Our Family went to Venuti's with our Dad for brunch. Had 2 pm reservations. After we got our first plate of food we were asked if we were going to have any more from the omelette or meat stations because they wanted to close them down. We hurried to eat our first plate so we could go to those stations before they closed. No sooner did we come back they asked if we were done with the main course stations for they wanted to close them now. Again we rushed through our food so we can go to the buffet again. This then happens third time when they asked if we are done the the sweets for the wanted to close them down. For a nice relaxing afternoon brunch all we were rushed through our meal. Our Father, who is 90, asked for a container for the food he could not enjoy at the restaurant. He was told by a staff member they couldn't put it in a container but we could once he brought a container to our table. When they gave us the container and we opened it the manager came over and started removing the food from our table and very loudly told us she saw wait we were doing and that we could not take that food. But then turned around and said we can take the bread and deserts. Seeing our Father was very embarrassed we said no. Once we walked our Father to his ride I went back in to tell the Manager our experience. She had not customer service manners at all. Instead she was very confrontational. She was more concerned about the container and us taking our Father's half eaten food then our experience. Not wanting to make a bigger scene than she already started I left. Their management staff needs basic customer service lessons. They need to first listen the the customer before speaking and passing judgment. The food maybe good but the way the staff and Management treats their customers spoils the food and make you loose your appetite. Now I understand why in a dining room that sits over 300 there were only 6 people there. read more

This review is specifically based on a wedding reception that I attended at Venuti's. It seems that Venuti's has two banquet spaces, because there were two weddings on the Saturday in which I was here. The two weddings were very separated, and we were not disturbed by the other wedding reception. The cocktail area was very small for the size of the wedding (approximately 200 people). All of the attendees bottle-necked near the bar (we only had one bartender working the cocktail hour), and the passed hors d'oeuvres did not circulate to everyone during this time. The reception area was a good sized space, and set up with tables surrounding the dance floor. Another bar opened during the reception, so it not was as much of an issue getting drinks. However, the reason for the low review is primarily for the food. It was absolutely horrendous. We were served a salad, pasta, and had a choice of chicken, steak, or vegetarian for our meals. Everything was dry, poorly flavored, and tasted as if it had been microwaved before coming out. I could not eat the meat, because it was so poorly cooked, dry, and stringy. Dinner ended with most of my table still hungry, because very few of us could actually stomach to eat the food. The rest of the reception was sub-par. The DJ was intoxicated (not sure if the DJ is brought in through Venuti's or was an outside hire). It was a fairly typical wedding reception with low-quality food. I hope to not have to return to this venue for another wedding. read more

Solid buffet! Very unique and good.

The food was amazing. The service was top notch. Our waitress was the best waitress we've ever had. I really enjoyed this place. The buffet food was great-- from pasta to chicken and fish. Their Sunday buffet is around $20-$25 for one. Overall, great experience! read more

Venuti's - Buffet Food - Italian Near Me - Addison, Illinois

I actually came here as a wedding guest. Just wanted to mention the venue is beautiful and the dinner served was great - their eggplant is delicious! read more

Our first visit this past Saturday evening. Great ambiance, excellent food and very warm and friendly service. Thank you. We will be back.

This was a beautiful location with good service; it wasn't cheesy at all, it was elegant and well organized.

Could not wait to stop in at Venuti's on the recommendation of good friend and her family. Was not happy with the food and our server seemed to be in a hurry to finish as we where not having drinks or dessert. My order of Veal Piccata was a complete let down the sauce was not what I have had before. One of the other party of five order a side of angel hair pasta and it was terrible it came with sauce and it was mush, she was not asked if she wanted it sauced or plain to go with the eggplant. We will all think about returning for another meal. read more

Best clams I've had in years they are good size very flavorful with a nice buttery lemon sauce I came from out of town but didn't want to leave without having some. there is a lunch buffet that looks delicious for only 16.99 monday Thru Friday will go back before I leave town read more

Attended a wedding reception for 200 plus people here. They managed passed appetizers smoothly and the bar lines were quick. The dinner, considering the large crowd, was good and service was steady. The venue has a nice outdoor patio adjoining the banquet hall. There was another wedding happening at the same time and we didn't even notice them. Well coordinated place with plenty of parking, including free valet. read more

