Venere Restaurant Westbury NY — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

It is really killing me to write this review. My husband and I have been going to Venere for many, many years; we have a favorite table when it’s just the two of us, we have a different favorite table when we’re in a group, we cater from them for parties and funerals, and we refer out-of-towners there, knowing they won’t be disappointed with the meal. Sometimes we just get take-out and enjoy it at home; it’s our “GO TO” place. On Wednesday, December 4, I was delighted to receive an e-mail that stated “Free Dinner Today” in the subject line. I called my husband to “check the menu, it’s a Venere night!” He looked at the e-mail and realized it said “Tuesday” even though the email was DELIVERED on WEDNESDAY. My husband called the restaurant to ask if the offer would be honored and was told: “No, that was a mistake, it was for Tuesday and only valid yesterday, but that’s the SECOND call I got today.”

I decided to send a letter to the restaurant because the email was from a service and not their personal email. I explained the situation and wrote: “How very out of character for Venere! The point I want to make is that this was obviously a mistake sent out by your email company and should have been honored by your restaurant to anyone who called on this offer”.

My husband and I were stunned to receive a return phone call from Frank, one of Angelo’s sons, on December 13. He was obviously annoyed as he referred to the letter and said, “This is out of my hands, I don’t know what you expect from me; I can’t control the internet!” I was shocked and said, “You mean you won’t honor the offer for a complimentary meal?” And he answered “Why would I? I sent out 5,000 emails and there were only 2 problems, I’m not responsible for that!” I said “You’re serious? After all my years as a loyal customer you won’t comp ONE MEAL?!?!” and he said, “No. There’s NOTHING I can do!” (He didn’t even apologize for the error!!!) As my husband said, he shouldn’t have called at all; he should have just ignored the letter instead of getting heated over the phone; that was adding insult to injury. The food is great, but after all these years they receive a failing grade for customer service and public relations. We will never return, nor will we ever refer anyone else...

I recently came here to eat with my husband on a weekday in the afternoon. We are black and brown people, respectively. The restaurant was COMPLETELY empty with the exception of several staff members. We were greeted with a hello, very nonchalantly and seemingly unwittingly. We were then directed to be seated all the way in the back of the empty restaurant. I asked if we could sit a little closer to the front and pointed at a specific table. The male staff members said no to that table but we could sit at the adjacent table (such that we were not visible unless the staff came around the corner to see us). I asked if the table we could not sit at was reserved, he said yes (although all tables were empty and there was no sign on any table indicating they were reserved). We ordered our food and stayed for about 45 minutes. Only two other white patrons came to the restaurant and they were seated in the front of the restaurant and greeted with a cheerful spirit. On our way out, the entire staff stared at us and one of them said “thanks.” The entire atmosphere was very unsettling, and I really wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I believe we were being treated differently because of our race. We will NEVER eat here again. We will gladly take our money to where it is wanted. I guess color matters more than money,...

The place is great and so the food and service. Unfortunately, we found a hair on the pasta we ordered as a take out.

I got very disappointed and did not expect it from this place. It was a blonde/light hair of medium length.

In the past, I worked for 12 years in restaurants and maybe they are letting the hostess close the take out containers, maybe the cooks are not wearing hats, but this is an issue that gets avoided when good hygienic practices are put into place.

Now, being that I was for so long in this field, I know that once in a blue moon, it can happen. The scoop was that when we went to open the leftover from 2 nights before, we found a hair again!

What a bummer. And to say I loved this place so much but finding a hair twice, not sure about them no more. Sad and quite disgusting.

To the owner: we did not call to complain because we are not after a refund or exchange, but my sincere suggestion to you is: let anyone wear a hat if they are going to be near the food.

I voted it 4 stars because in no way I wish to stain your reputation but change your rules because next time someone else won't be so forgiving when finding a hair into...