Venesian Inn - Springdale

While the menu seems familiar, the quality of the food has drastically changed. The ambiance feels lackluster, and both the service and the overall food quality... read more While the menu seems familiar, the quality of the food has drastically changed. The ambiance feels lackluster, and both the service and the overall food quality have fallen far short of what once made this place great. The rolls were still pretty good, though they arrived only after we had finished our entrees. The salad was decent as well. However, the signature bone-in fried chicken has been replaced by chicken fingers, and the steaks no longer resemble the hearty, flavorful dishes that used to draw in crowds for over an hour, contributing to the restaurant's fame. It’s hard to fathom how a place known for offering roast chicken breast could run out of their bone-in fried chicken on a Saturday night. I can only imagine how disappointed former owners of this once-great establishment must feel.

A new generation of the family has taken over the kitchen, and based on my last two visits, they’ve done an excellent job. The chicken was incredibly tender, an... read more A new generation of the family has taken over the kitchen, and based on my last two visits, they’ve done an excellent job. The chicken was incredibly tender, and the spaghetti sauce had a rich, deep flavor with just the right amount of seasoning.

This has become an annual tradition for me and my girlfriends, as we always visit this restaurant before heading to the craft shows in October. My family has be... read more This has become an annual tradition for me and my girlfriends, as we always visit this restaurant before heading to the craft shows in October. My family has been dining here since at least 2000. The atmosphere is eclectic, even after some renovations this year, and it's impressive that the restaurant has been around since 1947! If they’ve survived such a long time, they must be doing something right. I always order the spaghetti and meatballs, and this time I added chicken ravioli to my meal. The sauce is incredibly flavorful, and the meatballs are sizable. The chicken ravioli was tasty, but it could have had a bit more filling. When we arrived, the hostess mentioned they had just been hit with two large groups, and they were short a chef, yet we didn’t have to wait long at all. Their homemade pasta and bread was absolutely delicious as well.

I’ve been dining at the Venesian Inn since the late 1950s, when we would go after Razorback games, and the line would wrap around the building—but the wait was... read more I’ve been dining at the Venesian Inn since the late 1950s, when we would go after Razorback games, and the line would wrap around the building—but the wait was always worth it. I continued to visit during my college years in the 1970s. However, I returned tonight and was sadly disappointed. The menu is similar, but the offerings are quite different. The service was lackluster and the food quality was mediocre, far from what once made this place great. The rolls are still quite good, although they arrived just as we were finishing our entrees. The salad remains nice, but the signature bone-in fried chicken has been reduced to chicken fingers, and the steaks bear no resemblance to the ones that made people wait in line for over an hour and contributed to the restaurant's fame. How can a place renowned for its fried chicken be out of bone-in fried chicken right at opening time on a Saturday evening? The earlier operators of this once great establishment must be terribly disappointed.

Met with members of NWA Camaro Club for a delightful lunch. The food is great and so is the service! read more Met with members of NWA Camaro Club for a delightful lunch. The food is great and so is the service!