After finishing my daily routine and heading home, my wife and I decided it was time to grab…read moredinner. She suggested Italian food and I was immediately on board. As luck would have it, we found a relatively new place only about ten minutes away that didn't have hundreds of reviews yet. Those are usually the places that catch my attention the most.
From the outside, Venezia Italian Restaurant has one of those buildings that makes you curious. You stand there looking at it wondering what's actually behind the door. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting that interior at all.
The moment we walked in my opinion changed completely. Warm lighting, beautiful decor, comfortable seating, and music playing quietly in the background. Loud enough to create an atmosphere, quiet enough that you can actually have a conversation.
We arrived around 3:15 PM and were the first guests in the dining room. That gave us the freedom to choose any table we wanted, so we picked a corner table where we could see the entire restaurant.
The young gentleman who greeted us also ended up taking care of our table. Drinks arrived quickly, followed by fresh rolls, butter, and a salad while we waited for the main course.
I ordered the Chicken & Shrimp Lamora. My wife ordered the Sicilian Marsala.
Both dishes arrived surprisingly fast. The portions were generous, everything tasted fresh, and there was absolutely no feeling that ingredients were being stretched to save money. Between the pasta, shrimp, chicken, mushrooms, vegetables, and sauce there wasn't much left on my plate by the end.
At that point I was honestly going back and forth between 4 and 5 stars.
Nothing was wrong.
The food was good. The atmosphere was great. The service was good. But I still wasn't completely convinced.
Then our server asked a simple question.
"Would you like to try the tiramisu?"
Normally I skip dessert.
This time I didn't.
And honestly, that's the moment this review changed from a 4-star review to a 5-star review.
The tiramisu was excellent. Not just because it tasted good, but because it completed the entire experience. Sometimes it's not one big thing that earns the fifth star. Sometimes it's a lot of small things done right and one final recommendation at exactly the right moment.
I spend a lot of time on the road and eat in restaurants all over the country. Places don't surprise me very often anymore.
This one did.
After dinner, dessert, and drinks, the final bill came to just over $63 for two people.
Seeing that total made me smile.
California, I don't miss you.
Great food, great atmosphere, friendly service, a fantastic tiramisu, and a restaurant that turned a normal afternoon into a memorable one. I'll gladly stop here again the next time I'm anywhere near Kirksville.