What a cute spot! My friend and I wandered in after dinner at the Seneca for a quick nightcap. We sat at the bar, which, I'm not gonna lie, felt like it was designed for petite youths. If there were a footrest bar at the bottom it might've helped, but as it was, my butt was not fitting on that seat. I basically had one foot on the floor and one on my friend's chair just to keep myself from sliding off. Graceful! We ordered two espresso martinis and a slice of tiramisu. Both were absolutely lovely and the perfect way to end the night. The staff were friendly, fast, and really on top of things. Next time I'd definitely come for a table, and maybe a proper meal, because the dishes coming out of the kitchen looked divine. My only gripe? Seventeen dollars for an espresso martini feels... ambitious for Ridgewood. It's not like this is some high-end cocktail bar, it's an elevated pizzeria. I'm not sure I'd come back specifically for the drinks, but I'd absolutely come back for the food and the service. I took home a second piece of that tiramisu. It was so delicious! read more

Fly me to the Moon (or Velmas)! My boyfriend and I are huge Gordo's fans! Velma is the Italian pizzeria sister restaurant. And even closer to home. We went before a show and were more than excited to hear that it was Sinatra Night! Hell yeah. I love Frank Sinatra. What a perfect date night. The band also played songs from Elvis Costello and the Carpenters. I noticed some older gentleman came to watch them. He drove to the show and ordered a hefty size of creamy pasta. This guy is my hero. We ordered the calamari to start. And Nick had a Birra Morreti and I had the "Diesel" cocktail that had the perfect amaro mix! The cocktail was balanced with sweet, strong and still remained smooth. The mushroom "Funghi" pizza was banging. I loved seeing the whole mushrooms on top. And the pesto marries well with the flavors. We devoured our decadent date night meal while time traveling to a different era with the tunes. Highly recommend having an intimate dinner here or get a little group going. The best was leftover pizza for breakfast! read more

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Velma was a new discovery for my friend and I on a Friday night. We were the first customers in the door and we immediately loved the cozy, eclectic vibe of the restaurant. We decided to sit at the bar (which we love the unique shape of) and the bartenders were very friendly and attentive. For food I tried the gnocchi with a glass of white wine and it was very flavorful and actually a very unique acidic taste that I really enjoyed. The one thing I will say is that this establishment is on the pricier end for food in the neighborhood but overall another Ridgewood hit! read more

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The fellas and I went to Velma and boy it was great. Some of the best Italian food I have had in Ridgewood. Service was on point, not too long of a wait on a Saturday night is always a plus. We got fried mozz, ribs, juniors aromatics, a salad to start. Ribs were probably my favorite. Pizza was great but my favorite food item we got was the Velma parm. I want to eat it everyday. I think this place is really good and you will like it. Ambiance. read more

Velma Tavern - Oh my god so good - American Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

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Yet another amazing opening for Ridgewood, Velma from JR Savage (Gordo's Cantina), is the latest must try spot in the rapidly up and coming area. The space is huge, with a pool table right in the front when you enter, along with lots of booths and a big bar, with another nice dining room in the back with lots of natural light coming in from the patio that will open in the future. They're serving up classic Italian specialties plus a big menu of pizza, both slices and full pies. They just got their gas turned on, so there's a ton more coming too than they had today, like Chicken Parm and a full pasta menu. Today we tried the excellent sandwiches and pizza, plus maybe the best nuggets of all time, simple and perfect. The Grandma Pie was especially incredible, so we can't wait to come back for everything else. read more

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Cuisine: 8 Service: 7 Decor: 8 Value: 7 Overall: 8 Stopped by last week to try this relatively new spot. Definitely need to come back to try other items, but what I did have was quite delicious. First of all, it's a cool looking double semi-circle bar with a pool table up front once you walk in. I wouldn't mind coming one night and plying some 9-Ball while downing some beer and pizza in the future. For this visit, I was able to experience their cheese pizza and it was excellent. The thin crust was crispy with a slight char, sauce was zesty, and it was definitely cheesy - everything you want in a good slice. I really wish I had a group large enough to try the grandma pie or potato pie. Next time for sure. I also tasted two of their sandwiches. The Jimmy was amazing, especially with the thinly sliced tomatoes and flavorful roasted peppers enhancing a juicy piece of chicken. Definitely as for the bread to be toasted for that extra textural crunch. I like the Roast Pork too, with the broccoli rabe, but it was a little dry for me. All in all, a great meal and a nice atmosphere. It won't be long before I return to enjoy more of their offerings. read more

