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Ventuno Restaurant Nantucket Reviews
Only a small brass plate attached to the side a what
Only a small brass plate attached to the side a what otherwise looks like a guest house announces Ventuno to pedestrians. The restaurant within gives off a cozy simple vibe. There are two floors of dining space including a wine room table that seems to fit 12-14 guests for private parties. My sister & I were warmly greeted by the hostess and taken to our table on the second floor. We had the floor to ourselves for the moment as we had a 5:45pm reservation...by the time we left (7ish) the floor was entirely occupied. Make a reservation. We both started with a salad. I had an outstanding Caesar with just the right balance of anchovy & lemon. Each romaine leaf gently glazed with the dressing. My sister had the estiva composed of peaches, cherries, plums with whipped ricotta, arugula, radicchio and balsamic. Both were exceptional. I ordered the mafaldi pasta (a thinner lasagna with ribboned edges) with an abundance of maitake, porcini and king trumpet mushrooms topped with thin shaved squares of Parmesan, fried rosemary and black truffles. Absolutely superb! My sister enjoyed a Pollo al Mattone which was a pan-seared chicken breast, chive spaetzle, spring peas, prosciutto crumble, parmigiano crema & ramp salsa verde. High level eye appeal and also delicious. The chicken exterior was crispy & golden and the flesh juicy. An excellent spot for authentic Italian food made to a very high standard. Our waitress, Emma, was attentive and personable. Ventuno represents one of my top 5 restaurants on Nantucket. Visit & experience it for yourself!
Nice Option for those looking for Upscale Italian.
Our server Dillon was excellent! The bread with olive oil was wonderful. We had the fried chickpea appetizer, which was interesting and very good.. I had the Halibut with the al dente lima beans which was an unusual and a bit incompatible combination. I understand what the chef is trying to achieve, but he’s got more work to do.
Great first night on the island here! Cute atmosphere in an
Great first night on the island here! Cute atmosphere in an old house - but still lively by the bar area. Got the frito misto, bruschetta and olives to start. Found all the portions small for the price, but that's pretty standard across the board in Nantucket. They also were able to accommodate a fantastic mocktail which I appreciated being pregnant. The risotto frito di mare my husband ordered was definitely small, and we found the creamy sauce a bit bland and under-seasoned. Seafood all well cooked and fresh though. Standouts were the frito misto, bruschetta and the homemade pasta with chicken sausage and broccoli rabe - the fresh pasta was so original with the chicken, and delicious!
I am so unclear as to why this restaurant has so many
I am so unclear as to why this restaurant has so many terrible reviews. This spot was incredible from start to finish. We ordered ciabatta, stracciatella corn pizza dough, olives, arancini, mushrooms, insalata, rigatoni, risotto with lobster, scallops and shrimp. Everything was a 10/10. We seriously had no complaints. My favorite items on the table was the bread, corn pizza dough, insalata and risotto. But please don't let me forget about the torta di fragole for dessert. This was probably the most unique dessert I've had in a while. It was perfectly light & sweet, and the mixture of all the flavors was seriously decadent. I highly recommend for some really tasty and not overly heavy Italian food. The service was great and we felt super attended to. Definitely a spot you must go to while on the island!
Wow!! This place is AMAZING! One of the best meals we had
Wow!! This place is AMAZING! One of the best meals we had on the island. They make all their pasta and seriously all the pasta dishes are good. My favorite is probably the tagliolini which was super fresh and didn't taste heavy which I was expecting. We also got a bunch of appetizers and everything was so delicious. The arancino is probably one of the best I've ever had. We had a large group and made a reservation pretty much a month in advance and we got a spot that was almost semi private upstairs. They took care of us really well. Also their desserts are so good! I enjoyed the crostata and the bombolocini with gelato. I think the halibut was good but a bit underwhelming compared to all the other things we got. If I return I'll get a pasta as my entree. Some of the best Italian food I've had!!
Five star experience- again! We came here right after we
Five star experience- again! We came here right after we got engaged :) hostess gave us a great table, entire staff was ecstatic for us! The sommelier gave us a nice suggestion for bubbly to celebrate. Still waiting for them to add the Bucatini back to the menu as that was our favorite dish!
Food is good.
Place gets a little tight. Service is great . They have two floors . And they have a great back outside bar.
