Vitale’s Italian Restaurant
834 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
Vitale’s Italian Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Grand Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Grand Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
834 Leonard St NE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 - Phone (616) 458-8368
- Website https://www.theoriginalvitales.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Katie C.
Pizza: an ongoing quest for the best. Vitale's: terribly disappointing. I really don't have to qualify as a pizza lover/snob. Waaaayyyy back in the day, I worked at one of Chicago's busiest (and BEST) pizza joints downtown. Even farther back, as a kid, it was a daily battle with my mother to insure I was eating a mini frozen pizza for dinner. Every night of the week. I usually won. So when I did my research and came up with Vitale's, I was expecting decent, maybe even good pizza. Heck, Yelpers don't usually steer me wrong...but ohhhhhhhhh nooooooooo. 1st No-No: the grease, OY, the grease! Greasy on top of our toppings, and when I picked up a slice to plop onto my plate, GREASE UNDERNEATH. So much grease, it soaked the crust, leaving a thick orange residue on our carry-out box. WTF? It's not cool to want to throw up BEFORE your meal. 2nd No-No: the sauce, EEK, the sauce! It was sickeningly sweet--like, just why? Pizza is not dessert, nor is tomato sauce my sweet-tooth go-to. Eww. It's like this pizza was made for people without tastebuds. 3rd No-No: no spinach. They don't have spinach as a topping. Why is it that any knowing Chicago pizzeria offers spinach as a topping, and GR has none? Whyyyyyyy?!? 4th No-No: no delivery. Which means I have to not be lazy to have a lazy dinner. This practically defeats the purpose of "ordering pizza." The only saving grace? The mozzarella sticks I ordered on a whim. They were actually still hot by the time I got home--perhaps because they were super thick, super breaded, and super salty. The quest for decent pizza in GR continues...hopefully I won't have to freakin' make it myself!
(2)Adam W.
Vitale's Italian restaurant is definitely one of THE spots for some great food in Grand Rapids. The main restaurant, as some call it, is nice and a good place to take a date or have a relaxing evening of dining out with family... but the real star of Vitale's is, without a doubt, the pizza - and you don't need to dine in to get this goodness. But, let's pause on the Italian dishes (other than pizza) that they offer. Because, you just can't go wrong here. Really. They have all the standards that you'd expect and they're all friggin' awesome. The fettuccine alfredo is some of the best I've had - the alfredo is creamy, delicious, extravagant and rich. But not TOO rich. The manicotti is smothered in their famous marinara sauce which is slightly sweet and really what brings their awesome pizza together so well. As I mentioned earlier (and other reviewers have too), the pizza is the standout here. The perfect balance of crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings make this a perfect pizza. The pizza/marinara sauce... to die for. They should seriously consider bottling this stuff and selling it in Meijer stores to form some kind of Michigan-based partnership that could overtake the country. You know how some reviews just go on and on singing the praises of the place being reviewed? That's what this will turn into if I don't stop writing now. Just know that Vitale's is the BEST pizza in Grand Rapids and you're a friggin' moron if you think otherwise - and I mean that in the nicest way possible. If you're in Grand Rapids and starving for pizza... forget everywhere else and call up Vitale's for your takeout. You have your orders.
(4)jammy d.
This isn't pizza. It's sauce from GFS and dough from Meijer. I think even the Raccoons would pass this stuff by if it were laying in an alley. Very drab, tasteless pizza.
(2)Sarah W.
If you are looking for good, traditional Italian-American food and pizza, this is a go-to place. I have never been disappointed by any pasta or chicken dish yet, and their pizza is excellent (although I haven't had it in a while). It can be pricey, but the portions are enough for two people easily!! I am usually only able to eat half, at most of my meal! Another reason to come here: the full carafe of house wine for $18. It's a full liter (filled to the top) of a selection of about 6 different house wines, and is good, and very affordable. Highly recommended! Eat in the restaurant side if you are on a date, or they have a sports bar building if you want to watch the game while eating delicious food. Mmm...
(4)Oliver A.
If you are in Grand Rapids and you never had Vitale's, you need to drop everything you are doing right now and head over there. Their food is life changing. You'll understand what true happiness is once you eat at this place. NOTE: Everything on their menu is DELICIOUS!!!
(5)Sarah E.
There isn't anything new that I could gush over that hasn't been said already. Amazing food and great prices. I'll drive all the way from Wyoming to get a few pies for the family.
(5)Katie B.
Vitale's, oh how I love you! If you bottled and sold the sauce you use in pizzas and pastas, I would buy it in bulk! Yum - Yum!! I've only gotten carry-out or delivery, but the pizza (Chicago Style Deluxe) and pastas are superb!! The quality of ingredients is very high and the cost is very reasonable! If I still lived in GR, you'd be my bi-weekly treat!!
