Venice Ristorante Italiano

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blenkowhore

Joined 4 years ago

WE HAD A FABULOUS DINING EXPERIENCE. First off all, I just want to express how hard it was to find a simple, high end pasta meal here in Denver. I think we did it. It was my girlfriends birthday last Friday, and her one request was a simple spaghetti dinner with a good Italian sausage, and a nice bottle of red. After endless review, reviewing, I picked Venice. Part of the decision was based on location, a quick cab ride from the Cap Hill area. Because of last minute plans, we drove instead. We were quite happy to pay a few bucks for valet, as it was a busy and chilly night in Lo-Do. I had requested a romantic table knowing that this actually works once in a great while. We got it. She sat facing the quaintly Christmas lit street, while I had a great view of the massive wine cellar and softly lit wine bar. We were immediately served a warm basket of bread and oil, all made in house, and delicious. After viewing the quite extensive wine list, we received a nice free sample of Merlot but decided on the Raven Wood Zinfandel instead. The menu was also quite extensive, but offered a variety of choices. My girl decided not on the Spaghetti and sausage, but the Risotto con Spinaci e Salsiccia. I love a great olive oil, garlic pasta but could not find just what I was craving on the menu. I am not shy to ask for a special, so I did, and wow they nailed it. Prawns, garlic sauce and two large pieces of fabulous home made sausage. We hoped to spend around an hour during our stay, and thought we had hit it just right. After checking the time, we could not believe we had spent and hour and fifty minutes. How time flies when you are having fun. Thank you Dominique, you could not have been more helpful, and thank you Venice for making our evening a successful one. We will be back, and we have told all of our friends to take a peek.

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PHUNTERS

Joined 4 years ago

Impeccable. This is one of the best restaurant in town.

We loved the food, service and ambiance.

Service was not perfect, but above average.

Great creme brulee'.

Wine is priced very moderately compared to others high end restaurant.

Doesn't Recommend

MRadice

Joined 4 years ago

Don't Bother. We had the WORST service and the food was only OK...first the hostess was rude and sat us at a wobbly table. We asked to be moved which seemed to be a HUGE imposition for the staff. The waiter wasn't much better. It was oblivious he thought other tables would tip better so he smoozed them! We were ignored for most of the evening, no 2nd drink requests, no refills on our water or olive oil for our bread...

too bad...he would have gotten a good tip since we work in the hospitalily industry and appreciate good service! There must be other restaurants nearby who deserve my money.

Doesn't Recommend

WCO

Joined 4 years ago

Average. I ate at the Venice Ristorante last night. Good food, but not excellent, good service but not excellent. The setting was fine except the tables for two are so close together you have to compete with other conversations. We had scampi and chicken, nice but certainly not anything memorable. The dessert was chocolate mousse it was outstanding. The service had long delays at the beginning and they served my girlfriend the wrong dish. Which was corrected, but awkward.

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NCampbell

Joined 4 years ago

Best food in Denver. The best way to eat at venice is during happy hour. Go in with a group of friends and order a whole bunch of the amazing tapas that they offer. Pass them around the table and make sure everyone gets to try everything!

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PinkAzalea

Joined 4 years ago

Loved it!. I went with 3 of my friends to Venice last Thursday and we had a wonderful time! I had one of the best pastas I've ever eaten in my life - a delicate ribbon pasta with seafood that was amazing. We tried each other's entrees and they were all excellent - I also really loved the veal scaloppine. Our waiter, Mark, helped us pick out a fairly inexpensive wine that went well with everything. And we all drank tap water and didn't feel any pressure to order bottled water or a more expensive wine?! My favorite thing, t hough, was a tour of the wine cellar (not really a cellar).

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foodforlife1

Joined 4 years ago

Had dinner with family and friends. We. Had dinner with family and friends.

We had great service and great food. I don' t know what some of the others were talking about.

The service we get at Venice is lovely anytime.

Ask for Paco or Rebecca.

Doesn't Recommend

nutella1

Joined 4 years ago

food was ok but service. Our hotel made a reservation for our party so we thought why not. Well why not? First the hostess was about as rude and disorganized as possible. So we wait at the bar till our table was ready and have a drink. The bartender was rude and very uncourteous. When we we get to the table and asked about the specials the server just remarked they are on the menu and just read them... what? I noticed some tables being cateredto as though they were vips. I thought everyone in a restaurant was a vip, but no. We felt like just another number. The dining room wasnt crowded but when ever I asked for something my server was oh yeah I'll be right there. I gueass the custumer isnt right. I dont want to get into specifics but the cold shoulder doesnt work for me. I dont care how good the food was...

Doesn't Recommend

pastahead

Joined 4 years ago

whats with the classless servers. I made reservations for saturday night and was seated 30 min. late. I didnt think anything of that so it must be the place to dine. When we sat down our server was very pushy and unattentive. She pushed bottled water on us and when we asked for Denvers finest she just kopted an attitude. Then came the wine sale. When we refused the $300 bottle she reccomended she just shrugged her shoulders and made a snide remark. Now dont get me wrong, I myself work in the hospitalty industry and love when people spend money but in the hard economic times $300 bottles of wine are far and few between. But for a sarcastic, fake baked, and crossed-eyed ignorant server to belittle me on my anniversary is uncalled for. The food onthe other hand was terrific. BUT AGAIN MY SERVER WAS VERY UNATTENTIVE. When I stopped another server and asked for some more water he asked if I was drinking bottled and when I said no he said well I will try to find your server...can nobody fill water if its not in a bottle. Oh yeah whats with the $25 caesar salad that my little princess couldnt make or tell me the price. All and all the food was great but servers made my night a horrible experience.

Doesn't Recommend

StevieTbone

Joined 4 years ago

I get better service at Mcdonalds than I did here. The waiter we got at the restaurant was the dullest and most miserable waiter in the entire history of waiting. Of course the four eyed wonder freak probably has a miserable life so that probably translates over into his work and it showed. He complained about a 20% tip we gave him and said oh "it's worse than I thought". Who complains about a 20% tip. I thought he would be happy with that because the type of service he provides, he is probably used to a 2% tip all the time.

As for the food itself, it was just average at best. The hostess was very friendly and lovely. They do charge for their water though at $6 a bottle and they just keep refilling your glass and never tell you there is a charge for water.

Overall I'd say don't go to this restaurant unless it's to go knock out that no personality, four eyed, can't add waiter we got. If the owners of this restaurant read this review. One piece of advice if you don't want to go bankrupt. Be more selective of your wait staff and for sure fire that idiot waiter who works Monday nights in the lodo Venice.