I've been to Pasta Veneta twice, most recently with a couple of my girlfriends last week. Despite arriving to a nearly empty restaurant at 6PM with a reservation for 3, the host/bartender/waiter would not seat us until "all parties arrived", which I thought was a bit strange. After 10 minutes of one of my girlfriends and I waiting at the entrance for our third friend, we were finally seated outside. We started our meal with the beet salad and focaccia, both of which were very tasty. For my main course, I ordered the scallop linguini which I enjoyed. One friend ordered the seafood signature pasta, and another ordered another gnocchi special which we were told would have seafood. When the gnocchi came out, it turned out to be the braised short rib gnocchi dish. When she asked the waiter why there was short rib, he simply said that "that was what you ordered" and didn't try to offer her the correct dish. My friend was too nice to argue and ended up just eating the gnocchi anyway but picked out the short rib. Overall, the food was fairly decent [if ordered correctly], but the service was quite below par. There are tons of better Italian spots in West Loop, so I would come here only if you needed to go somewhere without a reservation. read more

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I went here for a friend's birthday and I really wanted to love this place. Unfortunately, I just was not impressed. We ordered a wide variety of appetizers and the only thing that was memorable was the calamari. It was excellent-light, fluffy and incredibly airy. It comes with a spicy red sauce that is amazing. Unfortunately, I thought the pasta was very flat in taste and texture. I ordered the duck confit that our server raved about and I was super disappointed. The duck was very dry, the sauce tasted like someone had cooked it with vinegar as it had a strong sour taste and the pasta texture was just off. I didn't try the other pasta dishes because I really wanted to enjoy mine but maybe I should have. Our server was ok, not very attentive to the table as I had to remind her to bring basic things like silverware and napkins. In addition, they charge you for bottle water which is a bit whack. If you go with a group, they do not handle this well so prepare to split the bill by 4 ways. They should let folks know this before you sit down and order. Honestly, you pay for being in West Loop and that's it. You won't leave with a memorable meal. read more

Went with two of my girlfriends before a concert at the United Center. Was a perfect location to easily get to the United center and had ample parking. We ordered the Croquettes, beet salad and burrata. Could have done without the burrata - but salad and the croquettes will be in my dreams from now on. Pasta is made onsite (we saw a couple chefs making it). I had the tortellini stuffed with spinach and butter sage and a side of meatballs. My friends had a pasta with mushrooms (i forgot what it was called). The pasta is heavenly. So delicious and decadent. I want to go back next time I am there! read more

Perfect pasta place on Fulton. Food and wine were amazing, tasted and felt very upscale. The slices of prosciutto were nice and lean, the cheeses and apples with honeycomb were delightful, the bread was good but the homemade tapenade made it even better. The lobster risotto had tons of lobster in it and the carbonara was beautiful. Loved that I could get Barolo and a Brunello by the glass or bottle. The panna cotta was also so good, don't think I've ever had it with limes and figs before but it was perfect. The ambiance is nice, on the more casual side so you don't need to worry about dressing to the 9s for a good bowl of pasta. Service was great, very friendly and knowledgeable. Will most definitely be back, this is a neighborhood gem! read more

I liked it. The food was good, it had a family-run feel, but in more of a typical upscale winery-loft-in-West-Loop presentation, classy and experienced. It was very loud and there were some service missteps, but honestly the food was worth it. New, interesting combinations, full flavors. Pleasantly surprised with the prices. I felt treated to something nice by the time the meal was over. read more