Ditto for the 'don't bother'.
First, the description here is completely wrong-- the chefs and food belong to a completely different restaurant (and also from a long time ago). That the management doesn't even read these to correct the description highlights the issues. Second, we've been coming here (dating back to when it was '21 Federal', so since Ventuno began) for almost 40 years. Especially as a birthday tradition. So when we went for dinner, expecting a cozy night out in the off season, I made a specific simple request that has ALWAYS been accommodated. Every time, except this one. And it entirely was possible, they just didn't care to do it. They didn't care that I was not pleased--they didn't think, 'can we/how can we help this customer?' The hostess literally shrugged her shoulders at me. Who are these people who think they can charge ~$50 for an entree and not have some consideration for the customer? So I agree with the other reviews--- 'offensive service', 'sadly declined', 'don't bother'. The food has not changed year to year-- a few specials here and there, but there are other places much more worthy of your time and money. If they don't care about us, should we care about Ventuno?
Have been coming to Ventuno since it started--- and when it
Have been coming to Ventuno since it started--- and when it was 21 Federal. It's a wonderful cozy spot, full of good memories. I guess I've applied the great experiences from 21 Federal, but Ventuno doesn't deserve them. They refused to accommodate a very do-able request-- one that has been accommodated for almost 40 years, until now. The attitude was stunning in its 'I don't care what you're asking' tone. The food is way below the price point (~$50/ entree. There are so many other better places on Nantucket, don't bother with Ventuno. Oh, and they have a rep for good drinks-- but mine was a glass 3/4 full of ice, shortest drink I've ever had... Also, service in general has been declining in recent years-- just read the reviews here and on TripAdvisor. I won't go back unless I hear that the management has finally started caring.
The salad with pears was overly tart.
It took us awhile to finish. The main courses were both over salted. The server however,was great. Very attentive. I would not return though.
Enjoyed dinner here night before last.
What a great restaurant, this building used to be a home and it may still be for all I know at least upstairs but the downstairs, what were once rooms in a home are now dining areas with a limited amount of tables per room making it rather intimate. Staff was very attentive, the wine list was good also the music playing in the background was rather loud. I mean, not obnoxiously loud but just louder than I would expect for this type of establishment. Certainly not a dealbreaker! I had the Strozzapretti and it was really tasty! Best to make a reservation...
Between loud music and noisy patrons at closely-spaced
Between loud music and noisy patrons at closely-spaced tables, this was not a relaxing meal at 6:30pm. The food and drink were OK, as they should be with grossly overpriced entrees starting over $50. Service was perfunctory, with the usual elbow or forearm across my face as table mates are served. When will wait staff learn to move around a table to pour water and deliver food? With so many on-Island options, we will not return.
Don't bother
Between loud music and noisy patrons at closely-spaced tables, this was not a relaxing meal at 6:30pm. The food and drink were OK, as they should be with grossly overpriced entrees starting over $50. Service was perfunctory, with the usual elbow or forearm across my face as table mates are served food and water. When will wait staff learn to move around a table to fill glasses, etc.? With so many superior on-Island options, we will not be back.
Chic, sexy, incredible food, in teh heart of Nantucket
We live on Nantucket and swear this is THE best place for couples out on the town. (we have friends undo online ressies in favor of Ventuno.) You'll be welcomed like family in a candle lit antique home, with lively dark wood bar inside, fairy lighted patio outside. Nibble chickpea "fries" and fried olives when you arrive. Highly recommend ordering a full portion of the Strozzapreti pasts (house made spicy chicken sausage & pasta, with scallions and greens) to have some to take home for breakfast. Chicken under a brick also a favorite. Guests raved about the fish. Don't waver, just do it--at least one Bomboloncini dessert per couple--unreal. After dinner you're in the center of everything Nantucket has to offer.
Truly offensive service this evening
Seated with two late 70 year olds. In a corner with speakers. Difficult for all to hear. Asked the server to come around so we could hear better. She essentially responded that we should read her lips. I have been coming here for 25+ years. Never have I had an experience like this here before. Will come back. Just shocked that this is the level of service we have degraded to.
just average Italian
We found the apps to be better than the entrees. Just not blown away….wine was good as well as ambience. Just not wonderful.
Food and service were amazing.