Some places have that "It Factor", and this place has "It"! Whether its the sauce on my chicken fracese, or the homemade bread, which bothers phenomenal!!! Its a five star meal on a 3.5 star price. Over delivered! And I dont say that often. read more

This place is amazing!!!! If you want to feel like family this is where you should go! All of their dishes are homemade and delicious. The atmosphere is breathtaking and warm. The staff is not only nice, but fun! The owners are always there making sure you feel like a part of the family. We have plenty of our family party's here and plan on many more in the future. Not to mention if your looking for love music and entertainment their V Lounge is out of this world! Ten stars if I could.. read more

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We went to the restaurant for my daughter's birthday. The appetizers were kinda lame - that is to say that they were good, but not up to the standard that I'd expect for this caliber of a restaurant. On the other hand, they had great Steak and Chicken entrees. The steak was awesome. The chicken (Vesuvio) was great as well. Our attendant was quite good, even though we ended up eating in the bar area because we screwed up our reservation. In short, I would definitely go there again. If they had Blue Moon on Tap (sorry, I'm not italian and don't do wine), it would be that much more attractive for me. read more

I went there last night. My server was Krystina and she was prompt, professional, kind and most of all kept our group alive. You didn't have to ask her for refills they just kept coming. The food was amazing and was very delicious. Kudos to the chef for his awesome culinary skills. Kudos to Krystina our server for making the evening an enjoyable one. read more

Came here for a wedding and I must say, the place is beautiful!! Both the ceremony and the reception were held here. The food served was also delicious! I loved that we were given the option to choose our dinner at the table rather then choose from the invitation. The food came freshly cooked which was even better! Open bar at this wedding and the bartenders were awesome! My favorite part of the night was the coffee served!!! I had about 4 cups of that coffee, black! It was so delicious I wish I could've have taken and entire carafe home! Great venue for a reception or any type of party!! read more

We had a celebration in their banquet hall. The contact with Ciara was wonderful. She got back to us in a timely manner and was accommodating of our needs. On the night of the celebration, the service was great, the food was fantastic and the decor was great. We we're so impressed with how attentive the staff was and making sure the night went off without a hitch. read more

best wedding venue ever! Ciara is amazing to work with and the food does not disappoint!

My husband and I just had our wedding last weekend. It was everything we ever dreamed of! Especially during covid Venuti's was very accommodating. Highly recommend!!! We would do it all over! Karen is simply amazing!! read more

Venuti's - Italian Near Me - Addison, Illinois

Matt, the bartender was accommodating Crab cake = terrible Servers gossiping on the floor and drinking their water? Not acceptable for the prices..,. A certain level of decorum is expected. Truly - their service level for the prices charged and the food quality, not worth it. Your bill prob goes towards the cost of this building, and the freezing temp of the bar? No thanks - go to Jameson's. I'm highly disappointed in everything other than Matt and that's just cuz he was a nice guy. This place sucks read more

Food was terrible! Clams and calamari were rubbery! My brother didn't like his meal (veal which was also rubbery) and instead of the owner walking over and apologizing and suggesting something else, like a classy owner would do, he charged him. When it was brought to owners attention he said he tasted it and it was fine. I would not eat here! Bad food bad service! And they don't even serve real coffee it's concentrated. I will never go there again! read more

If I could give this restaurant 10 starts I would. In the never ending quest to find great Italian food which I've been searching for years to find, I finally found the champ. There is plenty of okay Italian food out there but great has eluded me until I found venuti's. There was not one single thing that was not stellar. The bread was fresh and amazing. The soup and salad which at every other restaurant is usually not a shining star was delicious at venuti's. Let that sink in for a minute... Delicious salad, that's pretty hard to do. The pasta is home made and the sauces are bursting with flavor. The portions are huge! The dining room is elegant and warm and the building looks like a palace from the outside. Make reservations or otherwise you'll be waiting because clearly this gem is no secret. The general manager Frank cares about his patrons and stopped by several times to make sure we were happy. He shared his passion for the food and the secret ingredient that makes the sauce heavenly, and do you know why he is not afraid to share that secret... Because Venuti's can't be beaten, it's the best. I'm going to rent a chair in the dining room because I'm going to start living there. read more

