Italian Restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina |
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La Volta Italiano, an authentic Italian restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, offers fresh Italian food to customers looking for a fantastic dining experience. Feel free to read our recent press and reviews about our restaurant and catering services. General Manager Michael Longo.
Authentic Italian Experience Our family has over 35 years of experience serving authentic Italian cuisine in the triangle area. We will try to fulfill all of your expectations making your experience at LaVolta Italiano one to remember, hopefully one of many. When you come to our restaurant, you enter as a customer and leave as family. When you combine a very pleasant, contemporary and romantic atmosphere with great, authentic Italian cuisine, you get La Volta Italiano. Our food is always fresh, and we offer great service with a genuine smile and a very knowledgeable wait staff that can navigate you through our vast wine list. Our cooks use recipes featuring fresh, local ingredients that have been handed down for generations. Restaurant Specials Bring your ticket stubs from the Performing Arts Center and receive a 10% discount! We offer free valet parking, and every Friday we feature live music on the patio from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Every first Friday of the month from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. we feature Kevin and Greg Camberie as entertainment. We have the largest outdoor dining area in downtown Raleigh. Batman has always had a special place in pop culture, and it's evident in the passion our patrons show for the Caped Crusader. So, whether you're a die-hard Batman fan or just looking for a fun night out, there's something for everyone at our venue! Happy Hour is from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Monday through Friday. We offer private dining for parties, corporate meetings and other occasions. Our restaurant is also Wi-Fi enabled, and video conferencing and a projection screen are available for your convenience.
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La Volta Italiano
Circa 2010
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More Background On LAVOLTARESTAURANT.COM
LaVoltaRestaurant.com was the official website for La Volta Italiano, a well-known Italian restaurant once located at 411 Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The restaurant was owned and operated by Mario Longo, a long-established figure in the Triangle’s Italian dining scene, along with General Manager Michael Longo and Executive Chef Vinny Doria, both of whom brought decades of experience to the establishment.
The family behind La Volta had more than 35 years of experience operating Italian restaurants in Raleigh and the surrounding regions. Prior ventures included multiple Italian eateries known for classic comfort dishes, generous portions, and a focus on authentic Southern and Central Italian culinary traditions. This experience shaped La Volta's mission: to deliver an Italian dining experience that blended tradition with the vibrant, energetic atmosphere of downtown Raleigh.
La Volta became known not only for its cuisine but also for the unique personality embedded in its very name. “La Volta” translates to “the vault” in Italian—a reference to the building’s history as part of a former bank. Most notably, the old physical bank vault remained intact and was transformed into a wine vault, creating a private, intimate dining area that later became one of the restaurant’s most distinctive features.
Location and Proximity to Entertainment Districts
Situated on Fayetteville Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh’s business and cultural district, La Volta benefited from a strategic and highly desirable location. It was positioned directly on the plaza corridor that hosts Raleigh’s most important civic gatherings, outdoor concerts, street fairs, and seasonal events.
Nearby venues and landmarks included:
- Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
- City Plaza outdoor event space
- Raleigh Convention Center
- Public art installations and historic buildings
- Hotels, office towers, and government buildings
The restaurant leveraged this prime location in several ways:
- Discounts for Performing Arts Center Ticket Holders
Patrons who brought in ticket stubs received a 10% discount, which encouraged pre-theater dining and post-show dessert visits. - Largest Outdoor Patio Dining in Downtown Raleigh
The expansive sidewalk patio became a central attraction during warm months, offering exceptional views of festivals and plaza performances. - Visibility During Major Downtown Events
Events like First Friday, Artsplosure, outdoor summer cinema nights, and the Raleigh Christmas Parade brought heavy foot traffic, contributing to steady popularity.
The restaurant’s proximity to hotels and office buildings also made it a popular choice for business lunches, corporate dinners, and conference attendees seeking authentic Italian cuisine within walking distance.
Atmosphere, Design, and the Dining Experience
La Volta Italiano presented itself as a contemporary yet romantic dining experience. Inside, the ambiance combined clean architectural lines, warm lighting, rich wood accents, and Italian-inspired textures.
Distinctive features included:
- The Wine Vault Room – a private dining area inside the preserved bank vault, seating two to six guests
- An elegant bar with a strong Italian lean in its wine list
- Large windows for natural light and street views
- Outdoor patio for café-style dining on Fayetteville Street
- Live music Fridays adding energy and atmosphere
- Free valet parking, a convenience rarely offered downtown
The concept was built around a philosophy of hospitality:
“You enter as a customer and leave as family.”
This phrase also appeared in marketing materials and expressed their emphasis on warm, personal service.
Menus, Culinary Philosophy, and Signature Dishes
The food program at La Volta focused on Italian culinary traditions, emphasizing recipes passed down through generations and prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The kitchen, according to archived interviews and press features, specialized in:
- Fresh pasta made daily
- Always fresh, never frozen seafood
- Whole wheat and gluten-free pasta options
- Traditional veal and chicken dishes
- Authentic risotto prepared to order
- Local draft beers and Italian wines
Highlighted Dishes
Some of the most frequently mentioned items in reviews and press coverage included:
- Champagne Seafood Risotto – a standout dish blending delicate seafood flavors with creamy risotto
- Linguine with Clam Sauce – praised for balanced seasoning and freshness
- Bruschetta – repeatedly described as exceptional by customers on dining review platforms
- Pan-seared halibut with fig glaze – considered ambitious yet affordably priced
- Chicken Marsala and Veal Milanese – traditional favorites executed with consistency
- Homemade desserts by Lucia – including Limoncello Cake and Cinnamon Godiva Chocolate Cake
Wine Vault Menu
The converted bank vault contained an impressive selection of Italian reds:
- Barolo
- Barbaresco
- Super Tuscans
- Chianti Classico Riserva
Additionally, there were offerings from California, France, and other wine-producing regions, giving guests a balanced list of robust to light-bodied options.
