Venezia
373 St Armands Cir, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Venezia Menu
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Address :
373 St Armands Cir
Sarasota, FL, 34236 - Phone (941) 388-1400
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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.
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Uche M.
Good for what it is. I had the grouper panini and it was light with a side of salad. Definitely perhaps a little pricer because it is in the circle but not expensive at all. Great and healthy option.
(5)Anna M.
After a traumatic experience of douchebaggery overload at The Daiquiri Deck, this was the closest bar/restaurant with a big screen tv that we could have a drink and comfortably watch the Miami Heat game. The staff was very friendly. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and a pepperoni pizza to munch on while we watched the game. Pizza was a bit underdone, but not too bad. I loved the bar setup and the contemporary decor. I would go back to try their other food offerings when we are back in the area.
(3)Hannah M.
Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Large selection of appetizers, entrees, pastas, and pizza. The calamari was the best I've ever had. It was served with sautéed veggies. The pizza was delicious but I will definitely go back to try some of the entrees that sounded amazing. The staff was friendly and attentive. Impressed with the service.
(5)Karen S.
First the good: pizza tasty and reminded me of New Jersey style. Caprese salad was perfect. Mushroom caps stuffed were oozing sauce or cheese. 3 of the 4 adults on our party wanted seafood.... No seafood on the menu was local or from the US .... We inquired about shrimp, crab, grouper all were from Argentina and South America per our waitress. We were surprised being minutes from The Gulf of Mexico and being a restaurant on St. Armands Circle. We have been inquiring about our seafood at all restaurants for about 3 years, we want local dishes . We do understand that they carry "Chilean Sea Bass" or "Alaskan Crab Legs" . Won't be back!
(1)J U.
Great service and atmosphere. Other than the Columbia, the place is packed. I had the lasagna. Sauce was good but average. My wife had the egg plant parm. It was dried out. I did not have a pizza, but from the looks of the ones that came out.. They look great. I will come back and try one...
(3)Theresa H.
Great Italian food, excellent service by Claudia!!! We started with fried mozzarella squares that were golden brown, it came with delicious sauce, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. For our meal my friend had the Greek salad that was fresh and delicious, it was a large bowl. I had the chicken parmesan with linguine pasta, the sauce was homemade with fresh basil. It was a light sauce with great flavor, they also had fresh grated cheese on top. It was a nice size portion and I found the prices reasonable for being in St Armands Circle. Everything was delicious, I will definitely be back. I'm not understanding some of the bad reviews on here, but then again I don't understand reviews of 4 and 5 stars that are given to places that I rate a 1 and 2. Anyway, I enjoyed my experience there immensely!!!
(5)Adrian G.
Our favorite place to eat at St. Armand's! The staff is wonderful and the food is amazing. My recommendation? Get the calamari. We get it every time we go there and it's delicious every single time. We've been going there for 4 years and the food gets better each year!
(5)Barbara G.
The staff was so RUDE that we left before ordering. I've never been in a place of business that made me feel like such an inconvenience. If I could give less than 1-star I would!!
(1)Nora F.
My husband and I went back to Venezia this summer woohoo! This time we went back twice during our stay in Lido Beach. We were so impressed with our wait staff, Nicole. She's an amazing waitress. Heard that she's one of the longest stay employees. This time I ordered a seafood pasta with slightly different sauce than last year, red sauce and a little spicy. Hubby ordered pizza. My take on this different seafood pasta...they're both equally good (last year and this year). I had to order both at the same time to really compare. We went back after 2 days to try different dishes. This time our waiter was Robert. He served us some delicious squid salad. Squid salad comes in 2 different styles: fry and steam. Of course I ordered the steam. Whoaaa! I wanted to cry, it was so good! Then came our mussels. This one was "lucky-me" moment. Look at those mussels! Look like they've been working out! And of course hubby would again order his the pizza. OK nation, do your job, go visit! *:)
(5)Ashley B.
It was hot so my boyfriend and I came here explicitly for a nice cool salad and I think I can speak for both of us when I say it hit the spot. The seared tuna was tasty, and my boyfriends salmon was on point. I would totally come back and try some of the pizza and pasta next time!
(4)Mona B.
First time here. Decent prices for St. Armand's. Ordered the CARNIVAL alle CARNI Pizza. Absolutely delicious. This is THE pizza fir bacon and fresh mozzarella lovers. Full slices of juicy bacon. Service was perfect. Friendly and welcoming staff. Will definitely come back here.
(5)Alain S.
Service was great!! My calamari was one of the tastiest and nicest presented I have had in years. My pasta dinner was good and I enjoyed it but made much better with a wonderfully suggested wine. I now have a calamari dish which will serve as my high bench mark.
(4)Valerie G.
In the area doing wedding planning and decided to stop for dinner. Best choice ever! If you are looking for delicious dinner, this is your place!
(5)Danielle B.
First time to this place, will never go back. The food was not great at all, very surprised based in the reviews I read. We got the caprese appetizer, not bad, u can't screw up roasted red peppers. None of the seafood was local, it was all from foreign countries, so we didn't get that. This place is on the water, how do u not have local fish? I tried the crab cakes, very salty, so I returned it. My salad was good, but it's lettuce. They returned the crab cakes, no problem, I got a pizza which wasn't horrible, but I'm from Jersey, so all pizza is criticized. The service, however, was great. The nice girl who waited on us was amazing, she should be given an award, she's the only reason I gave this place 3 stars. If you dine here, best of luck, let me know how it works out.
(3)Amanda P.
Great atmosphere sitting outside. Waitstaff is very attentive and friendly. I had the spaghetti al fresco and it was delicious! Definitely recommend checking out this spot for lunch or dinner.
(4)Thomas G.
Gets overwhelmed with crowds. It's a victim of its own success. Being on the Circle it gets so much business it's too crowded to get a table. It's location location location at Venezia and has a great location but it's so disorganized it's hard to eat there with the noise. Pizza is good.
(3)Marc M.