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2 & 1/2...I totally get that spots like this can totally be "not about the food" and totally about the scene and atmosphere, but I would argue even under those perimeters the food should be at least solid. Unfortunately in this case that floor is shattered and the food quality falls down into sub-par territory. Rigatoni Alfredo, given with the on trend addition of kale was extremely pasty in consistency and almost completely flavorless. Lumache in a supposedly "spicy" vodka sauce was not only not at all spicy but the most overarching flavor and consistency profile was watery. In both cases the pasta was well past al dente. Pizza is thicker than usual for NY style and likewise middling in quality, the type that might be found at a below average late night pizzeria that could rank as "decent if you are drunk". Perhaps that pizza will do just the trick for many here as, admirably it's one of the few establishments of this type I can think of that offers pizza by the slice, crucially often in combination with shots and drink during the happy hour. Also the place has some interesting (if perhaps overpriced) cocktails including a unique twist on an espresso martini that sort of takes on the look and features of an iced tea. Plus the decor and corresponding vibes are pretty top notch, with the big vibrant, colorful and nostalgically decorated space with the impressive pool table at the center of the room and vintage video games, seems like a fun place to take a group with kids. Tis a pity about the food though.... read more

Really solid pizza. I wasn't as into the salad I got. I didn't see that you could buy individual slices, so my friend and I ordered a whole pizza and took all the leftovers home. Service was honestly excellent. Everyone was so nice. Ambiance was visually great, but oddly hard to find a seat because there actually aren't that many seats and it was super loud on a Thursday night because a live band was playing. read more

Velma Tavern - Pizza - American Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

Top notch. Good people, good food. Loved everything on the menu every time I've been. Good happy hour.

I came here on a Friday night at 7 o'clock for dinner and it was pretty empty which was great. I sat at the bar since that takes up most of the space. they have a few tables of four and one table of two, and since I was just meeting one friend. I felt weird taking up a large table, so the bar seating is great, it has a back so it's pretty comfortable. The bartender was really nice and helpful. I got a lime Ricky with gin from the happy hour menu and a calamari which came out pretty quickly. It was pretty good and a decent portion for the price but it could've been a little bit more. my friend got the Velma special pie and I got the spicy vodka pasta dish. It wasn't that spicy which was good. The pasta was cooked al dente which was perfect. The Velma slice was good it has jalapeños but it's also not spicy at all. read more

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This was one fantastic meal. I can't say enough about the hospitality and welcoming service. The food was top notch. We loved the Shrimp Oreganata. The sauce was to die for and o wished I had more bread to dip. The Chicken Milanese was perfect. I generally am leary when thigh meat is used, but it worked this time. It had the texture of white meat and was fried perfectly. The pizza was the best part. It's old school NYC style pizza cooked in a gas oven with a more updated modern twist. The crust was perfect and crispy. It was the right ratio of cheese to sauce. We can't wait to go back read more

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This is some of the best food I've ever had, let alone Italian. Decided to drop in since this place is a few blocks from my apt. I am so glad I did. I had one of their specials for the day which was the Velma Chicken Parm, The best take on chicken parm with their vodka sauce was to die for. Don't even get me started on how fresh the pasta tasted. The service was great and relaxing vibe for a Sunday night. Wow wow wow. read more