(5)Amy M.
Best pizza. Great sauce, that slightly sweet taste mostly found at mom & pop pizza places. This location is definitely the best Vitale's in town!
(5)El P.
By far the best pizza in gr!
(5)Alex W.
A childhood favorite of mine. Best manicotti EVER. Definitely recommend anytime. Every time I go back to Grand Rapids, I always go there, it is a tradition. Family owned and operated, the service is as good as the food. Big portions at a reasonable price. I actually brought some of the manicotti back to Denver and he was AMAZED, no surprise there! Is my main motivation to actually return to MI, Seriously that good!
(5)Eric S.
We ordered take out from here last week and each got a Stromboli. They are a great value for the price. We each ate half and saved the other half for lunch the next day. We also ordered extra sauce because often places skimp. Not Vitales. There was the right amount of sauce as is. The sauce has a slightly sweet taste that we LOVED. I've heard great things about their pizza and after this experience we will definately go back!
(5)Brad Y.
Coming from a family that has grown up on the NE side of Grand Rapids, Vitale's is an institution like none other. Although there are several other branches holding the same name as this, the origional restaurant on Leonard is certainly the best (overall) among them. Staring with my Mom, and now me, visits to Vitale's are both a semi-regular occurrence, and a treat every time. Family bias aside, we return to Vitale's consistently for a reason; The best Italian food in town for otherwise "fair" prices. Sure, you can get a pizza at Little Caesars for $5.55, but you are definitely getting what you pay for at Vitale's. The atmosphere is great as well, the actual restaurant itself looking like an old Italian Vila, the sports bar just as sporty as you'd expect any other to be. The service is almost always great, and one of the great things about Vitale's is that you often see the same faces when you're in there. Simply put, its not just the best Italian restaurant in town, but perhaps one of the greatest restaurants overall. Forget the 1913 room, Vitale's is where its at.
(5)Matt T.
Had to wait a while, but the staff was cordial. Nice dark atmosphere reminiscent of other lovely Italian restaurants. The food was great, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
(4)Nick D.
Best pizza in town along with other Vitale's. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Jay S.
We did not eat in but ordered a pizza to go. Vitalie's is still one of the very best take out pizzas in Grand Rapids. I say that and I mean the Vitale's on Leonard. We have been going here for over thirty years and about the only thing that has changed is the oven. I miss the old pizza oven pizzas but Vitale's appears to have mastered the chain ovens.
(4)Adam S.
I had sort of tempered expectations before eating at this place, but I was pleasantly surprised with the pizza. Got the pepperoni pizza with garlic bread. The garlic bread was kind of a throw away. A little soggy and not particularly flavorful. The pizza was nice though. The crust wasn't my normal style, buy it worked. The cheese and pepperoni were flavorful, but the star of the meal was the sauce. Great sauce. There was the right amount and it had a nice flavor with a sweetness to it that I wasn't expecting. I would imagine this is some of the better pizza in the area.
(4)Ben R.
Amazing and authentic. We wanted to try someplace new and local to Grand Rapids. We loved the garlic cheesebread so much we came back the next week. Good pizza. Excellent and large fish pasta. Love the localness and ambience of the restaurant.
(5)Russ A.
Good all around Italian restaurant. Very good pizza, spaghetti, etc. Other Italian dishes that, unlike Olive Garden type restaurants, have their own distinct flavors. Usually an attentive wait staff. Lots of parking in the lots surrounding the buildings. A nice feature is that aside from their main restaurant, they have a sports bar in an adjacent building. Pizza, subs, etc. on the menu, along with a lunch buffet. I have been coming here for years and that won't be changing!
(4)Phil G.
Convenient: Adequate parking, low to average wait times. Friendly wait staff. They were even tolerant of my youngest in a foul mood. Food quality is average at best, but you tend to get a lot of it. I'm torn between giving 2 or 3 stars, but no one has ever been anything but friendly to us there and it doesn't break the bank, so... 3 stars for the family-friendly factor. I wouldn't necessarily go with friends or if it was just me and the wife.
(3)David H.
We had dinner here last night, 6/18/15. The last time I ate here was 1998 and had only fond memories if the food and atmosphere. Things have not changed much over the years. Our waiter, Mlue, was very attentive and made us feel welcome and like important people to him. He was very pleasant and funny as he served us and continually checked on our progress. This young man is a very good waiter and you may want to request him when you visit Vitales on Leonard. We had the Lasagna, and it was as good as I remember. The only difference is they have changed from fresh shredded parmesan cheese to fine grated type, but it was still as good as I remember. [This cheese is a table item to be added at your discretion.] If you are looking for a great experience in eating and service I recommend this wonderful establishment,
(5)Fred H.