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Overpriced Olive Garden. We waited an hour and 40 minutes to receive our food. We ordered appetizers that never came. The food was lesser quality than Olive Garden. Our waitress disappeared for well over an hour. Then by the end we were told we could not split our check at all which forced one person to pay the entire bill. read more

***Note:: V-lounge Review*** I came to Venuti's V-Lounge a couple months ago to celebrate my close friends' 2nd anniversary with them over drinks ((2nd note: They had their wedding at Venuti's 2 years ago and it was gorgeous - Venuti's did a knock-out job)). ::The Scene:: Old, creepy Italian men, cougars, & a little Jersey Shore. By 11pm the place was packed like a sardine can. The lounge is fairly small, but we were fortunate enough to get a couple tables for the 6 of us. Thank goodness because being in the mix of everything was flat out annoying. You had some people hanging at tables drinking, club rats dancing to Julian Jumpin Perez or whoever, cougars circling (literally) the bar knocking into people while trollin' for young bucks, and pervy old dudes hitting on girls who could pass as their daughter. Just a regular old night in Addison I guess. ::The food & drinks:: Food wasn't bad. We order melon and prosciutto and fried calamari. Both were good. The prosciutto was salty and meaty....just how I like it wrapped around sweet melon. The drinks were eh. My dirty martinis had way more olive juice than they should, which means the bar tender was skimping on the booze. Not cool. Between the crappy music, mixed bag of a crowd, and weak-ass expensive drinks, I'm not sure I will be hitting up the V-Lounge at Venuti's. It's just not my scene...at least not for another 10-15 years. read more

Came for dinner on a Tuesday with my cousin. This is her favourite Italian restaurant in Chicago. She's in DesPlaines so it's a good 40 minutes from home. I wasn't disappointed. Our server was excellent. Just the right amount of attention without being a PITA. Bus boy was great too. We had the arancini and bruschetta for appetizer. I wasn't expecting one big rice ball, but it was very good. Bruschetta was heavy on the toppings. Yay! My veal picatta was fab. Tender and full of flavour. Nice amount of capers and olives. Her chicken with lemon looked like a good second choice. A glass of white was very reasonable. We were too full for dessert. She said the cannoli is to die for. I have to mention that the bread is so worth the carbs! I love that a dish of fresh Parmesan is served with. Well done read more

I HATE the holidays but there are few things I love more than being a date to someone else's company holiday party. ...and I say, "someone else's" because you get a little more wiggle room to go wild then at your own, ya know? So, my Mel's work got one of the banquet rooms and hired a DJ to rock out and celebrate the year coming to an end. The service was phenom, the bartender was super sexy and she knew how to sling some drinks, the food was pretty darn good too. Once the party wrapped up and the banquet room was closed out, we headed our way over to the restaurants bar area to dance it up with the rest of the old Italian men and cougars... it was pretty fun but the bar service was not as great as the banquet service. Also, the parking lot here is sooo far! Just valet your car and get it over with. You won't regret it when you're toasted (as a passenger, that is) in your toasty car and everyone else is freezing their buns off. read more

Service is a joke. Waitresses don't care. Bartenders have a fragile mindset. You try to complain you get thrown out? You honestly get better service at your local McDonald's. Waitresses would rather watch you die of thirst and hunger than serve you. You try to serve yourself and you get denied. You try to complain you get thrown out into the cold because the management can't take any criticism. When you do get food it could actually kill you because again the waitresses do not care that you have allergies. Plain and simple, if you plan to host an event here your guests will get assaulted and ignored. read more

so I went with some friends of mine on a friday night. arrive there around 8pm and went into the bar area. Place was only 10% occupied. We sat down at a table where 5 tables were empty in a row. Then the blondie comes around and says "that table is reserved" even though there were a string of available empty tables from the moment we sat down to the moment we left. Despite the building's stunning interior, this place is the absolute SH*T when it comes to service and food. I rather go to McDonalds then eat their watery spinach dip and soft bruschetta. We went cuz Stevie B. and George Lamond was performing. First and last time I'll be eating there. read more

