The Venetian Soda Lounge — Restaurant in Burlington

We went for LOTR trivia night and were incredibly disappointed. Ordered a drink and some corn dogs at the counter - they took my card for the tab and gave me a number. Over an hour later, our food hasn’t come, so I go to the counter and ask if it’ll be much longer. The staff said “oh we don’t have corndogs, they forgot to take it off the menu.” So you just didn’t say anything and left us waiting for food that was never coming? Meanwhile everyone who ordered after us got food, so they either threw out or purposely ignored our ticket. We then ordered hot dogs and tater tots instead, and when the staff eventually came to bring the tater tots, he threw it onto the table in front of me. They vaguely offered a discount for the trouble but didn’t end up applying it and charged me $50 for 1 drink and two hot dogs w tots. On top of that, the trivia host made a point to say after every question that he didn’t watch or care about LOTR at all; the questions were sometimes flagrantly incorrect, and there were none of the “themed cocktails and cocktails” advertised for the event. $50 for the most abysmal service and worst trivia I’ve ever encountered...

Love love LOVED the Tiki weekend. The only place even trying to share an authentic tiki experience in Vermont. So fun with the authentic music, drinks, decor. You can tell that the folks behind the Venetian really enjoy Polynesian culture - each time they do another Tiki Weekend it gets more authentic. Was sitting with a group including a Polynesian woman... she's like "this is ridiculous, I love it!" Then I was trying to slow down my drinking so I tried the "Radagast's Delight" mocktail and had to ask about that drink because the name was special and it was delicious. I was told the owner's Micronesian neighbor makes a version of this drink at home. So even local Polynesian folks are digging the experience? A local guy who identified as a long time tiki nerd said he's part of a tiki non-profit that raises money to support cultural development in Easter Island. The food truck was run by some guys of south American decent, as well - and the food was super great. I heard they're coming back next time they do this, and maybe more often. I'll...

I really wanted to like it here but it didn't deliver for me. The atmosphere is interesting, like if someone set up a tiki bar in their garage. The sodas were decent, solid concept but nothing groundbreaking. Spiced pineapple juice and seltzer is gonna be good anywhere. The bar snacks were a different story, like dollar store quality food. Not expecting fine dining but I think if that's the food you have to offer you shouldn't be selling food at all. Service was alright but a little off, like they had BOH working FOH. I wouldn't go back - there's nothing here that you can't find better elsewhere in town - but the rest of the building is cool! This is just a review of the soda lounge, not the Soda...