Vinny's of Carroll Gardens Reviews

Had a chance to visit Vinny's at the recommendation of my mother in law. She claimed it was the BEST Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. I must admit, she was right. We were welcomed immediately and the waitstaff was on top of things. The portions are HUGE. Had enough leftovers for two days! The food was served hot and fresh. I truly enjoyed this experience and will definitely visit Vinny's again on my text trip to NY.

We go to Vinny's multiple times a month for decades (they used to be a few blocks away). This is the place to come and EAT. Big portions are the norm and we have leftovers that we enjoy for the next day or two. You can see and sample the cooked food as they have a good amount of it there for you to see. A fun place to eat! Beware it is hard for very large groups (over 8) to fit at one table. For lunch you can grab some food and go sit in Carroll Park for a relaxing time eating and watching the poeple.

As they say in the neighborhood, "Vinny feeds you good." Award-winning eggplant parm. Not for the diet-conscious. But really tasty.

Being a New York transplant living out west, I always look forward to my east coast trips to visit some of my favorite eateries. Vinny's has become our go-to Italian place whenever we are in Brooklyn or lower Manhattan. Yeah, it's that good. Not only the fresh ingredients and value, but the 'feel like family' atmosphere of this comfy establishment in Carroll Gardens. You'll leave full and happy.

On a recent visit to N.Y. for a family matter, we went to Vinny's on the advice of our son. It was a really nice place. It;s in a really nice walkable neighborhood. The food was really good and there was plenty of it for the price. We are from the Midwest and I found that the prices were not at all out of line, considering what you can pay in some N.Y. restaurants. It's just a really good neighborhood place where you kind of feel like you belong.

You can't count on their Take Out. Vinny's is a small Red Sauce Joint - a big step up from a full service pizzeria. Prices are a bit high - but you get a lot of good, fresh food. However, their on-line menu is "Five Years Old" - Yes, that quote comes from their front end manager. While I often go to Vinny's to eat-in and/or go to order from the window to go, EVERY Time I order by phone my order arrives wrong. Either the prices are higher than quoted, or they send you something else. If they run out, they send you a substitute - without warning. When your dinner arrives at the door, the price written on the bill doesn't count - the delivery person OFTEN tells the customer, "Oh they got the price wrong, it's $ _ _ _ _ More." Vinny's is great for in person dinning or in person ordering. Don't press your luck with an over the phone order.

Food is incredible and Vinny will take care of you! Try the pork chops if they have them...

Old School Italian at great price. Neighborhood is happening but if you want a taste of what it used to be like come here. Family size dishes. Sicilian eggplant and veal pizzaiola is awesome. They also sell wine.

Our daughter lives in brooklyn and when we visit we always make it to Vinny's once or twice. the eggplant parm is to die for - i always add a side of sausages and peppers. i could stuff myself but the food is so good so i save it for lunch the next day. the subs look great but so far i haven't ventured there.

Atmosphere/layout: Small neighborhood Italian restaurant; food in the display case at the back of restaurant; few tables and booths to dine-in Food: fresh baked bread, clams oreganata, fried calamari, veal scaloppini marsala, veal francese, broccoli rabe - all fresh and delicious with good portions for both appetizers and entrees Waitress was friendly and deserved every bit of gratuity

Don't let the steam table fool you this place had some amazingly good food .The bake clams were whole meaty & delicious All entree come w/ a side order of pasta ( which were large)or potatoes or rice & veggie ( Have a side of the bake macaroni )The entrees cost approx $16-$20 & are enough for two ($4 for sharing ) Shrimp parm came w/ 6 large shrimp in red sauce ( just a little sweet) covered in Mozzarella my pork chops were tender,moist & delicious but a little disappointing no peppers 🌶 or onion but they were so tender & good . Chicken Rolitini was covered in a nice brown mushroom sauce & stuffed w/ mozz & prosciutt. Wine by the glass or bottle are served ( cost $ 45 for a nice bottle of (Montepulciano ) I believe there are less expensive choices & Bottle beer is available. Desserts are limited to 2 or 3 but the Italian cheesecake was off the hook moist , grainy & delicious but not overly sweet a must . Expresso & cappuccino were piping hot.Service was pretty good. The restuarant is small w/ 3 booths seating 4 & 3 ex-large tables seating 8 or 10 that can be broke up for 4 or 6 diners & it can get noisey & don't expect white table clothes this is a local joint . Dinner for three w/ several apps , a salad, entrees, wine 🍷 dessert & coffees was $ 160 but all being hungry we over ordered apps & sides and took home more food than we ate so be warned . The fish dishes also looked pretty good too. They don't take reservations but do take credit cards & do a brisk take-out business. If you want old school Italian red restuarant this just maybe the spot for you.