Why is the bartender here always pissed off? I've been here 5~6x and she's always got an attitude. Why? A puzzlement. Just looking for a friendly local place and she consistently makes it tough to pick here.... Sad, stupid. Revisit on 19 June: Astounding indifference from the same bartender. Took my drink order and served it. Offered a menu and then zero contact for 30 minutes in a 30% filled bar. No thanks. Third time's the charm. Never again. There are far too many places who appreciate your business. Scratch Venuti from my list. Apparently this bartender has pics of someone to hold her job. Sad. read more

I used to love this restaurant...until they sold out to the Man! They moved locations to a much bigger more modern place. The address is now: 2251 N. Lake St. Addison, IL 60101. Since the move, the prices went up drastically and the portion sizes went down drastically. The food itself is very good, but they no longer have Pizza in the restaurant. It went from a nice moderate family place to a wanna be upscale Italian. Good luck on the venture...but you shouldn't have fixed what was never really broken. read more

My husband and I had our wedding reception here in June 2008. The management here is exceptionally accomodating and personable. We particularly liked their unique menu and technique for serving such a large group - they sold us on the idea that the food would be fresh and nothing like banquet food - and they DEFINITELY delivered on that promise. I might be biased because it was my wedding, but I can say without a doubt that it was the BEST wedding food I have ever had. It was restaurant-fresh, quality food in a banquet environment. Salad was fresh and not your typical boring garden salad; soup was HOT and served tableside right out of the pot; pasta tasted just like it does at the restaurant (served tableside from the pot as well); beef dishes were cooked to order to each guest's liking. I could go on and on... My only disappointment was that the banguet manager, who we had worked with throughout our entire planning process (and who said he would be personally hosting our event), was not present on our wedding day! A man who we had never met was coordinating our reception. However - food was still excellent, service was impeccable. We are very pleased with Venuti's and dine at their restaurant often! read more

Upsides: Beautiful venue with a reasonable price. Downside: Terrible staff. If I were to have my wedding over again, I would look for another venue. My husband and I got married at Venuti's about a month ago. First of all, the venue is gorgeous and was one of the most reasonably priced venue's. Our wedding coordinator there was also very nice and accommodating for us, although no one followed up with my husband and me after our wedding. As for downsides, unfortunately they outdo the good-sides. if you're looking for a venue with a kind, knowledgeable staff, look elsewhere. The staff was shockingly rude, especially for all that you're putting into the venue financially. On our wedding day, we asked our server if we could have a bottle of Riesling. She had no idea what that was, and we told her it was wine. She then left for a few minutes to 'ask the bartender', came back and said that Venuti's didn't have any Rieslings... I was like.... really? At an Italian restaurant they don't have one of the most common white wines? My husband went and asked the manager, who than assured us that they had a bottle. The server then delivered it, slammed it down on the table, said here's your wine, and walked away.... In addition, expect the same if not worse attitude from the bar tenders if you have your wedding at Venuti's. They didn't know how to make a plethora of drinks, had bad attitudes with our guests, and over served guests (even when myself or another guest said "hey this person has had too much, please don't over serve them"). We had guests that were horribly drunk and the bartenders still served them, even when I told them not to. It was terrible. For our wedding, we were told that our ceremony room would seat 100. The day of, the staff only put about 70-75 chairs in the ceremony room. When my husband asked if more chairs could be brought in, he was welcomed with a rude attitude from the prepper. It just was an overall horrible experience with their staff. Overall, this venue is beautiful, well priced, and horribly staffed. UPDATE: After I posted this, a staff member from Venuti's wrote a comment asking to call them.. When I asked for the phone number that they would like me to call, I never got a response. read more

Came here for a girlfriend's birthday evening and Girl's Night Out. There were 8 of us and we were told that we'd have a table ready for us in the bar area. I was the 2nd of us to arrive and when I met one of the gals, she was told that we did not have a table reserved--even though one of our friends had double checked the confirmation. Luckily (or oddly?) the bar area was 1/4 full so the gal that arrived first was able to snag a table large enough for our group. After that initial hiccup things ran smoothly. Service was very friendly and helpful. Drinks came out quickly and when I asked about any special mocktails they could make, one of the bartenders came to our table and suggested some things she could make for me. We shared a few appetizers and they were all very tasty. Grilled calamari--fresh, well-made, and not overdone. The spinach artichoke dip--very creamy and much thicker than I've seen at other places and it had a peppery kick/spice. The Arancini--what's not to love about a fried cheesy rice ball--delicious! The bar space is beautiful. I love the ceiliing--the center of which twinkles with star lights. Since the bar area is in the shape of a round, it was like I was in the Planetarium gazing up at the star ceiling. They have different entertainments nights like Salsa nights or nights when a popular DJ will spin. read more