Desserts and In-House Baking
One of La Volta’s most unique selling points was its scratch-made dessert program, run by Lucia, the owner’s wife. Hers were not generic restaurant desserts but highly praised, artisanal cakes crafted daily.
Notable desserts included:
- Limoncello Cake – a refreshing lemon cream dessert
- Godiva Cinnamon Chocolate Cake – rich, dense, and indulgent
- Cherry Rum Red Velvet Cake
- Chocolate Mousse Cake
- Classic Cannolis
Whole cakes could be ordered in advance for events, which became a popular option for corporate celebrations and special occasions.
Specials, Events, and Customer Engagement
La Volta’s marketing approach blended digital presence, seasonal promotions, and lively themed events.
Weekly and Monthly Specials
- Happy Hour (Mon–Fri, 4:30–7pm)
Featuring discounted wine, appetizers, and cocktails. - Couple’s Night (Tues & Thurs)
A bottle of wine included with select entrée pairings for a fixed price. - Live Music Fridays
Typically jazz, acoustic guitar, or light pop standards, creating a sophisticated yet relaxed Friday night environment. - First Friday Performances (9pm–11pm)
Featuring musicians such as Greg and Kevin Camberie.
Unique Promotions
- Free Valet Parking – rare downtown convenience
- Ticket Stub Discounts – for Performing Arts Center patrons
- Cultural Theme Nights – occasionally incorporating elements of Italian culture and contemporary pop culture
One of the more unusual marketing notes involved the restaurant’s playful celebration of Batman references, reflecting a fun, community-centric personality rather than a rigidly formal dining experience.
Online Presence and Website Features
LavoltaRestaurant.com served as the restaurant’s digital hub and offered:
- 360-degree Virtual Tour
- Menu downloads
- Catering information
- Wine vault booking
- Press and media coverage
- Event announcements
- Email and phone contact
The virtual tour allowed guests to preview the restaurant’s interior, which helped distinguish La Volta from competitors and emphasized the upscale yet accessible dining environment.
Catering, Private Dining, and Corporate Services
La Volta maintained a strong catering operation, offering:
- Food trays for 8–20 people
- Corporate lunch catering
- Wedding rehearsal dinners
- Private dining in the vault
- Full dining room buyouts for events
They provided custom menus for corporate meetings, celebrations, holiday parties, and anniversaries. The restaurant’s Wi-Fi, projection screen availability, and video-conferencing capabilities made it a practical choice for downtown business events.
Press Coverage and Media Notes
La Volta received substantial media attention, particularly from The News & Observer, where food critic Greg Cox highlighted:
- Affordable pricing for an upscale location
- Consistency and quality of traditional dishes
- Value of the menu despite premium ambience
- The expansive patio as a major selling point
The restaurant was recognized on platforms such as:
- OpenTable – Diner’s Choice Winner (2012)
- OpenTable – Best Restaurant Nominee (2012)
- TripAdvisor – Recommended Listing
These recognitions reinforced La Volta’s credibility within Raleigh’s competitive dining scene.
Customer Reviews and Public Reception
Across archived versions of OpenTable, TripAdvisor, and other dining review platforms, several themes appeared consistently in customer comments:
Positive Feedback Included
- Exceptional bruschetta
- Freshness of seafood dishes
- Knowledgeable waitstaff and bartenders
- Warm, friendly service
- Great atmosphere with live music
- Excellent wine recommendations
- Reasonable pricing for downtown Raleigh
- Clean, elegant presentation of dishes
Recurring Standout Mentions
- Linguine with clam sauce
- Vegetable pasta dishes
- Caesar salad
- Large portion sizes
- Outdoor patio ambiance in cooler weather
Many reviewers expressed pleasant surprise that such a prime location offered moderately priced entrées, often between $12 and $15, with premium seafood dishes under $20—unusually affordable for a downtown venue of this scale.
Cultural and Social Significance in Raleigh
La Volta played an important role in the revitalization of Fayetteville Street during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Before its transformation into a pedestrian-friendly boulevard, the area had seen reduced activity. La Volta’s presence contributed to:
- Downtown Raleigh’s nightlife and dining resurgence
- The cultural integration of Italian cuisine within the community
- The draw of outdoor dining options
- Increased foot traffic on Fayetteville Street
- Pre-theater and post-event dining traditions
The restaurant became a symbol of Raleigh’s transition into a more cosmopolitan and diverse culinary destination.
Legacy and Lasting Influence
Even after its closure, La Volta remains remembered by Raleigh locals for several things:
- Its elegant wine vault
- The city’s largest downtown patio
- Affordable fine dining
- Exceptional dessert program
- Warm, familial service
- Musical performances
- Memorable pre-theater dining rituals
For those who frequented the restaurant, LavoltaRestaurant.com stands as a digital record of its era, capturing the essence of a beloved establishment that contributed meaningfully to downtown Raleigh’s cultural and culinary development.