Went to Vitale's Restaurant (not the sports bar) last week Saturday evening. Found the place to be very enjoyable. Waiter was very helpful & prompt & checked in on us regularly (but not too much). Courses of food came out promptly, very hot & very generous portions. We will go again if in the neighborhood & I'd recommend it if you are in the neighborhood.
(4)Lauren T.
Best Pizza ever. Never had a bad experience. Friendly staff...ALWAYS. Love this place!
(5)Mike H.
Favorite place for bar food in GR. Always go to the sports lounge and never been in the actual restaurant across the parking lot. Phenomenal pizza and burgers. The appetizer sampler (and their ranch)is top notch too.
(5)George G.
Pasta was overcooked, oversauced, and overpriced. Portion sizes are too big--every table went home with a box, except for me since I was so dissatisfied with my food. "Fresh" veggies were clearly frozen. Kraft Parmesan in the shaker. You can buy better pesto at the grocery store. Decor looks like it hadn't been updated in the whole 60 years it's been open. Terrible smell as soon as you walk in. Would not go back. Call Gordon Ramsay, this place would make a great episode of Kitchen Nightmares.
(1)Josh H.
They cannot keep their takeout straight. Waited 20 minutes to find out the pizza had been done for a period of time. I understand it can get busy, but people who have paid should be first priority.
(1)Ashley M.
I live dangerously close to the Original Vitales and I'm SO glad that I do! Skeptical at first, with my preference for "fancy" white pizzas with artichokes/sundried-tomatoes, etc. I was SO unexpectantly impressed by my first Vitale's pie! Like others have mentioned-- their sauce is amazing. Their prices are also incredible :) My stand by is just a good ol' pepperoni & cheese and I'm a happy girl!
(5)Brad M.
Bad service... waitress didn't want to be there. Didn't tell us the specials, and when asked what she recommnended she said Burgers, Pizza or Pasta. When I asked her what she normally ordered, she said it's all good. Really? Don't you even eat here? The pizza was bad. I got the supreme, and although I enjoyed the cooking on the crust, the sauce was bland, unseasoned, and could've been out of a jar. The pasta was served cold, and we went it back. Although the manager did stop by the table to ask if everything was okay... I feel it was the obligatory "touch every table" and he hadn't been made aware of our unhappiness. However, he did figure it out. He comp'd my friend's meal (which she didn't eat at all)...and tried to make restitution but it was too late. My friend recommended a 1 star or lower. However, since the manager's did such a good job, I'll raise that to a 2 Star. I will be back for a further review... but perhaps I'll wait for a little training to get done... and then not bring my picky friend! 2 Stars... with an updated review in the near future.
(2)Emily W.
Manager of Vitale's emailed me about my review just a week after I posted it and wanted to know what waitress served me. Nothing about how they can make up my poor experience, no money back, etc. I was severely disappointed, I had to make up my boyfriend's birthday dinner because of this place (another $50 spent on top of the $50 spent here)! Maybe my experience was not ordinary, but I would not expect management to ever make up a bad experience. All they wanted from me was to know who to fire. Thanks, but no thanks. She could have been having a bad day, but it's YOUR responsibility, Management, to fix my experience.
(1)Marianne G.
The "award winning" seafood fettuccine had fake crab meat and a gallon of butter in the bottom of the dish. The beer list is made for redneck dead mouths. I could get better pre-packaged salad from Walmart. I want the last hour of my life back.
(1)John S.
Service was great, but the pizza (regular not deep dish) was below average. Not sure how it got so many high marks other than perhaps it is an institution for locals. Crust was flavorless, sauce was barley used and tasted like Prego. The toppings were nice but not special. I only had the pizza so perhaps there is something else that is extraordinary here.
(2)laela l.
I haven't found a place in Chicago that matches the comfort, experience, and deliciousness of the food here. I grew up on this pizza and pasta, and EVERY TIME it has been wonderful. Always great service, I love the decor with their little grapevines, and it's a great place to take your family or a date. Just a regular spaghetti here is wonderful; the sauce is mildly sweet but not overly done and the sangria is refreshing. And it's reasonably priced for what you get - I usually walk out with the next day's lunch in hand. I miss you, Vitales!
(5)Marlyn A.
