Venice — Restaurant in Denver

Nestled in the heart of Denver right by Union Station, Venice Ristorante & Wine Bar awaits to transport your palate to the romantic canals of Venice.

We arrived at the restaurant and were seated in the main dining room. The aesthetic was charming & intimate with murals of Venice, Italy on the walls, low lighting, & dark woods. The service at the restaurant was impeccable. From the moment we set foot inside, the Venice staff greeted us with beaming smiles and genuine warmth. Manager, Paco and our server, Luis provided an exceptional dining experience and expertly guided us through the menu. It was clear that they were well-versed in each dish and were genuinely passionate about sharing their knowledge. Their professionalism was matched by engaging demeanors that created an inviting and hospitable ambiance throughout the restaurant.

For cocktails I had the Italian Manhattan made with Sagamore 8yr Rye Whiskey, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, Cynar, & Angostura Bitters. The Manhattan was a sophisticated cocktail; with each sip, the warmth of the rye whiskey & vermouth washed over my palate.

The Veal Meatballs were made with garlic, eggs, gorgonzola, parmesan cheese, Arrabiata sauce, pancetta and grilled garlic bread. The Veal Meatballs were a comforting Italian dish - piping hot, incredibly tender & juicy.

The Insalata di Spinaci was made with baby spinach, walnuts, pears, cucumber, cheese crumbles, & raspberry vinaigrette. The salad was plated beautifully and looked like a crown. The cucumbers held everything together while the baby spinach and greens were adorned with nuts, cheese & dark vinaigrette.

Throughout the meal, the service maintained pristine standards. Each course was brought to the table with a well-timed grace, allowing us to savor the previous course while anticipating the next. Empty plates were promptly cleared, and utensils were replaced, ensuring a seamless progression from appetizers to main courses.

The Rigatoni con Salsiccia was made with short tube pasta tossed with Italian sausage, caramelized onions, button mushrooms, and marinara sauce, & finished with a touch of cream. This classic Italian dish was hearty, filling, & packed with great flavor. The al dente pasta was generously coated in creamy sauce and the sausage added spice. Paired with the Rigatoni, I had a Tuscan Blend - the Casanova di Neri Irrosso 2020. This red wine was full-bodied with a juicy cherry finish.

The Risotto ai Frutti di Mare was made with shrimp, mussels, clams, and saffron. The saffron turned the rice a beautiful gold while the seafood sat atop. The risotto was velvety and luxurious in texture and coated the tender shrimp, mussels, and clams with each bite. Paired with the Risotto, I had the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige. This dry white wine had an appealing flavor of golden apples.

The Rack of Lamb was served atop potatoes. The Rack of Lamb was gorgeous in presentation & taste - the meat was outrageously succulent.

The Sea Bass was served with artichoke hearts, fresh herbs & vegetables. The delicate taste of the sea bass paired well with the sharp, fresh taste from the marinated artichokes.

For dessert we had White Chocolate Mousse. The dessert was lovely & served in a martini glass. The mousse was light and airy & topped a tangy fruit layer of raspberry puree.

What a meal! Dining at Venice Ristorante was an experience that left us not only satisfied with the incredible food, but also so appreciative of the dedicated individuals who made the evening...

Our experience at Venice left much to wish for, unfortunately. The short version: the food was great, but the service was mediocre.

Coming to Venice, we walked in with a certain set of expectations. That's what it usually comes down to: can the business meet or exceed their guests' expectations.

Let's start with the postive. The food here is incredible. From the appetizers to the entrees to the desserts, Venice does an incredible job. I had the veal and my wife went for the seafood dish. Both were splendid. Venice definitely showed their best side when it comes to the meal.

The service was unfortunately not as good as other places of this caliber. It took a while before our server came, he wasn't super helpful with the wine list (more on that momentarily), and in the latter half of our meal, we had a hard time tracking him down to replenishing our wines and waters. I ended up eating my entree without wine, as he wasn't around to take my order or deliver the iPad wine list. The service wasn't as attentive as we'd expect from a restaurant like this.

The wine list ... I'm a bit split on this one. The selection is incredible. Nobody would be able to argue that. However, the task of selecting a wine from the list with truly minimal information from the iPads they provide makes the task a bit daunting for probably most people. It would be nice if the wines could be labeled with some basic characteristics, such as sweetness, acidity, tannins, and perhaps some short notes on the flavor profile. We ended up with a couple of glasses of good wine to start with, but as soon as we wanted to order another glass, it took at least 10 minutes for the iPad to be tracked down again. This part of our experience felt a bit awkward.

In conclusion, I think our experience could have at least met expectations if the service would have been a bit better, more attentive, and more helpful. Even though the food and the wine were great, I'm sorry to say that we're not planning on returning. Denver has many other choices, many others where the service matches the price you pay and the expectation that go...

Let me start by saying I have spent thousands of dollars at this restaurant over the years. The food, wine, and waiters are all great, but the folks at the host stand are horrible. We once had a Christmas Eve reservation made a month in advance and they tried to sit us at a bar high-top. When we asked for a regular table, eyes were rolled before we were ultimately seated at a regular table (though adjacent to the bathroom and kitchen), but we didn't complain.

This weekend, I made a reservation for the patio. Upon arrival, the entire patio (on both 17th and Wynkoop sides) was completely open - no one was seated outside. I went to park the car while my wife checked in for the reservation. My wife was told that we couldn't sit on the patio and had to sit in the tent they sat up in the street because the patio tables were reserved (even though we had a reservation). She clarified that we had a patio reservation, the host confirmed that reservation, but stated that we could not sit there because others made reservations before ours was made. I was parking the car nearby when this occurred and my wife told the host that she was going to wait outside for a few minutes to get my input on the tent seating. When I arrived a few minutes later and approached the host stand, I was told the same thing, that we couldn't sit on the entirely open patio. I politely asked why it matters when a reservation was made if we were the first to timely arrive. Frustrated, she proceeded to tell me "I actually thought you left so I gave someone else your reservation", even though my wife told her two minutes before that she was going to wait outside for me and to hold our reservation.

We left and our $600 that night was spent at Urban Farmer instead with excellent service and food. An hour and a half later after our dinner, we walked back to Union Station and passed Venice -- the outdoor patio was still mostly open. Such a shame Venice lost my future business. They seem to have a major issue with courtesy if you are not an...