Velma Tavern - American Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

Pizza = good. Skip everything else. We got 3 appetizers. The calamari was overcooked and under-seasoned. The meatballs were chewy and tasteless (how do you screw up a meatball?!). The Junior's Aromatics came with good focaccia, sourdough, and oil, but the marinated Navy Beans were undercooked and hard. The good news is the pizza was good. In fact, the sauce on the pizza was much better than the sauce that came with the meatballs (maybe they're the same but, to us, one tasted better). Oh, and the house red wine was very good. I think they should just be a pizzeria. If you notice, the 5-star reviews are for the pizza and sandwiches, not the dinners & apps. read more

The pizza's good. That's priority number one. Beyond that, it's great if you navigate the menu correctly, less so if you get too adventurous. read more

I really want to like this place. I have eaten here twice. This is an expensive restaurant disguised as a moderately priced one. Velma, what are you? Upon sitting down at the bar, you are given a total of *four* menus - drinks, daily specials, bar food menu, and the regular food menu. It's now your job to mix and match the items on this spread to build a meal that is not too much money or too much food or too little food. Good luck. My major issue at Velma is that it is virtually impossible for a single person to sit down at the bar and have dinner paying less than ~$32 dollars per person, pre tax/tip, on food alone which is at odds with the environment and the actual food being provided. The food itself is good but nothing about it is elevated that would make me chose Velma over another restaurant at the same price point. The restaurant seems to make a point of being unfussy or unfancy and yet wants the fancy dollar. Let's say you're in the mood for chicken parmagiana and a pasta, as one going to a "casual" Italian restaurant might be. At Velma, there are no pasta sides so your choice here is to order the chicken parmagiana ($27 - served with nothing but the chicken) and a pasta ($16-$18). This is $44. Consider that this city is a sea of casual yet well-loved Italian restaurants where the same meal and portion can be ordered for literally half the price (sometimes less). Something is wrong here. Let's now imagine you would just like a plate of pasta for dinner. At Velma, the pasta ($16-18) portion is less than a meal and more than a snack. There is no up-charge to add a protein to your pasta, something one might expect at a similarly priced restaurant for $5-$7 in order to make a meal out of the pasta. So if you want to have pasta for your meal, you will need to order an additional item. Velma knows this - and they have priced their menu accordingly to ensure you're hitting that mark of $30+ on food alone. The appetizer options are also all heavy foods - nothing at all I want to pair with a pasta. Where is something delicate that I can amuse my bouche with? Sorry but I do not want nugs or a slice of pizza to round out my pasta meal. I would be happy to pay these prices but this is a pizza and red sauce joint. There is no squid ink pasta, there is no burrata, there is no whole fish, no fresh from the marget ingredients, no interesting spins on old favorites. You cannot price one like it is the other. Velma, are you Joe's on Forest - an old school restaurant with ancient recipes of decent food and zero frills? Are you Saraghina in Bed-Stuy that serves all the same categories of items as you but at a lower price point, a more concise menu, and portions that make sense? Or are you Aita in Clinton Hill with an elevated and more expensive "New Italian" menu with food quality to match? You have used elements from each of these concepts but the sum total is one in which the customer is left with less than they would hope for. The food is good. The martini is fantastic. I'll wait a few months but I will be back to try again. PS - I like Gordo's! Big plates of yummy casual food. Why are the menus so epically different? An Italian Gordo's would crush. read more

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very fun. The server could have been a little more attentive, but he was welcoming.

I really wanted to like this place, but after the last few visits I think I'll stay away. This place used to be pretty good, but lately the food has been subpar. Tonight was definitely my last time eating here. There was sand in our salad that hurt our teeth and tasted gross. It seemed like they hadn't washed the fennel and forgot the dressing. Also the cod pasta was WAY too salty and tasted old. Considering the price, they should really step up their game. There has been a noticeable decline in quality over the last year. I'm sad because I was excited to have a spot so close to where we live. Bummer. read more

Good, basic but very delicious pizza. Sort of a midwestern pizza bar vibe which is very cool. Red cups, full bar, chill vibes. I'll be back for a beer and sandwich at the bar but I probably won't attempt to order out again: ring ring "Hello Velma" "Hi can I place an order for pick up?" "Definitely" "Great, can I get the Velma special but could you hold the pepperoni on one side?" "Uh I don't think we do substitutions like that" "It's not a sub, you just give me less pepperoni for the same price" "I know. Yeah like I said, we don't do that" "Ok then. goodbye" click ‍ read more