I know him for over 40 years. His food was always top shelf. One of the better old school places in Carroll Gardens.You can't go wrong stopping here for a bite.

i remember carroll gardens when it was a predominately working class neighborhood. ninos restaurant which has since closed provided classic home style cooking to the neighborhood. vinny's is a family spin off that has supplanted the former establishment---awesome italian food at reasonable prices.

if you want REAL ITALIAN food made by REAL Brooklyn ITALIANS, you need to stop by here. NOWWWWW!!! everything on the menu is homemade it the open kitchen in which you shall see Vito master chef. The Eggplant Parmigiana is to die for, try the Chicken Parmigiana too. each dinner comes with a vegatable and loads of bread.

Food was ok. Huge portions - plan to take some home. But 2 of our group didn't think the food (spaghetti and lasagna) were any better than the frozen supermarket stuff, and not worth taking home. The 'caprese' salad was a huge mound of mildly dressed arugula with a few olives, few mozzarella balls, few roasted bell pepper slices, and the toughest most flavorless tomatoes I've ever seen. Casual seating - you'll join a table of other diners where there is room.

This is a Brooklyn gem. Great Italian food. Dinners, sandwich, eat-in or take-out. Never had a bad meal. Feels like old school Brooklyn.

A real neighborhood place...not fancy...lots of regulars...leave your attitude at home...come for the food...

There's always a sort of Italian chicken stew, and it's always good. For a massive lunch, order the "veal and salad sandwich," which isn't on the menu. You'll get a huge sammy of lightly breaded veal slices with lettuce, onion, and sliced tomato with a fantastic house dressing on an Italian roll, big enough for two. Trust me. You'll like it.

Casual, warm and friendly. A large number of tasty dishes and Italian wines. Each dish includes a pasta side - I like the Baked Zite side best and half loaf of bread. My favorite dishes are the Sicilian Eggplant and the Italian Sausage. We'll, the Lazanga is very good too. Service: 1 waitress did 10 times as much work as our waitress

We went to Vinny's for lunch with friends. There was nice selection of sandwiches as well as entrees. Everything we tried was very good. The service was friendly and efficient. They were busy - including a lot of take-out orders. It's conveniently located on Smith Street.

My wife and I have been going to Vinny's since he left Nino's on Union Street. The food is exceptional with portions I dare you to finish. Service is excellent but you may have to wait for a table since there is always a line after 6PM. It is worth the wait.

We went to Vinny s on Monday after a long walk over the Brooklyn Bridge..The place was full not crowded..The waitress seated us .We started backed clams with fried calamari,with fresh hot bread.Not a fancy place ,but the food is what counts,.. A few cold cerveza,for dinner we had Salmon broiled,with a side order of spaghetti with fresh sauce,chicken parm wit backed ziti and a veal Marsala,again the food was hot ,delicious,and plenty of it.

Vinny's has one of the best slices in Brooklyn. Crispy, perfect cheese-to-crust ratio, great sauce, and large enough to fill you up.

This is a spontaneous late lunch with my granddaughter. The waitress is patient and VERY cooperative. The pasta fagiole is a pleasure, and I am so fussy about this dish. My granddaughter was delighted with the meatball parm hero. Later my daughter picked us up and added more dishes but to go. She is a long term fan when in the neighborhood. The other customers were all hearty eaters with smiles.