The interior is well styled and the atmosphere was inviting. The food was delightful - 10/10. Will be back again.
Really disappointing.
The stuffed clam appetizer (which by the way was one half clam for $6) literally had no clam in it. They were seriously taking the piss in even serving that thing. Other appetizers were also disappointing. All courses were served room temp/cold. I'd forgive them if the prices weren't crazy - $60 for entree, etc. I actually had an outstanding meal at this place years ago, but it's just a trap now. Won't go back.
Ventuno is incredible.
The staff and the ambiance are amazing! The food is so delicious, it is some of the best pasta I have had. You can get a full or half portion of the pasta dishes which I love! The donuts for dessert can not be missed. I recommend Ventuno to everyone. We cannot wait to be back!
This use to be one of my favorite go to restaurants on
This use to be one of my favorite go to restaurants on Nantucket, but we had an overall poor experience here this past weekend. Conversations with others around the island confirmed that the quality here has gone down. We were a party of 7 and even though the hostess was very friendly and welcoming and the waitress was overall helpful, the overall quality of the meal was low, despite some decent plates. We all ordered appetizers and mains, and when the runners came out with the food they had no idea which dish went to which person, which really isnt a great look at this price point. the quality of appetizers and portion size has diminished in recent years - the fried calimari wasnt great like it use to be, and the olives and other "morsels" were small and not great for an inflated price. My fish - sword fish - was good, but other pastas and stuff were of variable quality. We heard people at the table next to us asking where their food was - they kept delivering their dishes to our table. Honestly, it was kind of a disorganized mess and not the tight ship I'm used to. I'm sorry to report that.
Sadly declined
This use to be one of my favorite go to restaurants on Nantucket, but we had an overall poor experience here this past weekend. Conversations with others around the island confirmed that the quality here has gone down. We were a party of 7 and even though the hostess was very friendly and welcoming and the waitress was overall helpful, the overall quality of the meal was low, despite some decent plates. We all ordered appetizers and mains, and when the runners came out with the food they had no idea which dish went to which person, which really isnt a great look at this price point. the quality of appetizers and portion size has diminished in recent years - the fried calimari wasnt great like it use to be, and the olives and other "morsels" were small and not great for an inflated price. My fish - sword fish - was good, but other pastas and stuff were of variable quality. We heard people at the table next to us asking where their food was - they kept delivering their dishes to our table. Honestly, it was kind of a disorganized mess and not the tight ship I'm used to. I'm sorry to report that.
By FAR the best dinner we had in Nantucket! The crab pasta
By FAR the best dinner we had in Nantucket! The crab pasta and meatballs were phenomenal (as was literally everything we ordered). Service was amazing, great wine list, and the restaurant itself has the most amazing ambiance. Great place for a romantic dinner :)
Awesome dinner evening
Awesome dinner! We go here every time we are on Nantucket. Wonderful appetizers, pasta dishes and seafood. All done with an Italian flair. Best Negroni on earth too!
First of all the restaurant location was so cute- in an old
First of all the restaurant location was so cute- in an old house with tables scattered throughout the rooms! The food was fantastic!! Perfect flavor and texture combinations throughout each creative dish. Also to add that our waitress was so kind and attentive. Apps: The arancini and bruschetta were each perfectly seasoned. The outside crust think and crunchy, the inside a wonderfully rich ragu-soaked rice. On the other, The bread crunchy and toasted perfectly with the locally grown nantucket tomatoes richly marinated. Mains: We thought the Strozzapretti was a perfect combo of chewy homemade pasta, savory sausage, and fresh broccolini. Not oily at all. A tad on the spicier side which I wasn't prepared for but enjoyed thoroughly. The bucatini was so fresh and light- I never thought of combining zucchini and pesto!! Will be coming back- if we can get a reservation!