Really a 3.5, but that does not exist, so give a 4. Enjoyed the service, very attentive. Pizza was good, we had it as an app, fit the bill. We had pastas for our mains, liked the sauce. In pasta, one of us had chicken thought it was a bit dry, one had bolognese and liked it, other had seafood, thought it was good. Wine was good. We did not like our first bottle, sent it back with no issue, second one was very good and at a good price point.
(4)K S.
Came here on a recommendation from one of the locals, said to be an excellent Italian resturant. Ordered chicken and shrimp pasta, mushroom appetizer, and margarita pizza. All were ok not very flavorful, better flavors at Italian chain resturants Service was good
(2)Paul V.
The food wasn't bad but the service was excellent. The bread was like thick slices of Wonder bread. I will probably go back one more time before I leave Sarasota.
(3)Chi P.
I'll let this review speak for all of the restaurants on St. Armand's. Super slow service. Processed food. I'm starting to understand that places here are packed solely because of the pedestrian nature of the Circle; not because there is any really good food to be had. Food is more of an afterthought. The experience really is about the shopping, or the beach, or the people-watching...Definitely not about the quality of food.
(2)Art H.
Just went to have chicken Parmesan the first time was great, last two times had orange sauce on and was not good at all might go to try pizza but nothing else. Asked waitress before ordering and see said should have red sauce on but offered no help when came to table. Also hard to get bread with orders and bread not good ether.
(2)Beth E.
Our third trip here and the restaurant has redeemed itself. Must be certain food items at better than others. I had the gnocchi bolognese and my husband had the lasagna and we loved them both. Everything came out freshly made and piping hot. So good! Service was excellent.
(5)Jason M.
Great place to stop for lunch and people watching on the circle. Yummy pizzas, big salads, good pasta dishes. You really can't go wrong here. Ingredients are fresh and authentic. I like that they put the big tomato cans on your table to make more room when the pizzas come.
(4)Guy Y.
Very good Italian food Great location on the corner We took the calamari salad and the pasta with sea food. We got ton of sea food we couldn't finished The service was fast and the kids meal pasta with meat ball was great Highly recommended!!
(5)Greg E.
I do not understand why this restaurant is not rated higher. My wife and I have dined there twice for lunch and once for dinner. Each time we were with friends. A friend who has lived on Lido for over 25 years introduced us to the restaurant. The service is outstanding. The wait staff anticipated our needs at all times and are very friendly. The pizza is great , as is the pasta. I ordered an anti-pasta once that was very good as well. Prices are very reasonable, especially given the quality of food and portions. Dining outside on pleasant days is very nice
(5)Carol S.
My food was delicious as was my companions. Fresh food and great service. They set up heaters for outdoor diners. Also, They had some vegetarian friendly m Menu items. I enjoyed the lentil soup and house salad.
(5)Gary K.
Have always liked this place a lot, and have eaten there several times. Really good pizza and pastas, and the service is usually very good. Last night we had our first unfortunate encounter. We went in for a late dinner, before 10 pm, and were told they were closed. We had eaten there late before so I asked what time they officially closed since Yelp showed they were still open. The manager basically proceeded to tell me they reserve the right to close whenever they wish. For their own good, I do hope the management starts to stand behind their set hours. I was very disappointed to be left hanging last night by rules that appear to change on the fly.
(2)Tiffany E.
This is our 4th year eating at Venezia during spring break. We always have great service and fresh delicious food. My family loves the Mozzarella Caprese. I love the Greek salad with all the Mediterranean fresh ingredients. My family loves the pizza. Thin crust, crisp, with just the right amount of cheese and sauce. We will be back again next year.
(5)Kathy K.
Very nice interior and music. I tried their prosciutto pizza and I gotta say that it was absolutely terrible. I do not recommend it. You better find a different place if you want to eat pizza.
(2)Richard B.
The best Pizza in Sarasota!!! The Pizza at Epicure is good too but this place the best. I would go there 7 days a week to have the pizza. Service always good even when its busy. Clams over pasta tasty as well. Can't wait to go back again
(5)Amy F.
My husband and I have lived in Sarasota for going on 3 years now, and we eat here probably once a month. We always order the same thing because it is that good and we know what we want! So, yesterday afternoon when I decided I didnt want to cook dinner, we decided it was time to make our trip out to St. Armands for some fantastic pizza! Like usual, on a friday night, we had to wait for a table. No big deal, we had our dog with us and have to sit outside! So we got a table, and the server was very nice greeted us and got our order in. House Chianti Wine, Caprese Salad App, and the Hawaiin Pizza with Spinach on top. Boom. Wine came out, and then probably within 15 minutes, BOTH, our APP and the Pizza come out... First of all, we are there to enjoy our meal, not be rushed, and second, the $9.75 Caprese Salad we ALWAYS order was 2 slices of tomato cut in half with the smallest pieces of mozzerella cheese on top... This is when we told our server this was not ok, and we come here quite often. He went and got the manager. This is some of the worst management i have ever seen in my whole life. I have a degree in hospitality management and have studied food service extensively... and this woman proceeded to tell me i was wrong. They have been serving it this way for over a year. I said to her that i didnt care, it was not worth my money, and i have already gotten my dinner so no need for an appetizer at this point. SHE SAID NO! that it was not her fault, or the kitchen's, and if we sent it back the SERVER had to pay for it. How disgusting is that? Then, i told her to take it away and she walked away and left it there. fast forward server then proceeded to ignore us, which we wanted another glass of wine, at that point maybe the whole bottle, and when he saw we were done asked if we needed anything. To which i said the bill, and that he was to take the appetizer off. He then made this sad puppy dog face and asked if the manager had explained what was to happen if we did that, I said yes, I am sorry you have the she devil as your manager, but that is the most pathetic excuse for an appetizer you are charging $9.75 for! at the end of the day, we tipped him enough to offset him having to PAY FOR OUR APPETIZER THAT WE DIDNT WANT, and about 30 seconds after we, a 2 top, got up, a 4 top sat down, so he wont have too bad of a night because of that. But we will NEVER BE GOING BACK THERE AGAIN!
(1)Richard F.