We dined here twice. It is a fairly small restaurant, need reservations or expect to wait. Lots of bread and butter, salads, and large portions of Italian food. Chicken Parmesan was very good as were other Italian dishes. Waitress was great but pretty busy so no socializing. Many varieties of beer available. When you repeat a restaurant in a week visit you know it is good. Servings were quite large as well. A definite must try if in area.

I am Italian (born and raised), so I can tell that this is not real Italian food. I would call this a kind of Italian-American food, and not even a good one. The atmosphere of the place is rough, not charming at all. There are plenty of very good Italian restaurants in the area (Savoia, Fragole, Frankie's, Caserta Vecchia, Po'), so check them out but please stay away from this!

We were in Brooklyn for a wedding and Vinny's was recommended by the owner of our B&B. She's and older Italian lady who has lived in the neighborhood forever. Vinny's is a wonderful neighborhood joint that's charming in its simplicity. The waitresses are busy and the place is hopping so you won't get lots of staff attention but I did not come here to interact with waitstaff. The food is fresh and divine. It's so good we might come back tomorrow. We both had pasta dishes and the sauces, which were different, were both incredible. The eggplant was cooked to perfection. This is not the place to come if you're on a diet.

Went there on the recommendation of my cousin who lives in Brooklyn. The food was wonderful - and the portions are huge. We ordered the seafood salad that was fresh, tasty and bathed in a lemon sauce that went very well with the Italian bread. We also had the Sicilian Eggplant - perfection!! No breading, baked rather than fried. I only wish that we lived closer because I would be a regular at this restaurant. Tips: Order a number of dishes and share.

We had an early dinner here on a Friday night. Had the place almost to ourselves. We chose a romantic little corner table in front of the window. We could've sat there all night, enjoying our wine and pasta. The food was delicious and our server catered to our every need. Will definitely come back!

Amazing food! Wine! And especially our waitress Celia. Simply outstanding personality and her sense of spectacular service is impeccable. I will definitely return here. I hope those I know that come here experience this fabulous restaurant. Oh yeah we went in! Shrimp oregenata, eggplant Parmesan, mussles! Wine! It’s outta control The following Italian feast just happen in Real-Time!

Everything was so good, I had the ravioli, others had chicken parm , salmon- everything was delicious! Everyone raved-

Visit: For dinner Food ordered/shared: Veal Picatta, Broccoli Rabe, side of sausage in sauce, Vodka Penne. Rabe was a little disappointing - not bad, but did not meet expectations, everything else very good. Service: At first, prompt and efficient. No smiles. Our waitress yelled across the restaurant loudly to kitchen that she was still waiting on a salad for her other table. She also just walked out the front door of the restaurant at one point and was gone for over 5 minutes while we waited for our check. The other waitress went out to get her at our request, but it still took a while for her to return. Atmosphere: Family style, very relaxed and casual - not commiserate with prices. Clean, small. Kitchen open to store front

Perfect food and friendly atmosphere- sizeable Italian menu with lots of variety - fresh and tasty options. Highly recommend.

Vinny's is a great old school Italian restaurant done cafeteria style the eggplant Parmesan is unbelievable the portions are so large you can get two meals from them you have to try everything in here it's all great

I found out about Vinny's through Trip Advisor and we decided to try it out while visiting our son in Brooklyn. We did not have a reservation on a Thursday night so we had to wait a bit before being seated. As the other reviewers indicated, it's small in size. That didn't matter to us because we found that it is big in flavor and value. We found it comical that they offered penne w vodka sauce and baked ziti as well as spaghetti as side dishes. The first 2 are usually served as main dishes and the size was big. I ordered the veal parm, which I consider to be the greatest deal ever at $13.50! My wife ordered the chicken florentine and our son gnocchi with pesto & marinara sauce. Everything was so good, we will be returning on our next visit. The service was great, especially since they were so busy. The owner was at the front door, welcoming his guests and thanking them when they left. Overall, a great experience.

My boyfriend and I visited for lunch , and didn't eat for the rest of the day ! Food was incredible , vinny himself came over and had a chat with us which was Cool ! I has the spaghetti and my boyfriend had the veal , really tasty and great service !