I really liked Velma. Nice neighborhood spot for Italian food, also a full bar inside. It's a mix between a bar and restaurant. People were friendly and they had a very good chicken parm. Good Italian American food the area was missing. read more

The pizza SLAPS. $4 house lager. Salad on special was so good. Great vibe inside. Music choice was awesome. Love the shape of the bar as well, very unique. Dining room is in the back. Lots of cool decor to look at. Projector on the wall. Very welcoming staff. A do not miss spot! read more

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Love this place! Our waiter/bartender Sean was genuinely nice and very helpful. The food was great and the ambiance was nice bc of all the character it has plus the music was very chill. I would definitely recommend this place 10/10. read more

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Food was really good and the place has a cozy, old shop vibe. Portions are pretty generous so it's good to share or take home.

2 stars for the wedge salad only. Was there with a friend and we got the chicken francese - subpar and overpriced - and the steak - I'm sorry to say worst I ever had eating out. Fingerling potatoes were ok, basic and the drinks were little cans for $16, just bad. Paid $145 for all these and just felt tricked. One and done. read more

stopped in on the earlier side and there was some people. I got a spot on the bar and had a great snack. always love a good meal with a good vibe.. ill be back!!!! read more

Awesome new restaurant here in Ridgewood. Really cool bar old school pizza experience with Tommy guns on the wall and pool table. Food is delicious Italian classics. read more

I enjoyed my time there, great service, and the pizza was amazing, I loved the Grandma one. I highly recommend this place. read more

Velma Tavern - American Near Me - Ridgewood, New York

So we decided to pick a brand new place after shopping for uniforms. Looked Velma on Yelp and decided to try it out. First impressions when we arrived were a hipster-ish bar vibe. We said ok, let's give it a chance. We sat at a booth where the table was just about a foot too short all around. Were greeted warmly by the bartender/waiter. The place was pretty much empty, except for a couple having drinks (but it was 5pm, so expected in a bar). We chose some appetizers (calamari and fried mozzarella). The calamari was perfectly cooked and served with some marinara that could have been way better if the chef was not obsessed with pecorino Romano. For the uninitiated, pecorino cheese is a pungent and strong cheese that can enhance or completely overpower a dish. The marinara had no discernible tomato flavor because of the cheese. My son ordered a burger, my daughter and wife the pork chop with fingerling potatoes and a side of fries, and I ordered a chicken Caesar salad. The burger came, and it was piping hot, juicy, and the fries, battered and crispy. My son really enjoyed it. The fingerling potatoes were cooked nicely. You could taste the rosemary and olive oil they were cooked in. The Porkchops were well seasoned and extremely juicy and tender, with no need for a steak knife. The salad, on the other hand, was a disappointing blasphemous version of a Caesar salad. Although the chicken was very good, the salad itself was a salty, pungent disaster. It was completely enveloped in Pecorino Romano and topped with two anchovies from a can. I tried, and I really tried to eat it, but I ate the chicken and could not damage my heart with that salty mess of romaine. After our meal and another bottle of water, we got a tiramisu and vanilla gelato for dessert. The gelato was good and refreshing with little vanilla bean specks throughout. The tiramisu was a shot of espresso straight through your soul. Good but a bit overpowering. But it definitely took the taste of pecorino from my tongue. Overall, it was a good meal but way too overpriced. Over $200 for 4 with tax and tip is pretty much double what we usually spend to go out. Is Velma worth a try again, maybe. But they have to take it easy with that f'n Pecorino. If we're around again, we'll try the pizza, but if they put that pecorino on it, we definitely won't be back. read more

These square pies are some of the best pies I've ever had and hands down best in the area. They also have some incredible martinis. I loved the relaxed vibe of the place and pricing was great especially given the quality ingredients. read more

Great food and drink . Great place to hang out with friends or family . Service is top notch. Highly recommended..