First time in Sarasota And IN This restaurant. Unfortunately the seafood pasta had a problem with the fish. The fish was very bad and it had an awful smell. The waitress gladly took it back. We asked for it without the fish. The manager did not even approach the table to apologize or offer a discount. We had to ask them to take off an extra charge that was an error on their part. Still the manager was a no show. I would like to add that our waitress was great and one of the guys Christian, was also great. Too bad we had this issue.
(2)Stephanie L.
Extremely average pizza. Came here for a quick dinner. Service was excellent, fast and friendly. The pizza was just as you'd expect: hot, bubbly, cheesy...but not much flavor at all. I heavily sprinkled on the grated cheese at the table to no avail. I actually would have preferred arbys or wendys to eating this pizza. It was my first time to St. Armands circle and I wanted a quick dinner (options are limited), but im sure you could find something better.
(2)David A.
Walked past and saw the menu. It was reasonable and well thought out. Made a reservation and went with the whole extended family. The place was very comfortable, great wine selection, food well prepared with generous portions, and deserts were delicious. Staff was attentive and knowledgable. I would go back again and agan if I lived in the area.
(4)Nancy R.
We ate hear twice and both times the food was excellent. The pizza had a very good sauce and seasonings with a thin crust. We also had the Caesar salad which had wonderful flavor and croutons. My dinner was penne Quattro Formagio and I could taste the four cheeses it was so good. The waitstaff are polite and attentive. Overall great place with outdoor seating on the circle.
(4)Melissa S.
Once again another positive experience returning to this lovely place! After a long flight we went right to the circle to eat. The patios were full but we enjoyed sitting inside as there were hockey games on the bar TV. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms and they were great! They are NOT fried and stuffed with garlic and cheese and diced mushrooms--yummy! My fiancé got the mushroom stuffed ravioli (which was the ravioli of the day) and it was to die for! The cream sauce was mixed with a little spice so it wasn't too sweet! He also got the meatball app and cut that up to go with the ravioli--genius! The meatballs were extremely tasty! Now on to my meal--I got the stuffed salmon over spinach and roasted potatoes. All I can say is WOW! I'm very picky about my salmon and this was flaky, cooked perfectly and stuffed with TONS of crab meat! My only complaint would be that the spinach and potatoes had waaaay too much olive oil on them. I tipped my plate and soaked some up with the napkin (I know--uncouth) and I know that most people like a lot of evoo but I don't love it. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and without the oil the spinach would have been good too! Great service topped off the night! We come back every time we are in LBK!
(4)Romina G.
We decided in dinner at Venezia since the kids were in the pizza mood. They have tables outside but being with kids means stay indoors and beware of bugs. We found a table inside by the window and were quickly seated. To our kids horror, flies were everywhere. We tried to deal with it but they were too many of them. We ordered drinks and the meatball parmigiana, which was quite good. The complementary bread was soft and delicious. We asked the waiter if he could do anything about the flies, but he said there wasn't anything. Once our entrees were brought out we were completely swarmed by flies. It was impossible to eat. The table next to us asked to get moved. My husband asked another person and she quickly moved us to a bartop in the center of the restaurant. We carried our plates and drinks with their help and sat to finally enjoy our meal. The risotto di mare, the chicken parmigiana and the gnocchi bolognese were plentiful portions and delicious. The kids enjoyed the pizza. If it wasn't for the flies I would rate this establishment 5 stars. The service was pleasant and food tasty. I would seriously recommend a fan right at the door since they are always open to avoid having that same unpleasant situation.
(4)Mike P.
Oh my God was this place bad. The first hint was we were the only ones in the place at 7pm on a Sunday night. Other than the waiter trying really hard to make our meal enjoyable there is nothing here. Including (sorry) 80+ year old grandpa or uncle that can't sing and is more of a side show that relaxing music for your dinner. I would not be surprised if this place has to close its doors within the year. How could it survive with overpriced, under portioned, bad tasting food? I hate giving really bad reviews because I know how difficult the restaurant business is but maybe ownership will look at this and realize why their business is failing.
(1)Ana Carolina F.
This place almost made me feel like I was back to Rome. Our server was the best and the food amazing. We had Shrimp salad, Caesar Salad, prosciutto pizza, 4 cheese pizza, gnocchi with mascarpone and Gorgonzola and spaghetti carbonara. I wanted to eat everything at the same time... Delicioussss!!! It was so good we had to go back the very next day before we drove back home. Best Caesar salad I ever had in US and best pasta I ever had besides Rome. Will definitely come back!!
(5)Erica H.
I ordered the shrimp scampi and it tasted rather fishy. It wasn't very good. Then I had a ceasar salad with shrimp and it was okay, but I feel like I've had better at Applebee's. I was also disappointed that they didn't have a gluten free menu and no gluten free pasta. My husband had the lasagna, but said he's had better at Olive Garden. I had to sit by an open door and it was a little chilly and cigarette smoke occasionally made me choke.
(2)T P.
Ordered the risotto di mare. It was really good until I found a four-inch strand of thin metal in my food, presumably a shaving from a can opener. When I showed it to the waiter, Robert, he offered me an espresso. Thanks and all, but what about the plate of food I can't eat because I'm turned off to the fact it contains metal shavings? I didn't want to make a big deal of it because we were celebrating a birthday, and I didn't want to sour the mood at the table. I would think it would be obvious that the waiter would go out of his way to fix things. Couldn't find an email address for this place, and I don't want to talk to some random person on the phone, so here's your review. Thanks.
(2)Murray I.
Cute spot with outdoor dining. I confess I was very leary of an Italian restaurant being open on Christmas day. While there for a walk on the circle, e decided to stop on for a quick bite. Service was quick. We sat outside and that was nice. The Greek salad was very good. A little overpriced, but still very good. The pizza we had was also very good. Olives and anchovies. Sounds gross but was very good. We'd eat here again.
(4)Sarah A.