Forget the glitz and glamour...brooklyn italian families meet here to eat, share stories and laugh. I've gone to dinner by myself and never felt alone! Great arugula salad and penne ala vodka. I always try to stop here when i'm in Brooklyn. Decor is a step above a pizza place..service is Brooklyn friendly...I never go home hungry.

We were staying in Carroll Gardens over the Christmas holiday and figured we eat in the “Neighborhood” in Carroll Gardens. The three of us went to Vinnies’s not knowing what to expect. Well we were pleasantly surprised. The food was great and our waitress was the best. Having moved out of town it was nice to have real Italian bread and great homemade Italian food. This is a great spot to eat in an even greater neighborhood. You can’t go wrong here.

Walking around Carrol Gardens area with family one day. Want Italian food. Ask two older Italian gents where to go. They tell us Vinny's, give us directions. LOVED IT!! My mother is from Italy. My father, of Italian descent, married her there. They both could cook excellent Italian food. So I know when it's good and when it's great, enough said. Vinny's was great all around - food, portions (huge) and service. Family friendly, casual and comfortable. Look forward to going back...

Scene incomparable. Old school and set expectations appropriately. A firehouse fave. My dad and his brothers would love the chickparm sammy here.

Pure Italian Brooklyn. Neighborhood charm and lots of character. Great food too!

Decidedly average food, uninterested service, and the waitresses added their own service charge when we didn’t leave one. Not recommended.

The place is always crowded, and food is always fresh. It's a small place, so you can't throw a party here like you can at the Red Rose - - - But the Red Rose isn't what it used to be and has become a rip-off joint; and the food isn't even very good any more. Vinny's is always fresh food. He cares about his customers. And he wants you to eat - and he won't rush you. Is it a little pricey? Yes. But worth it. The Secret - plan to get it to go. Stop in, place your order, go to the Rite Aid to buy your soda or beer and then come back and pick-up what has become the best Italian Food on Smith Street. Buying your own soda keeps the prices down. Picking it up yourself save you a tip. Between the 2 tricks your cost averaging is fantastic.

I have been going too Vinny's for at least 30 years. I started at Nino's his brothers place and the food is fantastic. My friends and I work at Con Ed and cater all our food from Vinney. he always gives you an Italian feast! if you want good home made Italian food and not a ritzy atmosphere you will not be disappointed.

This is truly one of the best Italian restaurants around! The place is small and nothing fancy about it at all, but the food and the amount you get is amazing and it's pretty reasonable in price. My husband and I eat here pretty often and are seldom ever disappointed with our selections. The bread is hot and scrumptious and my favorite dish is the filet of sole francaise....I never get tired or ordering it! It's worth a visit.

Often ordering baked clams is a BIG disappointment.Not here!!! There were 12 of them and they were perfect! Had the mussels marinara as well. Delicious!! Old school Italian food at it's best!

My friend and I were heading to an Islander vs Rangers game at the Barclay Center. He recommended this place and we went. What a great find. It's a local place, nothing fancy. Plenty of room between the tables. Service was excellent. Food was great. Again it's almost exclusively a local place. Seemed like most folks new the staff. My friend comes at least twice a week and said its always good. So whether you're local or from out of town I promise you won't be disappointed.

They beautifully accommodated our party of 13. The server was friendly and engaged with us, even congratulating our daughter and SIL of their 10th wedding anniversary. The food is shareable size! Most of us enjoyed the lasagna the best!

This restaurant was recommended to us by a New Yorker when he found out we were staying in Brooklyn. Easy to find (take the F Train to Carroll, turn left & you're almost there) and the atmosphere was warm & inviting; the smell of garlic cooking fillled the air when we walked in. Everyone was very friendly, even the other patrons (all locals, which is a good sign). The ingredients are noticably fresh & the food was great. Prices were also very reasonable. We were happy that they stay open until 9PM on Sunday. We hghly recommended this restaurant to several of our friends who live in Brooklyn; it was that good!

Hesitant to review because we all love our well kept secrets. But this is our fave. Great people, great food, portions, bread, and a fantastic salad with perfect oil and vinegar dressing. We order different things and they are all fantastic. It deserves its rating at top 3% in Brooklyn.