And they say Chicago has the best pizzas...you'll think differently after you try the pizzas from Vitale's! Then you'll say Grand Rapids has the best pizzas. No joke though! So far so good, Grand Rapids has impressed me with their outstanding tasting foods. But should you really be listening to me? Because I'm a sucker for pizzas of all types.....especially pizzas with jalepenos on them. I'm just a pizza lover! On our last night in Michigan, our friend from Grand Rapids decides to pick us up some pizza from Vitale's to eat at home, so I didn't get a chance to check out the joint myself. For quite some time before now, I've been longing to try the famous Chicken & Jalepeno pizza my bf always bragged about having on his last visit to Grand Rapids. I really didn't know what I was getting into. Here's the pizza breakdown. The crust: thick, tasty and very, very filling. One can be satiated off its crust alone! The sauce: a melodic twist of sweet, tangy, and spicy. The chicken: surprisingly...very tender. It literally falls apart in your mouth. The jalepenos: spicy, very spicy...I was sad there weren't enough jalepenos on every slice. I for one could only eat 2 slices and I made sure I chose the slices with the most jalepenos. This pizza is so tasty and so delicious that no additional toppings are necessary. So skip the parmesan & and the red pepper flakes...you'd be insulting the Vitale chef by adding anything else to their pizzas! Vitale's is definitely a place to get pizza even if you're just passing through Grand Rapids...so do it! Once you have it, you'll be dreaming about it the next day and you'll be happy you found this place on Yelp.
(4)Franklin D.
After doing my homework on Yelp, figured I had to stop in for pizza while in town since everyone said this was the place to go. Turns out that the "main restaurant" was closed (always closed on Sundays) but in a building next door, connected to the same parking lot, there is a "sports bar" that has some of the same menu items. We got "bread sticks" appetizer, which was itself as big as a large pizza, and delicious. Lots of mozarella over some delicious garlicky bread. Also got an order of mozarella cheese sticks, which were notable since it was coated in a cornbread batter on the outside.... yumm-o. The pizza we got was half cheese, half sausage.... freakin' delicious! Just the right everything... slightly sweet sauce. Just for fun got a ravioli entree too. Some of them were stuffed with ricotta, some with meat, mozarella and meat sauce over the whole thing and a healthy slice of garlic bread on the side. This place is a straight up sports bar so I was really surprised to see how many families came in there with small kids. Probably 5 or 6 other tables with kids while we were there. Sooo good, I would probably give it five stars just on the pizza alone... hopefully I will get to try the restaurant proper someday soon but since I didn't I will stop here.
(4)Adam G.
We went there for a group event. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was average. The decor was right out of the 50's. It was a dungeon in there.
(3)Rashid J.
Vitale's pizza is fresh, original, and unique--and that's saying a lot from a guy born and raised in Chicago, where pizza doesn't get any better. Vitale's sauce is extraordinary--sweet and robust. I love their cheese sticks/bread, too. For about $16-$20, you can't beat the quality of Vitale's.
(5)Caryn S.
Moved to GR about 4 years ago and live pretty close to Vitales. My poor husband has wanted to go there for years so last night we finally tried it. I wasn't that anxious because I'd had the pizza and didn't love and adore it like everyone else seems to. Good points: Plenty of sauce, massive portions, great waitress and a good price on a 1/2 liter of house chianti. The wine was kind of thin, but tasty. I had eggplant parmesan, which I typically love, but this was so greasy and had a nasty kind of batter taste like a fish fry - wasn't terrible, but also didn't leave me wanting more. My husband ordered a stuffed sirloin called spidini or something and he said it was flavorful but overcooked. Our ten year old son loved his trio plate of chix parm, lasagna and fettuccine alfredo. The pasta was all cooked perfectly and the sauce was good. The entrees included salad - we choose caeser. It was served oil based and my poor lettuce was drowing in 1/2 an inch of it. Would hardly call it life changing, won't go rushing back, that's for sure, even with the high points. It's also really small inside, which was surprising. It wasn't very busy for a Friday night so it wasn't a problem but wasn't what I expected. Overall, okay.
(3)Frank A.
Wow, most misguided I have ever been by Yelp, so much that I had to write my first review. Maybe they have good pizza, we didn't try that but the pasta we had was just bad. My wife had the spitini which saved them from a one star, but the side of pasta that came with it had this very watered down red sauce that had virtually no taste. You could literally see clear reddish liquid at the bottom, hard to call it a sauce. I had white wine/garlic pasta with mussels, also watery with luckily enough garlic. Calamari appetizer was horrible (tasted like the frozen fried kind). What Italian place has only one type of soup, French onion? So we tried to save the dinner with dessert, we get a canolli, how can that be screwed up? Well, I couldn't break the shell with the spoon, was like week old hard wafer cone for an ice cream. The cream was grainy and far from any other filling I had ever had. Whew, I sure hope that pizza is good because I don't think they would make it without it.
(2)