Very unhappy with the service last night and won't be coming back for awhile. 2 major problems... First they are very bad in terms of food allergies. Unlike many similar restaurants they do not have gluten free pizza or pastas, so my friend who has celiac could only eat salad. I had a seafood pasta that had no sauce on it ... When I complained the server brought over the menu to point out it was exactly as advertised and shrugged and said other people like it. Whether or not that's how they usually make it, i didn't appreciate feeling chastised and would have liked her help fixing it or suggesting something else.
(1)Taylor L.
I get calamari almost everywhere I go and they hands down had the best calamari I've ever had. The wait staff is friendly and their prices are reasonable.
(5)Justine F.
The boyfriend and I stopped by here for lunch while vacationing based on other reviews. It ended up being one of the best dining decisions we made all week. I ordered the Marinara Pizza and he ordered the bacon, mozzarella, spinach, and Gorgonzola Stromboli. Both were extremely delicious. The pizza was fresh, had great crust, and was big enough to share. Other reviews has mentioned that the pizzas here were oily. I will say that they pizza does have a little olive oil, however, my boyfriend and I have no complaints about that. We loved it. Was a very enjoyable lunch and we plan to return in the future!
(4)Jeff H.
Great little spot in St. Armands Circle. A bottle of wine and the seafood risotto ... wifey ordered a pizza. Everything was solid, our waiter was attentive, the restaurant was busy. Portions were sizable and I'm looking forward to eating the rest of the ladies pizza today. Check this place out if you're in the area.
(4)Ann L.
It was alright for a quick meal. Had pizza, which was good, and a salad. Nothing to write home about, but it was fine. Ordered soda and saw the bartender pour it out of a Sprite 2 liter bottle, and not the fountain. Eh, wouldn't return. For a quick moderately priced bite, head over to longboat key (5 min drive from here) and go to Dry Dock!!!
(2)James H.
We ate here during a Sunday during lunch it was moderately busy like a couple of the restaurants in the circle and it was fast seating and service. We are from NY area and have pizza most of the time; and for Florida this place had good pizza! I liked the unique pizza holders, old pizza sauce cans. We also had the house salad as an appetizer and it was a good mix with a creamy balsamic dressing. We had the margarita pizza with penne vodka. The penne vodka was special order since it's not on the menu; it was a special sauce during the day so maybe that's why it wasn't a problem to make. It was good penne vodka! Service was pretty decent but nothing special. Price was good for the amount of food.
(4)Sara S.
Eek, ugh, bleh, yikes! Eat at your own risk. I've eaten here a number of times b/c they have a fantastic outdoor dining area on St Armand Circle and I was in love with their Venezia salad with calamari. It was a bountiful salad and made the poor service tolerable..... Then it kept getting worse and I could never return again. My artichokes smelled like fish. I don't know if they were old or mixed with seafood, but it was so foul. One time I found a hair in my calamari. I returned once more and ordered the same Venezia salad with calamari I always did right at 11 am when they opened. The salad came out a few minutes later and clearly the calamari was not fresh. It was cold and crunchy. They served me calamari that was fried the day before. I knew then I could not trust this restaurant and never returned again. Farewell....
(1)Mark E.
Stay away!!!! The food is horrible!!! I had a Stromboli -- it was freezing cold in the middle!!! I also had two slices of cheese pizza --- how can you mess this up???!!! The pizza crust tasted like cardboard and sauce tasted like watered down catchup. Go anyway else!!!!
(1)James S.
Thoroughly enjoyed lunch. Fresco pizza was great and Caesar salad was very fresh. We eat here twice this week.
(5)Dustin T.
Great location, in the 'pink' quandrant of St. Armands Circle. Al fresco seating there is my favorite seat in the area. Service was great. The pesto shrimp risotto was very tasty. Some shrimp had tails on, others didn't, which I thought was strange and caused me to eat some tails. The other person I was with got a tuna salad and it was very large and tuna tasted fresh. Nothing fantastic, but definitely a great location, good service, with quality dishes....
(3)Jordann W.
So delicious! Had pizza paired with a glass of chianti... Hit the spot! They also have delicious tiramisu! A must try for pizza and wine
(4)Vero B.
Best pizza in Sarasota!! We were visiting Sarasota over the weekend and we ate at Venezia two times! The salads and pizzas were awesome. The pizzas are good for 2-3 people to share. The services was great too. We sat outside and enjoyed the great atmosphere of St. Armands. The food didn't take long. The outside seating was popular so recommend going early or late if you would like to seat outside.
(4)Paul B.
Do not eat the Veal. It's thanksgiving night. Went here with friends. They thought it was just ok. I absolutely hated my drowning veal soaked in overly tangy marinara sauce. I was so disappointed that she made me pay for the plate even thought it was horrible. Bad policy. I do not recommend.
(1)Alaina J.
I was really on the fence about whether to give this three stars or four. I settled on rating it a 4, because the food was really fantastic, but the service was really not good at all. We got the quattro formaggi pizza and the gnocchi mascapone. The pizza was truly out of this world--the crust was thin but puffy and had a lot of flavor, and the gnocchi was very good, though I've had better. But the water they served tasted awful and the waitress was really not nice at all. We didn't see her between her taking our order, her bringing our drinks, and her bringing our food. We'd ran out of drinks way before the food arrived, and when we asked her for more, she didn't bring them; we asked again when she was clearing our plates and only then did she bring refills. It's a pity. With the quality of the food and the really phenomenal outside seating by the Circle, this place could be great if only for the service.
(4)Elizabeth C.
I am obsessed with this place ..I live about 40 minutes away and make the ride often. Best caesar salad I've ever had. Best pizza I've ever had ...that I can remember. Delicious sangria. OMG and the mussels too! Everything I've had there I have loved. Great atmosphere, great staff, I just love it. I feel sad for the people who wrote bad reviews because I feel like if they gave it another chance they would change their minds!
(5)Jeff H.
