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Va Bene at Isartorplatz is a small Italian restaurant with about 10-12 tables, some of which can be pushed together to accommodate larger groups. Va Bene has been around for about five years. If you don't know that such an excellent Italian restaurant is hidden behind the small restaurant with the red "Va Bene" sign, you could easily walk right past it – but you shouldn't.
My companion already knew this Italian restaurant and its owner from previous visits, so I recently went there with her for dinner. Nico – the owner, chef, and the "heart of the place" – greeted us warmly outside the restaurant, shook our hands, and led us into the small, charmingly and stylishly renovated establishment: dark tables with white tablecloths, light parquet flooring, a bar directly opposite the entrance, numerous wine bottles on the shelves along the walls – an overall very warm and bright ambiance, as the restaurant is entirely made of glass on one side, overlooking the courtyard. Va Bene is set back from the main street, almost a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the city center, and is only accessible after passing through the rear of the building.
My companion was kind enough to reserve a table for us in advance. Apart from one other table occupied by a younger couple, we were the only ones in the restaurant all evening, which, according to the owner, was due to the long weekend. Otherwise, the restaurant is usually quite busy, and the few tables are quickly filled by hungry Italian food lovers – so I definitely recommend making a reservation.
We sat down and were immediately offered a glass of Prosecco (0.1l for €6.50) to start, which we accepted. It should be said upfront that the restaurant is definitely on the pricier side and not the place for a quick snack when you don't have much time. The real enjoyment comes from spending several hours there with good food and great wine – and that's exactly what we did. The Prosecco was served to us immediately – well-chilled and sparkling – and afterwards, we received friendly assistance and helpful advice when choosing our starters and main courses. In the end, I didn't even look at the menu for my final selection and relied on the restaurant's recommendation. You can find the restaurant's regular menu here. here in the left-hand menu on the website.
For starters, we both chose swordfish carpaccio with crayfish in lime oil for €13.90 each. The swordfish was incredibly fresh and delicious. Combined with the lime oil and the accompanying bread, it was a true culinary delight. My companion chose beef fillet with vegetables as her main course. The meat was ordered between medium and well-done, and that's exactly how it arrived – unfortunately, it's an increasingly common detail to forget to ask the guest about their preferred doneness. After the main courses were served simultaneously, we both quickly realized: both were a real treat, which, in my opinion, is exactly what a dish costing €26.90 or €22 should be. I opted for sea bass with asparagus, potatoes, and fresh spinach (also €22). The fish was delicious, tender, and exactly how I like it. There were only two small spears of asparagus, but after the starter, the dish was perfectly adequate and satisfying. We enjoyed the entire evening with two different wines – two delicious white wines: "Gavi di Gavi" (€27.90 per bottle) and Vigna del Lauro Sauvignon (approx. €33 per bottle). We also ordered two large bottles of San Pellegrino water for €5.90 each. The wine paired perfectly with our main courses. So, if you happen to be visiting Va Bene soon, I highly recommend the Gavi di Gavi. The only downside, unfortunately, is that the owner didn't inform us beforehand and switched us to the more expensive wine without a word. Furthermore – something I only realized the next morning, as I was already a bit "amused" – he kept joining us at our table, chatting away, and unfortunately, drinking some of "our" wine. By the end, he'd certainly had two or three glasses of wine – but I was the one who had to pay for it. Not a very nice gesture, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth afterward, since I ended up paying him a large sum.
If the dishes we chose that evening don't appeal to you, there are plenty of other options on the menu. For example, asparagus cream soup (€5.90), ricotta ravioli in a burro honey sauce with walnuts and sage (€12.90), saffron risotto with seared scallops and prawns (€18.90), or wild-caught turbot with bruschetta and salad (€23). Restaurant Va Bene offers a wide selection of typical Italian dishes. They also have a regularly changing menu for their business lunch. Currently, for example, there's a small beef fillet with buttered potatoes and a coffee or espresso afterwards for €19.90, or a set menu consisting of the starter my companion and I chose that evening, pasta with truffles in a Parmesan sauce, and a coffee or espresso for €23.90. Certainly not exactly cheap for a lunch menu, but definitely worth the price in terms of taste.
We paid €230 including tip, but you can deduct €131 for the wine and Prosecco. The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Business lunch is served daily from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Card payments are accepted. The easiest way to get there by public transport is via the "Isartor" S-Bahn station. Va Bene is also ideal for small private parties. The restaurant can be booked for events, company parties, or private celebrations for groups of 10 or more. The website also advertises a "Va Bene" dinner for two, which is a four-course menu including a glass of Prosecco for €69.90 for both people.
I highly recommend a visit to Va Bene. While there are certainly cheaper Italian restaurants in Munich's city center, there are few, if any, other Italian restaurants where you'll receive such warm, friendly, and welcoming service as at Va Bene. The ambiance is captivating, and the atmosphere encourages you to linger – which the friendly owner allowed us to do well beyond regular opening hours – and perhaps even order another glass or two of wine. The restaurant is particularly well-suited if you prefer a quiet evening away from bustling crowds, clattering cutlery, and loud conversations from neighboring tables. Give it a try, and you're sure to have a wonderful and memorable evening.
I'll be back: For delicious Italian food in a cozy atmosphere, definitely go there. The warm service, helpful advice, and fantastic fish are particularly impressive! It's not exactly cheap, though.
Place visited: Va Bene
Address: Isartorplatz 6, 80331 Munich
Website
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