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I am giving this restaurant 5 stars not because it was one of the best meals I've ever had, but because I want this restaurant to succeed in West Loop. The food was great, but there were some quirks from my overall experience. The good things: the food I would not give this meal 5 stars if it weren't for the food. We ordered the carbonera with bucatini pasta, and duck confit duck ragout with pappardelle. Though the dishes are very different, they're both great for different reasons. The carbonera's salty guanciale (cured pork jowl) cuts through the savory richness of the egg and cheese sauce. It is a traditional dish with few ingredients. The bucatini pasta used was cooked to a chewy al dente. In contrast, the duck ragout had an acidic, tomato-based sauce. The duck drumstick so well braised that it was easy to take the meat off of the bone and mix it with the rest of the pasta. With that said, both me and my partner preferred stronger seasoning with the food. We added black pepper to both dishes, adding a much needed "kick" to both. I do disclaim that both of us have a particular taste palette, and the added pepper might not be necessary for everyone. Now, the quirks... 1. Biggest one: service I do see several people here on Yelp complaining about the service. Although I think it was "decent", I do think it could have been faster. Me and my partner were seated awkwardly behind a pillar, so maybe they did not attend to us quickly when we wanted to leave, and were not being waited. That being said, it did seem the restaurant was only at 50% capacity with 2-3 waiters; it should have been easy for staff to notice we were not being helped. I feel additional staff training would be advisable to make sure the staff notices unattended customers more. 2. Potential added water charge (TLDR: just ask for tap) Still and sparkling water are both $4. Though the bottle they give you is quite large (potentially 32 oz), it IS still $4. That being said, you can ask for tap water, and they will oblige in water without a charge. 3. Credit card surcharge The restaurant adds a 3.5% credit card surcharge if you do not use debit / cash. However, they do not add a covid19 surcharge. Personally, I don't know many restaurants in the West Loop area adding credit card surcharges, but oh well, whatever keeps the lights on. 4. Tip was (incorrectly) calculated after tax + credit card surcharge Small quirk - unfortunately in the US tip calculations are not standardized. Funny thing though, I'm pretty sure the bill (attached to this review) intended to recommend tip percentages based on the final $48 bill. But if you take a calculator, you'd notice their tip calculations are slightly wrong. But... oh well ‍ Overall verdict: It's a good restaurant with great food. Biggest complaint was the service, but I do think this is relatively easy to fix. We will be coming back again for more pasta in the future. read more

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A friend tipped us off to Pasta Veneta, and we're glad she did. We had a very nice meal on a recent week night. VIBE: The dining room is tiny and plain, with wood-topped tables and a wall of window. It was about half-full on our visit, and the noise from other diners was prominent, but tolerable. Since it was daylight, the room was light and airy. The tables were closely spaced, as I'd expect in such a compact room. SERVICE: There were only two staffers in the room, a server/host and a busser. They were very busy (and they did an exemplary job of keeping everything going while remaining calm and congenial). Food coursing was perfect. Service was helpful and attentive. FOOD: We started with a delicious chopped salad of palm hearts, asparagus and avocado. My companion's lamb chops were quite tasty, but could have been a bit more tender. My scallop entrée was excellent - perhaps the finest scallop dish I've had. Scallops were grilled perfectly, tender and grit-free. The linguini could not have been better and the lemon-butter sauce was heavenly. For dessert, fig & goat cheese gelato - yum! There's a nice list of mostly Italian wines by glass and bottle. Minor disappointments: bottled water only at $4/bottle, no tap water; 3% credit card processing fee, which was a surprise to me (or I'd have used a debit card). Otherwise, our visit was a delight and we look forward to returning. read more

From the moment I walked in, Pasta Veneta blew me away! The homemade pasta is pure perfection--every bite tastes like it was made with love. I started with the Burrata and Cesar Salad. Both dishes were Unbelievable! Followed up with the Ravioli and Bucatini Carbonara. Perfection! Immerse yourself in the full Italian experience with their special weekly menu, featuring dishes you won't want to miss. Savor the Taste of Italy right here in Chicago--this place is the real deal! read more

SO GOOD!!!! Great service and UNBELIEVABLE FOOD. we just came back from Italy and honestly... it rivals some of their restaurants. I'm so impressed. Family owned and they actually give a sh!t and you can tell. Can't wait to be back! One piece of advice though: if you have TVs at the bar - play sports. I promise, it will bring more bar service. Utilize the TVs. The fashion show is unnecessary. read more