Venezia is a cute spot on the circle of Lido Key. We sat outside on a beautiful day for a quick lunch because we got to talking about pizza and that was pretty much it from there. Must. Eat. Pizza. We found this place through Yelp and it looked totally decent. Being a Philadelphian can kind of spoil your pizza taste buds, so I was careful about picking a spot in Florida. The really good looking places were either closed (Sunday) or not open yet. The service here was pretty perfect. We just drank water and iced tea but they were right on top of the drinks. I forget the name of it, but our appetizer had toasted bread with a balsamic reduction glaze with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. It was pretty delicious. We ordered a pizza with spinach and a funky cheese (forget which) and were surprised to see it not cooked spinach but rather raw spinach on top of the baked pizza. I thought the menu could have done at a better job at describing that. But I'm a spinach fan so it was fine by me. I think the crust could be thinner on their pizzas, but maybe that's just one man's opinion. In short: we wanted pizza, this place seemed decent, the food was good, the service was excellent, and it's in a prime location. Not bad, Florida. Not bad.
(4)Jon S.
Very nice place! A little pricey, but still very good food. We had the spaghetti carbonara, and the prosciutto pizza. The latter was outstanding!
(4)David H.
First visit last weekend and the pizza was delicious--a tasty sauce, nice bready crust and plenty of mozzarella cheese. Our waiter was attentive and the service was good. I'll be back there soon.
(4)Michelle M.
I'm not sure what to make of the poor rating!! I am a local and come here often. I have never had a bad meal! The salads are very, very good, fresh and very large! The pizza is very good. The antipasat is full of meat and cheese and olives YUM! Everything I have had here is fresh and delicious!! I would not order the Sangria again.. 30.00 for a pitcher and it was mostly juice. I will keep coming back.
(4)Jennifer K.
I read a lot of complaints about service and have to agree. We sat at the bar and service was so-so. There was another couple next to us who was finishing up, they both had empty drinks, were waiting on a box and a check. There was a lady behind the bar rolling silverwear, she would sit people but that was it, the bartender appeared overwhelmed and would ignore us if he had something else going on. Another person made a note about the lights needing replaced, they were still out when we were there. We ordered the pizza, it came out fairly quickly but had way too much cheese (I LOVE cheese and it was just too much), the pizza was undercooked, could have used another minute or two in the oven and it would have been perfect. It was decent, less cheese would have made it much better. I think for the price this place needs to step up their service and the quality of the food...
(3)Rachel M.
Very friendly waitstaff! Excellent sangria - ordered the prosciutto pizza and shrimp pizza - both were very good and had lots of cheese. Food came out very fast - will return!
(4)Ashley O.
My fiancé and I enjoyed a late lunch almost early dinner at Venezia's. I had the spinach pizza and he had a pasta dish with seafood. The service was excellent and eating in their sidewalk dining area was delightful.
(5)Mike L.
Oh yea... That's good pizza. Highly recommend. Really good. Service was wonderful. Super attentive - great with the kiddos. Pizza was fabulous. Had a sausage mushroom + a greens prosciutto. The prosciutto was fabulous. Also had a grouper salad which was wonderful. Reheated well for lunch the next day also. Didn't get it, but the pasta going to neighboring tables looked great too
(5)Steve G.
We didn't expected this in a touristy place, but the Pizza was really awesome!!! All Pizzas were the best high quality Pizzas we had since years ago in Italy! Recommendation for all real Italian Pizza Lovers who do not need a fancy style but excellent food!!! The Pizzas are really large and good to share. We sat in the outside area where the regular chairs are really uncomfortable, but our server helped us out with different ones. However, the chairs and the appearance of the outside area should be rearranged as we were about to pass on and I assume many others would feel the same. Service was real Italian and nice. Will definitely come again.
(4)pomona k.
The food was fine, but the service really turned me off. I also thought the seating inside the restaurant was really cramped. I had the shrimp pesto risotto, which was fine, but the real winner at my table seems to have been the pizza. My friends really enjoyed them. Along with tasty food, I look for good dining experience when I'm out and about. It took a minute for the waitress to find her way to our table and after she took our order and the food came out, she was MIA for a while. When we were ready for our check, I had to flag her down from the bar where she was folding napkins mindlessly (meaning, not looking around at her tables to see if her customers needed anything). I had to wave her down like that twice from the bar. When she made it to our table with our check, she said we can only use 2 credit cards, so some of us wanted to pay with cash and needed change. When two of us asked to break our $20 bills, she hesitated, gave us this look like we were inconveniencing her, mumbled something about not being sure whether she can get change. SERIOUSLY? How are you running a business without having some cash around? Do you not want cash tip? Then she proceeded to say that she can take 3 credit cards. Well, thanks, but the two us still needed to break our cash. That basically ruined my dining experience at Venezia. Food may be good, but there are other restaurants in St. Armands area and Sarasota in general that offer great foods and MUCH better service. I will be taking my credit cards and cash to those restaurants.
(2)Karen M.
We eat there at least 2-3 times a month. Food is always consistent, place is packed every time. Service is always on time and the owners treat us like family. In spite of what some of the reviews say, we will return again and again . This is our choice for pasta and pizza, nice wine selection as well. Go where the locals go!
(5)J B.
Less than average . Sauce tasteless, cheese tasteless, chicken tough. Staff moody,,, asked for a side of gnocchi , they couldn't do it even for a price. Water tasted like sulfur. Pizza was fresh cooked , but had that tasteless oily cheese on it. Won't be back. My guess is everything is prepackaged, frozen, then heated and your type of sauce added on top.
(1)Maria B.
OK, not sure what's going on with these reviews but I think the pizza is amazing. We had the White pizza & loved it. Very fresh ingredients and the pesto on top was fabulous. Pretty good wine selection too. Service was fantastic. Our server was very attentive & gracious. Will definitely be returning next time I'm in the area.
(4)EJ P.
If you are in St. Armands and about to pass out from hunger, then this place is passable. Otherwise AVOID THIS PLACE and consult Yelp for other Italian places in the area. The service is very spotty, the restaurant is dirty (this is the kind of place that serves your wine in a glass with lipstick stains on it), the food is barely OK. The pizza is soggy. Like I said, it sucks.
(2)Holly W.
Calamari was amazing! Greek pizza was yummy!
(4)John A.