I came here for a conference lunch and was disappointed in the food. We had an option of Spinach Lasagna or Chicken Marsala. As soon as they took all the orders, they said that they were "out" of the lasagna. So any vegetarians in the crowd were left with no other option. The spinach, walnut salad was ok - some of spinach looked a little old. The chocolate pudding dessert looked pretty nasty too. They should work on their food options. The place itself was decorated nicely with different banquet rooms that you could rent out. It was kind of strange that we were the only ones renting out one of the rooms but it was a week day - maybe it's busier on the weekends. I couldn't imagine having a wedding here - the decor, although nice is kind of cheesy with an Italian type theme throughout and fake stucco/bricks on the wall with huge murals of the Italian countryside. I guess it's just not my thing. read more

Good food. Above average though pricy. Terrible service. My second time there. Server did not mention the specials, I had to ask. Four times for a refill on my water. Really? Long wait after getting the bill before my card was taken. Wait help boisterous and noisy. Not a good overall experience. read more

I attended a really nice wedding here in November 2010 and last night the hubby and I decided to stop in for dinner. I had a hankering for Italian food and Venuti's is close to home with a well known track record. The Good: Free valet parking. No wait at 6:30pm on a Saturday night. It's a very lovely dining room. The Italian bread and foccacia were fresh. The Shrimp Dejonge was very tasty. Our server was attentive. They have a lot of appetizer and dessert options. The Bad: The Shrimp Dejonge was not served nearly as hot as it should have been. The Chicken Parmesan was drowning in tomato sauce...made the breading complete mush. My meal arrived lukewarm. They quit filling my water glass about halfway through the meal. The Ugly: The hostess was missing the bottom half of her skirt...walking toward us to seat people throughout the evening, we could see more than our fair share of her undercarriage over and over and over. When I sent back my dinner, it returned with chunky, dried out sauce aka my entire plate had been microwaved. The specials have no prices attached to them because the server reads them outloud. I am not a fan of this at all. The hubby wants to try it again. He has an extensive history of eating at Venuti's. I'm not so sure at this point. read more

Gorgeous place. Their food is still pretty good BUT it's not the same as it used to be. I know it's been many years since the one on North Avenue closed but really, their portions got smaller and they jip you out of the free cheesecake they used to give out at the end of the meals. Still, their food is worth going for. I love their fried calamari for an appetizer and linguini with clam sauce for dinner. Yum! read more

2nd time here in 2 weeks. First time was 4 stars. .. High for a buffet. ... Today, it was barely 2. Throw in the crappy service, and this is a 2 minus. The guy didn't even talk to me once or all how my meal was. Not sure if I'll be back read more

I have heard great things about the homemade pasta and sauce here, but over my 5 visits in the past year or so, I have always stuck with their meat. Tonight I had their special 16oz veal Tomahawk and it rivals the best veal I have had in NYC! Cooked perfectly and served in a beautiful restaurant! Give this place a try and save room because they serve great quality and huge portions! read more

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This place surprised me. It's a mammoth building (nice, just mammoth) on its own right on Lake St. The stop light on US-20 is literally for this place. And there's nothing but corporate warehouses or offices around or the hidden Medinah Country Club down the road. One side of the building is the main restaurant that's great for dinners with friends or to go out for Italian din in the burbs. The other side of the building houses various rooms for special events. I've been to Venuti's for several different occasions (casual dinners and a private party) and I have to say that the food was solid - the calamari was certainly a highlight - very fresh and tender - and the seafood linguini/fruitti di mare (I get this at nearly every Italian restaurant), was just as delicious and light. Definitely pleasantly surprised. Service is discreet and attentive and the food will satisfy you. Even the food for the special events was impressive, and we all know group food is a harder feat. read more

Food and environment are wow. 7 of us were there yesterday. We enjoyed to be there. They served us very delicious food. The prices are very reasonable. I love their veal parmesian. It's very tender and perfect. We will go back again read more

Venuti's - Italian Near Me - Addison, Illinois