Always a favorite when I go back to visit Brooklyn.. Fresh home made food big portions. Taste like moms cooking.. Recommend takeout. Small place not much seating. Order pickup and eat at home. You wont be disappointed..

The Food No Matter Your Choice..Is Excellent. With a glass of wine and family seating. The Food Not Overpriced Like Allot of Italian Restaurants Are In Manhattan And Other Areas Of Brooklyn. I strongly Suggest you Visit. The Seating area is Small And you might Have to share a large table. but hell.......That's The Interesting Thing About Vinny's. GO'! You won't Be Disappointed.

I live nearby so i have been here a lot. It is not the best but not horrible. it's my on the way home, I just can't do any more take out Chinese alternative. For that they are great. Everything is fine. Not great, not horrible but fine. There are better and it's a significant step above a take out pizza joint. Nothing is wonderful, but nothing is bad either. They give you half a loaf of bread and heat it up off the steam tables right before your very eyes. I usually go simple, spaghetti with meat sauce and meatballs on the side. Their chicken parm is ok too. Definately a good place for a quick stop but nothing to get excited or go out of your way for.

Italian comfort food. Good preparation. Friendly service. The chicken parm and chicken Milanese heroes were tasty. Reasonably priced. Been there forever- a neighborhood staple.

While in Brooklyn visit Vinnie's if you want Italian food. Located on Smith Street, it's not hard to find, and you can usually find parking nearby. It's all great food, but i tend to order the Chicken Parm most of the time. Two chicken breast on top of spaghetti ?? Yes, it's calling my name ! Lots of bread and butter and a salad . . . . What's NOT to love ??!! Have a cappuccino and enjoy the atmosphere at Vinnie's !!

We came here in Nov 2009 with our family during my brother-in-law's wake and just loved the food and met wonderful people. We just came here again Dec 2015 with family and friends while back home and had a great time and again...met great people. The food is so amazing! You get so much that we shared each of our dishes, lasagna, chicken parmegana, baked clams, and more. We still had to take food home. It was great the second day too. Thank you for making our visits so memorable and family happy!!! Will always come here everytime we come home!

We stumbled across Vinny's after walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. It is about fifteen minutes from the Brooklyn side of the bridge. The staff was friendly, food good, and reasonably priced. Come hungry because the portions are good. As an added bonus after walking the Brooklyn Bridge and then all the way to the restaurant we were please to find a subway station right up the street to go back to Manhattan quickly.

Terrific food ! Old world reliable, charming, non nonsense atmosphere. Everything they make is top notch. The frutta di mare is totally off the charts. No place does sicilian eggplant like Vinny's

We stumbled across Vinnys one evening and liked the look of it. The clientele were mainly local regulars and it's easy to see why. We had between the five of us a variety of pasta and fish dishes and they were universally excellent. Special shout out to the Lemon sole and the lasagne which were as good as I've had anywhere. Couple great food (portion sizes were very generous) with the friendly unassuming service, and Vinnys is a winning combination. Worth a trip to an area coming down with excellent eateries.

We're on vacation in New York at present, and came here for two nights in a row. We liked it much the first time. The food is really great and plentiful. We had to share the table with other people, yet the overall atmosphere was nice and reflected very much the neighborhood the restaurant is located in. On our second visit, we were seated at a nice table on the window at first, from which we were later removed to another spot in the restaurant, and the way this change went down was really inconvenient. They did not even bother to ask, whether we were willing to move, but bluntly told us, that they had a bigger party coming in and needed our table. Then without further ado, they started moving our dishes to the other table in the back of the restaurant, where we were subsequently ignored for the rest of our stay and had a hard time even placing an order for more Iced Tea. It certainly seemed as though they were putting business before hospitality in our case, which is why we will not return for a third night in a row. It’s a pity, because the food was really good.

great old time food at a great price and you wont leave hungry the portions are huge

Walked in Arrogant waitress . Sticky tables. Superbly bad service. Wouldn't bother . The food is boring.. The waitress for some reason took an instant dislike to us. WHY ? Find some where else to eat. Bad choice of restaurant..