Sat at the bar while the place was packed and expected some great service and food but wow were we disappointed. Took a long time to get anyone's attention and clearly they were overwhelmed / didn't know what they were doing. Finally after we get our drinks we decide to order, Caesar salad, eggplant caprese and risotto di mare. First mistake was ordering pasta when clearly everyone just orders pizza. Salad comes out and dressing was sloped onto half of it but was tasty just not prepared correctly. The caprese and risotto came out next together and this is where it went down hill. The caprese had no vinaigrette as described on the menu but we decided to keep going on and add our own as it seemed edible. I hit a wall when it came to the risotto, it had so much sauce it was literary a soup with the risotto overcooked and crunchy with no flavor. After we had barely touched the food the woman / owner came over to ask what was wrong. I explained that the risotto was overcooked and not good, she then began to argue with me and try to convince me it was fine, what kind of service is this? It tasted like dirt, she agreed to substitute it for something else while walking away giving a nasty face. She should not be dealing with customers at all. Clearly this is a place that is only in business because of its location and decor, not its food or management ability. I would look else ware and look at the reviews yelp has hidden.
(2)Frank M.
Best pizza ever... if u don't come here to eat u r not a pizza lover.
(5)Elizabeth H.
I went to dinner with some girlfriends while I was vacationing in Sarasota, FL on 7/19/13. The food is excellent at Venezia and their prices are reasonable. However, the service left something to be desired. Although, we were seated quickly; it took 15 - 20 mins for a waitress to address our table. After she took our drink order it took another additional 10 mins to receive it. One of my friends received her wine in a glass with lipstick on lit. Although, I appreciated the waitress offered to exchange the glass with lipstick; it should never of happened. After we finished our meal, the waitress said she could only take two credit cards (we were a group of five people); and, some of my friends asked for change. The waitress coped an attitude with us. She said the register did not have enough change to break S40.00; and, begruidely allowed us to split the bill onto four credit cards. In nutshell, great food, good prices but don't expect quick or friendly service.
(2)Shelley B.
Worst pizza I've ever had. The sauce tasted like watery ketchup. Garlic bread was inedible and had to be thrown away. AVOID.
(1)Chris W.
Best dinner of our week in the area! Wonderful service and delicious pizzas, pesto and risotto! Will be back for sure!!
(5)Brinn L.
Very surprised by the amount of negative reviews! We travel to Sarasota once a year and always make it a point to go to Venezia! The pizza is one of the best I have ever had, perfect crispy crust with plenty of flavor! Some of my family members ordered pasta dishes on one occasion and were equally happy with their meals! Venezia is also located at a beautiful corner of St. Armands circle and your outside experience is beautiful. My suggestion would be to ignore the bad reviews and visit Venezia!
(5)Pamela M.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to have a little snack here during a window shopping day on the circle. This was a truly random stop and I had never been here before. We initially were just going to refresh ourselves with a soda but once sitting down at the bar we were swayed by the very nice selection of wine. Our bartender proceeded to pour us 3 or 4 wines to taste before we chose a full glass. Very nice touch! He then suggested antipasti and cheese with crostini. It was pure bliss! Amazing service and a great experience on a hot Sunday on St. Armand's. I look forward to heading back down for something besides wine and antipasti. Enjoy!
(4)Serenity N.
Our large group had several pizzas, and all were excellent. Prices are very reasonable for the circle. I wasn't expecting much because of prior reviews, but this place is really good.
(4)Keriann P.
Wow, I don't think I can express just how awful this restaurant. First of all, I am Italian, and grew up in NY, land of delicious pizza and Italian food - so you can definitely say I judge italian foods quite harshly. However, food is not the only area this restaurant is lacking. First of all, we visited in the middle of July (mind you this is Florida, it was probably around 95* with humidity) and the doors are open. Remember, this place is mainly pizza, so they have large pizza ovens constantly running. Needless to say, it was SO HOT in there. Unbearable. And to make matters even worse, there were flies flying around, landing on our food, etc. because of the open doors. Gross. Service was awful. After ordering, we did not see our waiter once. We would have ordered additional drinks, etc. had he visited our table to ask if we needed anything. Nope! He was busy drying glasses at the bar. Much more important. We had to practically yell his name to get his attention. Lastly - food. Awful. Cheese was too salty (in my experience, that is a sign of using cheap cheese). Pesto was meh. And last but not least - there was a BUG in the salad. No, not a fly. A crawling bug. Disgusting. This place is located in a touristy area, and I assume owners/chefs know that they can get away with serving below average food with even lower service. No excuses! Do NOT go to this restaurant!
(1)Greg U.
Pizzas were ok, pasta was pretty good and prices are "circle" appropriate. Overall experience was good, but nothing wow'd me.
(3)R.J. s.
We were hungry walking around St Armands and in the mood for Italian. Venezia was the first place we saw. Sunday afternoon seated quickly at a table by the front window. The benefit of AC with the view of the circle nice. Server was very nice maybe even a little over the top he was very attentive and a Little hard to understand. Drinks ordered specials explained appetizer delivered. Main course orders taken with great attention to our details and requests. The Salads and Dinners came out in a timely manner everything was Delicious and priced for St Armands Circle. Over all a very pleasant experience and we will be returning.
(4)Kathleen S.
