Reviews - Venesian Inn
Reviews summary
The Venetian Inn, a longstanding dining staple since 1947, has stirred up contrasting opinions among patrons. While some praise the welcoming atmosphere and attentive service, numerous reviews lament a decline in food quality. Former favorites like the renowned bone-in fried chicken have been replaced, leading to disappointment among long-time fans. Diners describe lackluster salads and overcooked pasta, though a few dishes, such as spaghetti and chicken parmesan, have garnered commendations. As new management continues to shape the menu and dining experience, guests remain hopeful for a return to the Inn's former culinary glory.
Reviews from various users
Last update : 29.11.2023
- **Service**: Dine-in - **Meal Type**: Dinner - **Price per Person**: $20–30 - **Food Rating**: 5/5 - **Service Rating**: 5/5 - **Atmosphere Rating**: 4/5 I highly recommend trying the Fried Chicken with Spaghetti, Fettuccine, and Lasagna.
I had an amazing experience at this restaurant during lunch. The food was simply delightful, earning a perfect score of 5 out of 5. The service was just as impressive, with attentive and friendly staff who made me feel right at home. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, also deserving of a top score of 5. If you're looking for a recommendation, I highly suggest trying the lasagna—it's a must-try! Overall, I had a fantastic dining experience and I would definitely come back.
I absolutely adore this restaurant! The atmosphere is incredibly warm and welcoming. I would rate the food a perfect 5, the service also deserves a 5, and the ambiance is a solid 5 as well!
Wonderful experience with incredibly delicious food. Service was excellent. Dined in for lunch. Price per person: $1–10. Food: 5/5, Service: 5/5, Atmosphere: 5/5.
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommend trying the Fried Chicken served with a side of Spaghetti.
Last update : 02.04.2023
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 However, the signature bone-in fried chicken has been replaced by chicken fingers, and the steaks no longer resemble the hearty, flavorful dishes that used to draw in crowds for over an hour, contributing to the restaurant's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.
The food and service here are exceptional! The portions are quite generous! I really enjoyed the chicken parmesan. The bread was fresh and served hot from the oven. This is a wonderful family-owned restaurant.
A new generation of the family has taken over, and after my last two visits, I can confidently say they’ve got it right. The dishes were very well-crafted, and the spaghetti sauce had a rich, deep flavor with just the perfect amount of seasoning.
We tried Venesian Inn tonight In Tontitown. For years we had heard great things about it. Surely, if they have been in business since 1947, it?ll be good right? Nope. We are wondering HOW they have stayed in business that long. Someone please tell us this was an off night. The service was fantastic BUT? The house salad came out with only chopped iceberg lettuce and dressing. Literally nothing else; no veggies, no cheese, no croutons. So weird. We both got pasta. The noodles were mush (way over cooked) and so salty I couldn?t eat it. Thank goodness there was bread and butter on the table for us to eat! Such a let down. And now I?m trying to figure out what I?m eating for my second dinner.
Outstanding food and service. The portions are huge! Absolutely loved the chicken parmesan. The bread was fresh and hot out of the oven. Great family business.
Last update : 02.03.2025
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 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 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!
Went into the venesian inn expecting high quality food as I?ve heard it?s good and my grandma has been going here for 30 years, instead I was disappointed, the salad wasn?t a salad it was iceberg lettuce w/ dressing no toppings in sight, our food came outand the steak and the onion rings had no flavor at all, the spaghetti was good im not gonna lie, the best part was the cake theygave us as they where celebrating their 75 anniversary, Ive heard great things about this place which makes me think maybe newmanagement? Because the food was mediocre at best, Don?t go here if you?re expecting the quality this place In guessing oncehad. Even my grandma said it changed a lot we will not be going back.