Pasta Veneta - Pasta Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic spot with freshly made pasta. Their wine list is robust and the service team can offer solid suggestions. Try the burrata and asparagus appetizers as they are excellent. Leave some room for the magic cake and desserts that are delicious. read more

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The food is delicious! We ordered spaghetti bolognese and gnocchi with braised short rib, and both were very flavorful. They accommodated my dairy allergy very well and I was able to have multiple options. It was a nice place to have a nice dinner. read more

We all love a good low-key spot in the city where you don't have to worry about running into anyone, and the fact that Pasta Veneta is in Fulton Market hidden in plain sight, it doesn't get much better than that. If you're ever in the mood for authentic Italian food with staff that's extremely knowledgable about the cuisine visit Pasta Veneta. I even had some leftovers to take home. There's an outdoor patio for those warm days and a good amount of free street parking. Atmosphere: Service: Cuisine: Must-Try Dishes: * Croquettes of Mozzarella * Rigatoni, Pesto Sauce, Creamy Stracciatella Fresca read more

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food was genuinely really yummy especially the ravioli! place was spacious and staff were attentive but we were like the only table so there's that read more

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The food and service was amazing. The pasta tasted very authentic and fresh. Overall, the experience was good. I will add there is a service charge that I was unaware of. read more

Pasta Veneta - Pasta - Pasta Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went to Pasta Veneta last week and had a wonderful experience. We sat outside on the patio and it is very spacious with beautiful flowers. Service was great and food was delicious. We had the bread service, wrapped goat cheese, gnocchi, and lobster ravioli. The pasta is handmade and definitely was the highlight of our meal. We also had the tiramisu which was delicious so make sure to save room for dessert. It's a great spot for both casual dining and special occasions. read more

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Fantastic food - every pasta we had was great - paired with great drinks and excellent service

Not worth the expensive or trip out. Though the prices don't seem like a lot, the portion sizes are really small compared to other Italian places in the area so you end up paying more than you'd expect. Service: honestly terrible. We were sat really late from our reserved time and they seemed surprised that we had a reservation since most are walk ins. I'm guessing they forgot. We were there for almost four hours because they didn't have enough staff and the server would disappear for long periods of time. We were brought the wrong appetizer and let her know and she took it back to the kitchen. I'm hoping she didn't serve it because it sat at our table for like fifteen minutes. Food: not bad but not great. We tried to order stracciatella and she said it was about two tablespoons of cheese and not a good deal. Odd. The mushroom carpaccio was really dry. Burrata wasn't great. Bufala was the best. The desserts weren't great. The tiramisu was the best. The cake seemed pre frozen. It is wine only and no tap water. Feels like an aggressive way to drive up the price of your bill by only offering bottled. It was about $125 a person. I'd suggest one of the other many Italian places in the neighborhood. read more

Pasta Veneta - Pasta Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Homemade pasta is from another world! Cooked to perfection - we tried spaghetti with caviar (delicious!!) and linguine with scallop (we think our had a little piece of sand though). It e also tried eggplant and it didn't disappoint. Wine selection is very good. Overall very good place and we will come back again! read more

Pasta Veneta - Pasta Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food, service and ambiance excellent. Acoustics for speaking to the people at your table a little challenging, due to shape of restaurant and materials its a sounding board mixing all conversations ( only downside ). We all had a different dish and shared, everything was delicious. Service was on point, young waitress was there when we needed her and not there when we didnt ( also appreciated ). Owner spoke to us before we left and asked how we enjoyed dinner ( nice touch ). Modern interior, layout is roomy, dont have to squeeze by people to do a bathroom run. Overall A+. Hope this helps. We are going back read more