On Friday, January 3rd, I ordered takeout from Venezia. Our order consisted of the Shrimp Salad, Caesar Salad and the Chicken Fontina entree. The Chicken Fontina is described as "Two lighty breaded chicken breasts filled with ham and fontina cheese, finished with homemade mushrom sauce and side of linguini $20.95". We picked up our food and made our way back to our condo. My dad and I were sharing the Caesar salad and chicken fontina so we split both down the middle, put them on separate plates and commenced eating. My first bite of the chicken dish was ok. The second bite....and I knew something was wrong.....it tasted rubbery. I quickly looked at the dish and saw that the bottom chicken breast WAS 100% RAW! It had not been cooked at all. Basically what they served was a top cooked chicken breast, a piece of deli ham, some cheese and then a bottom breast of raw chicken. In other words, an entree that might contain Salmonella bacteria causing severe gastrointestinal distress. We called immediately and they said they would make us another......um, no thank you. They asked us to bring the dish in the next say and talk to Angel. I brought the dish in and Angel could have cared less. He chuckled when he saw me and knew immediately why I was there. He said "we will cook you another". I said "I have no interest in eating this food again". He asked what I wanted and I told him my money back. He made a big deal that it had to come out of his own pocket bc he wasn't sure he could get reimbursed. I let him give me the money and I proceeded to open the container of food. I said "look at this, how does this happen". His answer "we were probably a little busy". A little busy.....a little busy...so you serve raw chicken to patrons and then you laugh when they complain? I asked again how something like this could be served and he said "it happens, we were probably just a little busy". Angel gave me my money and then threw the dish in the trash. I fully believe he had no intention of telling the cooks or anyone else for that matter. He just threw it away and had a good laugh. So, moral of the story, if you'd like the potential for salmonella and are interested in severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and possibly vomiting, headaches, chills, fatigue and fever....please eat here. Otherwise, there are plenty of places on St. Armand's Circle and in Sarasota to try out. As a side note, I took pictures of the raw chicken and will be emailing them to the restaurant. I don't think I can post a pic here.
(1)Jack K.
Food was great, but the service was terrible. The waiter gave every other table bread, and when we asked he said they were out of the regular and the flatbread. He wasn't apologetic or even nice about it. Five minutes later he brought some out to another table. Then when we asked his still angrily told us he was out. Then we waited and waited and waited for of food to come until and hour and 15 minutes later it came. When the food came it was delicious, except the tuna was improperly cooked. Also the antipasto plate was just sandwich cheese and sandwich salami, not even good ones.
(3)Julie R.
Walking around looking for pizza. Ordered the spinach pizza. The flavor was great. But the thin crust was under cooked. No crisp in the crust, little soft and soggy.
(2)Genna H.
This is a pretty great itlalian place for Florida. I got the same thing both times I was here and was improessed both times. The service is great. During peak season you will have to wait for a table and parking isn't always the best down at St. Armond circle.
(4)Julie D.
Loved the service. Everyone was so nice.there was no rush to order. Pizza was amazing and loved the lemon cake
(5)Heather S.
See, I do like this place a lot! The best time I was here was the first time and my experiences ever since have usually been about 4 star worthy. I've brought a broad range of friends and family and the food is always yummy. I always stick to the gnocchi because it's the best I've ever had. I have never tried the pizza nor been dining with someone who has so I can't speak for that. I am very picky when it comes to pizza though and by the looks of it it's not my kind really. Really thin and floury looking. In the two years I've been eating here I notice a lot of the servers have remained which as someone who works in the industry, I can say that is a good sign of a well run establishment. It can be crazy busy but I've usually never had to wait long for a table. I enjoy the atmosphere; the art on the walls, and the mirrored ceiling are a unique touch. Sitting outside is my preference weather permitting. It's a delight to order a bottle of wine and watch the people passing by. The only reason I'm giving it three stars is because our experience last night is the worst it's been (even so I wouldn't say it was terrible, just not up to par) We had a server who I've never had before and she kind of seemed to be half assing everything. I'm sure she was busy, I did see her attending to many other tables. But it felt a little rushed, the salad came out immediately and the food much too quickly after that. She did not bring out bread and she didn't even offer us dessert before she dropped the check. Had it been suggested I would've loved a piece of cheesecake and some red wine! Oh well, if she didn't want an extra $20 on our check total, resulting in a larger tip, that's her deal. I still enjoy the food and hopefully next time service will be back to what it usually is!
(3)Dennis B.
We were seated right away, and received our two pizzas (Quattro Formaggi and Cheese) with 10-15 minutes. The waiter was great. The pizza was perfect - full of fresh cheese, crust not too think, not too thin. Used empty cans to support the pizza trays at our table. Reasonably priced. Also enjoyed all the Bruce Fox artwork on the walls. We'll be back to try other menu items.
(4)Sean D.
We originally happened upon this restaurant in march and had an amazing experience. Best pizza, good bottle of chianti and great atmosphere. So we came back. I want to love this place, I really do... I just can't... Yet. The pizza was underwhelming, the restaurant was approx 83 degrees and stifling, even with fans going and what appeared to be A/C on, it was warm. We sat inside to get out of the heat, but it may have been cooler on the patio. The service was solid and the overall atmosphere was again, nice. We will be back but our expectations will be higher.
(3)Erron B.
The place was neat inside, and the appetizers were great. But, the entree was a big downer. My girlfriend and mother were disappointed in what they had ordered, and they couldn't finish their meals. However, I had ordered a $20 "fried Filet Mignon", not really knowing what I was getting into (and didn't realize they'd try deep-frying Filet Mignon). I was surprised when it arrived in front of me, but I was willing to do my best. After one bland, crispy, deep-fried bite I knew it just wasn't going to happen, and I figured I'd stop now and kindly ask the server to see what she could do for me. When I kindly mentioned to her it wasn't at all what I expected and I wasn't going to be able to stuff down another bite, I asked if she could let me pick at least a different appetizer. She took my plate and said she'll see what she can do. About 20 minutes later (literally, we had to flag her down) she comes back around and said "Sorry, we don't give refunds. My boss said there's nothing we can do." I kept my cool and asked if he could just sell it to me at-cost or something, but to charge me $20 and take it off the table was a bit much. She looked at me like I was speaking a different language and as if she had never had a customer ask something like this before (maybe she was new). After another 20 minutes she comes back (I wasn't hungry anymore, and just hoped for a refund), and she said her boss took $8 off our bill and that's all he would do. So, I was still flustered and told her to please tell him that I'll never come back here and that I'll be posting a negative review online. This is the first negative review I've ever written, so please assume it's justified.
(2)Denise S.
Best Calamari in Sarasota! Wood fired pizza, great salads and wine assortment keeps us coming back! Great service too! Be sure to check out Settimi's gelato next door!!! They will even get it for you if you ask them :-)
(5)Phill M.