Let's be real: Nantucket is expensive and a lot of
Let's be real: Nantucket is expensive and a lot of restaurants can get away with eh food at a high premium. However, we are 26 miles out to sea, so ya get what you get, and you don't get upset. And seemingly everyone's on vacation, so we best be feeling good. So, if you're like me, and want to make a last minute reservation, you take what you can get and in this case it was Ventuno. And while not my first choice, not even my second choice, hell, not my third either; I wasn't upset at it. I've enjoyed the back bar at Ventuno many of debaucherous nights and it's the best. I've eaten in the back bar/patio as well, and that fun, casual vibe sits in line with the fare. However, I recently ate in the more formal dining room and as one expects price didn't quite live up to the food. Although still good, it's good, not great. The burrata cheese plate was a great start, along with the fresh oysters. My friend and I passed on pastas and meat, and maybe that's where we went wrong? The fish was solid, but a small portion for that $50 price tag. Not only was it small, but it was a wee bit tough. Insert sad face emoji. And the side of Bartlett's Farm veggies were fine, albeit a bit boring. They are definitly not pushing boundaries and flavors here. The martinis were great, space is cramped and we had to ask them to fix the wobbly table. Overall, solid. It has that Nantucket charm and that was enough for a great night out.
Where’s the Lobster?
This restaurant was difficult to get into, but we were so happy to have”snagged” a table. The waitress Bella was very friendly, professional, and helpful. Unfortunately, my review goes downhill from here. We ordered the clams which were good, olives (average), frutti di mare (very good), and meatballs (average). Two of us ordered the “rigatoni w/ lobster and broccoli” as our main course. The pasta was overcooked, the broccoli overpowered the dish, and the 2 tiny pieces of lobster were hard to find. My husband ordered the tuna which was cut so thick, and he remarked that it was fine. The other diner said his chicken was ok. Will not be returning here.
The food was good.
management was TERRIBLE. our dinners came out 30 mins between each other with no compensation. the manager EMILY was rude and deplorable. should be removed from role. not worth the price for a non understanding establishment. our waitress was kind and attentive.
This is not a luxury restaurant.
The whole place has a faint smell of mildew. Food tasted fresh but was either way over seasoned or bland. We had a reservation at 8:30 and they didn't seat us until 8:55. Of course, that kind of thing is out of their control but they didn't offer to comp a drink or a dessert to make up for the wait. They seated us in the middle of a busy walkway. Like imagine a path through a restaurant and then put a table right in the middle of that path. That's where our table was. Extremely loud. I would not go back.
We thoroughly enjoyed our recent dinner at Ventuno.
We started with both the burrata with radishes as well as the house salad. Both were delicious. For entrees we had the meatballs with pasta - one of the best meatballs we have ever tried and the spaghetti equally we delicious. We also loved the bucatini dish it was tasted by everyone at our table and we all loved it and the zucchini pesto. I ordered Dre's chicken sausage and it was a very nice dish as well but the ration of sausage to pasta/greens was a little to much for me personally. We shared a bottle of Donelan Chardonnay, and it was a perfect compliment to our dinner.
A culinary rollercoaster with hits and misses, where
A culinary rollercoaster with hits and misses, where flavors danced, prices shocked (to be expected I guess), and service left us scratching our heads. Among the hits: - The burrata was delicately balanced and creamy, with crispy bread and a refreshing salad, it was a great start to the meal. - The pasta with sausage and broccolini showcased excellent cooking techniques and bold flavors. Although a tad oily. - The shrimp and scallops plate was cooked just right, and those fried capers? Brilliant move! They added a crispy briny pop that brought the whole dish together. - Their colossal steak was a beast of a dish, perfectly cooked and the only good value for money. Among the misses: - The lobster pasta, a big disappointment, perplexed my taste buds with its ill-fated combination of pea sauce and hummus. To make matters worse, the dish arrived cold, further detracting from its potential. - The arancini failed to make a lasting impression, lacking the desired depth of flavor and textural contrast, as well as the crostini with ricotta. The meal did not live up to its price tag. Also, I never include the service in my ratings, but I must mention the abysmal experience at Ventuno. From waitresses who couldn't hear a word we said to consistently mixed-up orders and peculiar rules, such as serving pasta with appetizers instead of the main course, the service left much to be desired.
Connect with users posting reservations for Ventuno Restaurant Nantucket
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If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Ventuno Restaurant Nantucket at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Ventuno Restaurant Nantucket page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* BraveCloth47, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* BraveCloth47 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to BraveCloth47 for any questions Peter may have as BraveCloth47 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* BraveCloth47 now uses their connections at Ventuno Restaurant Nantucket to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
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4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, BraveCloth47 receives the $200 reward which is credited to BraveCloth47's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Ventuno Restaurant Nantucket!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
