porterhouse for one) arrived not as requested. Mediums arrived Medium Rare /​Medium Rare arrived rare. My filet arrived as requested but the accompanying vegetables tasted packaged — no flavor. Branzino special was good but not exceptional.
In the heart of the High End Meat Packing District there are High End Expectations. Tonight Valbella fell short of those expectations.
Side Note 1: Current Rating includes initial review on ¹¹⁄₁₃
Side Note 2: Table watching here can be a sport unto itself — lot going on…

I LOVE this place. As soon as you walk in the manager or maybe owner makes you feel like you are at home as soon as you walk in. The waiters are very attentive and the food is amazing.
I can come in this place any day of the week without a reservation and know that i will be seated right away. A must visit when in Meatpacking or Manhattan in general

I took my wife here for her birthday with another couple — their suggestion. It was fantastic. Everything that hit the table was delicious. We shared the Caprese salad. The combo of the mozz and ricotta with the tomato and peppers was amazing. I had the pollo diavalo and it was spicy and full of flavor — definitely not for those with timid tastebuds. My wife had the filet that was also very good. The service was great as all of the waiters know the menu and the specials like they are the chefs. The dinner was pricey, but well worth it.

I booked a private room upstairs with private bar. 30 guests. 5 course dinner with wine service.
YES. Just YES! to everything. OMG!!!

While other Italian restaurants in the meatpacking rest on their name and hype, Valbella delivers a great experience each and every time. The décor is grand and elegant, without being too flashy. The service is excellent and attentive. While this most recent meal had a few mistakes from the kitchen, they were quickly fixed and overall the food was superb. A dish as simple as a Caesar salad is elevated by beautiful presentation and a proper lettuce to dressing ratio. The veal capricciosa was perfect; perhaps the best I’ve ever had. Everyone at my table enjoyed their meal, from the pastas to the fish to the salads. The soufflé for desert is delicious (and has to be ordered early.) It’s a grand evening out, and well worth it.

I had an absolutely stunning surprise birthday dinner here. The staff was extremely patient even as I changed the number of guests the day of the event and requested that they seat the party (and serve them appetizers/​alcohol/​bread) 30 minutes before the birthday boy came.
The customer service and the food (almost all of the food) here was delicious! There were ten of us so I can only speak on the heavenly white truffle linguini, flavorful fried calamari, and fresh sea bass. The calamari and linguini were definitely big hits — one of the best I’ve had for each.
After dinner, the received an assortment of desserts and gosh was I in heaven. We had crème brûlée, chocolate lava cake, tiramisu, and a few other dishes that I can’t even remember. And the staff helped our table sing happy birthday. Everything was delicious!
The restaurant itself is beautiful and elegant. I would have given 5 stars but they forgot our oysters and one person at our table ordered the fish special and said it was tough and flavorless.
I will definitely return and I highly recommend it to anyone!

I have been here a few times now, today I came to a friend’s birthday party. This place is unreal the food is outstanding the service is amazing and the wine, well that depends, I was with Vito so it was amazing. If you like wine and amazing food stop in.

Service is absolutely amazing, you really do get what you paid for. The caprese was an excellent appetizer– light & leaves you room for your entrees. The Tournedos Al La Rossini was tooooo yum, perfect if you love a good filet mignon. The chocolate soufflé also hit the spot!!!

I cannot say enough about Valbella — I had to select one restaurant in New York to throw a classy birthday dinner for a friend. After extensively looking into several places (including usual favorites like Tao and Catch) Valbella took first place. It’s well-​decorated, yes, but the atmosphere is truly one of the most welcoming and attentive I have ever experienced. The staff is genuine and quick to recognize your needs. The food is sumptuous and well-​presented. The owner is hands-​on, and the regulars I passed as I was shown the private dining rooms stopped to ask about my event, and told me about their great experiences at Valbella, too!
Well, this past Saturday was the big night and it was perfect — the pasta, salads, veal, filet, and fish were all delicious. Even the lighting was perfect for our photographer! I couldn’t have imagined a more smoothly run, cultivated experience from start to finish. Thank you to Mackenzie and all of Valbella for making it such a special night for us! You’ve won over a whole new crowd of New Yorkers!

This place is definitely worth exploring. With Scarpetta and other places in the area getting much attention from name recognition, valbella is no push over.
Came here on a Wednesday evening and was greeted with exceptional service and knowledge of the menu. The restaurant is extremely nice and had a nice open layout. While there weren’t too many people dining when I came, this would be a good place for group dinners.
I had the penne alla vodka and it was delicious. Penne sauce was very good and wasn’t overly salty and as some tend to be. Everything mixed very well and it was an overall enjoyable dish. They also have a good red wine selection which is obviously perfect for meals like these.
I really liked this place and will definitely come back again to try more.

Ambiance: trendy what you would expect from the meat packing district
I’ve been to the one in midtown and the food was very good
This one, in the meat packing district, only came here for dessert
Food
Napoleon…it was delicious
Chocolate lava cake: made with dark chocolate, not too sweet
Desserts were super expensive! They didn’t break out the price on the bill but for the two items above it was $ 45!!! Outrageous!!! They were both good but not worth the high price tag

The restaurant is located in the meatpacking district which is a very lively and fun district to be in at night with all the bars and restaurants in the neighborhood.
The service here was ok, for the price tag and the atmosphere that it creates, the level of service is on par with expectation.
Antipasto Freddo — This was supposed to be a portion for 2 and we had a party of 5 but the waiter was able to portion is nicely with 2 orders for 5 people. The combination was pretty good but there was perhaps too much vegetables and the appetiser does fill you up pretty fast.
Fried Calamari — Yummy! Loved it.
Chilean Sea Bass — cant remember the exact ingredients in this one since it was a daily special. (i think there was some chick pea, some purée, and some vegetables with a roasted tomato) the fish was nicely cooked and i definitely did enjoy this dish. However, the portion was too large. I’m not sure if this was because the appetiser really filled me up or the fish slice was too large.
Napoleon dessert — Highly recommended. Loved the crispness of the crust and the almond silvers. We hard to order this before the main course was served since they take 45min to make this. It was very light, and large enough to serve 5 people.
Chocolate soufflé — It was decent but not very special. Also a little too sweet imo.
Would probably not come back again since there are so many restaurants in the neighborhood to check out. The quality of food is undoubtedly good. But for the price tag, I’d expect a lot more to match up, and it just isnt there yet.