Great lunch! House salad was fantastic. Large enough to share. The pizza is also was large enough to split toppings (half&half) so it could be share between those that like different toppings. The wait staff seemed to be from they same family and acted like they were the owners, treating every guest very well. They attentive and efficient. Definitely a great spot to stop while you are walking the shops around it. Not sure why anyone would not give this place a positive review.
(5)R R.
We had a quick lunch here. The place is not much to look at tables and a large bar area. We ordered the cold antipasti, a fresh mozzarella salad, the salad Venezia and a Large Pizza. All of the salads were basically the same. The antipasti salad had deli slices of cured meats and cheese that was the separation between them. Nothing special here, actually the sopressata was funky! The pizza was not bad. Thin crust, high quality tomato sauce, although we would have preferred it been cooked longer. The service was ridiculous, not friendly actually a bit scary! Not really worth a return trip.
(3)Eva O.
It was completely packed on a Saturday night and my party was lucky to be squeezed into less than ideal seats near the back by the kitchen. But it was beautifully decorated inside. I found it hilarious that one wall was covered with large bold art pieces and the other wall a huge flat screen tv with the game on. Of course, the females and males were split on their respective sides able to look at the wall of their choosing. Ha! :) I had the Linguini de Mare which was pretty average. It had a decent amount of seafood in it which I find is usually the issue with seafood pasta dishes. Also very reasonably priced. Biggest issue as you can imagine with a huge tv and packed crowd, the place was all sorts of loud. I liked the bold, vibrant feeling between the art and the noise but not too great for conversation. Wouldnt recommend coming here weekends on a first date cause you'd be yelling over the table the whole night.
(3)Hannah S.
This place was wonderful!! My husband and I had the Carnival alle Carni pizza, and it was amazing, some of the best pizza we'd ever had! Service was wonderful, our waiter, (I *think* his name was Ricardo?) was attentive and very kind, and all the staff seemed that way. We sat outside and it was lovely. Highly recommend this place!!
(5)Vonnie S.
We visited this place while staying with a friend in Sarasota. My favorite part of the restaurant is the art displayed on the wall. Both my daughter and I chose pizza, she went with Pepperoni and I had the Margharita. The pizza in general was tasty and large in portion. The serice however wasn't the best. Our waitress was very friendly but she was never there. She seemed to be the only one in the entire restaurant and was always busy and apologizing for forgetting about us.
(3)Fuzzy B.
Large portions and tasty food. We ordered a chicken parm panini and it was huge! The chef salad had more meat and cheese than lettuce. We had a table outside and enjoyed watching all of the people go by.
(3)Ryan R.
This place is disgusting. Bathrooms are unsanitary. We came to the table and the seats were covered with food and crumbs. We asked the server to clean it and he took his hand and wiped it with his hand! Then he went and got us water right infront of us without washing his hands and placing the straws uncovered in the cups. We walked right out, told him why, and lost our appetite. Don't ever go here unless you're fine with an unsanitary restaurant!
(1)Rose F.
Great food, the bathroom was filthy and our server was not accommodating at all. They make stombolis for lunch but not fit dinner?? Why not! How hard could it be?? Salads way overpriced but I will say they have great pizza.
(3)Marie M.
Good food, good service. Good prices. We had the Venezia salad and the Hawaiian pizza. Delicious. Fun atmosphere. Enjoyed it. I recommend this place.
(4)Maria H.
Great service. Mussels are delish!
(4)Rebecca W.
We ate lunch at Venezia today. The food was nothing special. The more alarming thing in our minds was the filth, dirt and neglect of the actual restaurant space. Ceilings full of dust and light bulbs not even replaced---6 were out in center of restaurant ceiling and only 8 total. This caused us to look even further. All the condiment bottles were sticky, full of ketchup/bbq sauce/oil on outside of the bottles--Disgusting. The pizza dough was made just outside the bathroom which is even grosser. Upon going to the bathroom it was a nightmare in both the men's and women's bathroom. Excrement all over mens toilet lid, top and bottom. The soap was in a large bag that is supposed to go into a enclosed dispenser--instead just sitting there on the shelf. Plus in the women's bathroom there is no handle on the sink to turn on water to wash your hands. Plus the restaurant just opened for lunch---don't folks have opening duties to clean and a janitor to clean restrooms before opening? I am not sure what else to say but eat at Venezia at your own health risk. This place looks like a decent, modern Italian eatery but is only an overpriced, neglected dump.
(1)Robert E.
Service was marginal. Just had an app. Calamari. No real taste. Nice artwork inside. Employees eating at a table and at end of bar... Not great etiquette! Wouldn't recommend
(3)Loren B.
Yummy fresh food. Friendly service. Marinara sauce is very good. Two adults two kids 8 thumbs up.
(5)Darcy S.
I love the spaghetti carbonara here! It is to die for! I also love the very thin crust pizza! Service has always been good when i've gone there.
(4)Virginia T.
I went here today for lunch and had been for dinner one other time. I was very pleased with the food both times but the service and atmosphere needs some work. Today at lunch when we arrived the entire restaurant was filled with smoke from the pizza oven I guess....but the worst part was the horrible radio station. Not only was it annoying top 40, it was loud and very static. Atmosphere was lacking but the pizza crust is to die for! Get take-out if you can because the servers are quite unattentive as well.
(3)Thomas R.
Flies galore. Took 30 min to get the check and pay. Average food. We tried a little of everything and it was all bland.
(2)mike g.
I can say this is probably the worst place I have been to in St. Armands. Went with a group of 8 for lunch, initially sat outside. The waitress said it would be a while before she could take our order, no water, no nothing for 25 minutes. Finally brought water and said it would be a long time before we got our food if we ordered anything???? Ordered appetizers and our main course at the same time. No silverware, she said it would be a while before we got any? The place was maybe 60 percent full. 30 minutes later cold appetizers, no plates! 45 minutes later lunch in 3 batches, cold, horrible service, horrible waitress, horrible place. How can you open a place and have it so poorly staffed from waitress, to kitchen, to cleaning etc..
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