Venosa

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Reviews

1. Maddie W ★☆☆☆☆

   POST REVIEW UPDATE: I'm editing to give update after seeing Venosa's response attempting to discredit my reviews validity. It's crucial to highlight that I was unprofessionally awakened the day after posting my review by a phone call from the owner herself about it. If that isn't concerning enough, wait until you hear what she had to say. Not only did she confirm our suspicions about the oxidised wine, having been opened a couple of days prior, but she also fabricated a story about someone reserving the exact table we were sitting at weeks in advance, insisting they had to be close to the door and no other table could be used despite them all being empty (notably, every table in the establishment is close to the door). Even if this story were true, we would have gladly shifted to another table, as every table was empty and without reservation signs though we were still hurried out. Additionally, the owner's claim that we were there for close to two hours is grossly exaggerated; our transaction history shows we were there for just over an hour (probably closer to 1 hr 10-mins). Its also interesting to see some other "reviews" trying to discredit mine as if they have been personally affected by it. I do wonder how legitimate they are as well as the sudden 5 star ratings venosa received by first time raters post my submission, it is curious..... _______________________________________________ OVERALL EXPERIENCE 1/5 We chose this restaurant based on the 4.5-star rating on First Tables and enticing photos. Our booking was for 6pm on a Tuesday. Arriving around 6:08pm, we were seated near the door, becoming the only patrons after another table left. Our dining experience unfolded like a fever dream, almost comical in various aspects. What was intended to be a meaningful celebratory dinner turned into an embarrassing ordeal, leaving us feeling like an unwelcome burden in the end. As a longtime user of First Tables, it saddens me to provide my first-ever negative First Table review. MENU 1/5 Disappointment set in due to the limited menu, especially the lack of our desired entrees (mozzarella sticks and fried chicken). The menus appeared worn, with laminated paper showing signs of age, covered in tape and marker for frequent changes. DRINKS 1/5 Our first wine choice was unavailable, and the second choice we ordered had a very oxidized taste, I have seen previous reviews mentioning old wine being served so I suspect the same has happened here. The Negroni was enjoyable at $16.5. The ginger beer and lemon lime & bitters, served in 300ml glasses, were nice but, questioning their $8.5 price compared to supermarket pricing and what other resturants price these at. SIDES 1/5 The anticipated sides were unavailable, and the substitutes were only satisfactory. The calamari resembled supermarket fare, and the bruschetta, while well-presented, featured bread of mediocre quality. MAINS 4/5 The mains Pork Ragu, Bacon Gnocchi, and Carbonara were delicious and definitely the stars of the show for our First Tables experience. The Pork Ragu lacked some pork but had a very flavorful sauce. The Bacon Gnocchi was excellent and probably the winning dish especially the sauce, though the portion felt small. The Carbonara was tasty but notably peppery. AMBIANCE 2/5 The decor, art & colorful tables, added a lot of character and personality to the small space showing there was a lot of love put into the presentation . However, messy table covers and a view of a dirty neighboring table for our dining duration diminished the experience. SERVICE 1/5 We were promptly seated and informed about the food delays as the Chef was stuck in traffic. Service was managed by a single person, resulting in understandable delays which we were fine with. Dessert ordering was delayed, and when we finally approached to order, we were told our booking time was up. We felt unwelcome after this comment especially as the restaurant was empty throughout our entire dining experience and there were no waiting parties at the end of it, we promptly paid and left.

   almost 2 years ago
2. James Ashwin ★★★★★

   Venosa, home to the best creamy chicken fettuccini in Auckland! Really enjoyed our meal here and highly recommend you stop in next time you're in Kingsland. James Ashwin Kakapo Business Sales

   almost 2 years ago
3. Brittany Fitzpatrick ★★★★★

   The food at Venosa was delicious! We got the pork ragu and the creamy mushroom ravioli. This is the perfect spot if you’re looking for authentic Italian food. The ravioli was absolutely to die for! I am still dreaming about that creamy sauce! It was the best creamy sauce we have both ever had. The pork ragu was also amazing in flavour. Both dishes were spectacular. The service was prompt and great. We both really enjoyed our Italian wines they had a lovely flavour. The chef was so lovely and really cared if we enjoyed our food. We will definitely be back!

   almost 2 years ago

1. Lillian Zhao ★★★★★

   We were the first table to arrive at the dinner, and the food was delightful and authentic. Despite there being only one lady serving the entire restaurant at that time, she was really nice and attentive. I would definitely recommend coming again for more pasta.

   almost 2 years ago
2. Holly Cawdron ★★★★★

   Lovely restaurant - have been here a couple times now so feel qualified to leave a good rating. Food is great, they do my favourite garlic bread in all of Auckland and the tiramisu comes highly recommended. Staff are friendly and attentive, and the whole place has a lovely, warm atmosphere. Definitely a great place for a night out.

   almost 2 years ago
3. Donna ★★★★★

   A little gem in Kingsland. Delicious Italian food, every mouthful was spot on. It’s a very small restaurant but the food and service is really good. Our knowledgeable waitress was passionate about the food she helps cook. The Italian and Spanish red wine we ordered was lovely and smooth, we polished off two bottles with a table of 4. And they were playing Italian music, helped with the ambience. Will be back again.

   almost 2 years ago

1. Ekai Chiu ★★★★★

   Amazing place, really kind staff and cozy home vibe, great tasting italian food if you’re looking for traditional cooking with a twist, and very decent pricing too!

   almost 2 years ago
2. Kai Ling Chiu ★★★★★

   Great food, great service! I got the gnocchi in truffle cream and my partner got the meatball pasta. Mama Mia! I looove the truffle cream so much I ordered a serving of garlic bread to mop up the cream. The meatballs taste like they are made in house and not frozen store bought ones. We also ordered the crumbed eggplant for our entrée. Omg, I never knew eggplant could taste like this! The manager on duty, Mamta, really completed the entire experience. She made us feel right at home with her superb service.

   almost 3 years ago
3. Charred Lamb ★★★☆☆

   Small cosy and welcoming place. Menu is mainly pasta, and there's only tiramisu as dessert (well there's also affogato which I would personally consider it as my after meal coffee) so it's a bit lack of variety. The pastas are not bad overall; tiramisu isn't bad bad, but not amazing neither. Could be more moist in my opinion

   almost 4 years ago

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