Pasta Veneta - Dinner - Pasta Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Truly a hidden gem. Located on an isolated street with little foot or car traffic and hardly any Yelp reviews, this place exceeded all expectations. We sat on the outside patio, which was very enjoyable with the limited traffic and peaceful ambiance. We started our meal with the focaccia, which was very well done. I'm generally not a fan of tapenade but it was well done and the bread still tasted great without it. My wife had the mushroom gnocchi, which was some of the best I've ever had. It melted in your mouth. I had the duck pappardelle which was very good. Came with duck mean in the bone, which was savory and delicious. The pasta sauce was a bit acidic for my preferences but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Overall, food was fantastic and I intend to go back soon. read more

Delicious pasta options & the calamari is to die for!! You can tell how fresh the sauces & Pasta are with an also nice selection of wines. Super nice staff!! read more

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Great food & experience!! The food came out quick and was very delicious. I will definitely be going back soon. read more

Pasta Veneta - Pasta Shops Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

steps away from fulton market is this Italian gem of a restaurant specializing in fresh, handmade pasta made daily the pasta here was PERFECTLY COOKED and out of the three pastas we ordered, the spaghetti caspian (creamy w truffles ) took the crown. the meatballs and ceviche were the highlight of the appetizers and that panna cotta with the fresh figs - i couldnt have asked for a better nightcap read more

Absolutely delicious! They focus on housemade pastas and sauces. If that is your thing, gotta come here. So many good Italian restaurants in Chicago but this has been in my top 5 or so as I enjoy high quality pasta with quality depth of flavor profiles in even the most classic of dishes. This might be a negative for some who enjoy more of classic Italian cuisine with enormous portions while sacrificing some flavor or textural nuance in the act. This is not that. Elegant, fair sized portions but certainly less than typical Italian restaurant. Good wine selection. Service great. Atmosphere quaint and contemporary. One negative was creme brulee. Order cheesecake instead. read more

One of the better new Italian experiences in Chicago. I really like how the restaurant is pasta focused, but they offer a wonderful variety of other menu items as well. Plus, the layout and scenery of the restaurant is also very beautiful. read more

I always tip 20 percent but having an automatic 20 percent gratuity (for a table of 2) plus 3 percent cc fee with nothing on the menu or first receipt - just leaves a bad taste Food was great but suprised by this approach read more

What a gem in west loop. Adorable restaurant with excellent service and delicious food. The weekend special was served in a 50lb cheese wheel and was the perfect amount of truffle! Bruschetta was also delicious! Can't wait for their patio to open cause it looks awesome. Only thing to work on is the lack of parking in the area. read more

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Amazing food, the best pasta I have ever had. Service is fast and the ambiance is amazing read more

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Pasta Veneta is a newish restaurant in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood. Its got a neighborhood restaurant type feel - very airy, bright and friendly staff. It was more laid back vibe and not trying as hard as some of the other places in the area. They do have a full bar with cocktails but also an extensive wine list with some yummy options. Lots of vegetarian options on the menu including a vegan chickpea polpette which was delicious. They make all the pastas in house and you will not be disappointed ordering any of them. The restaurant is reasonably priced and would definitely go back read more

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One star is generous. It's because the bread was good, the wine was cheap, and one 18 year old employee was excellent. Other than that, I can't remember a worse experience dining out . . . ever. It's as if, no one there has worked at a restaurant before. Where do I start? How do I explain this circus? I'll start with my wife and I walking in the door. No greeting or welcome. It was awkward, strange, and unpleasant. We remained optimistic though. The specials were explained to us and sounded good. After that, the server disappeared for unexplainable amount of time. There was only 3 other tables filled at 5:30 on a Saturday night. We placed our order of 3 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, one secondi (or protein), and a bottle of wine. Then we sat for an excruciating amount of time without wine. At this point I flagged down my server and asked her if we could have our wine. She reacted as I expected: surprised. She obviously forgot about the wine. Now the 3 appetizers we ordered plus one we did not order (but charged for) simultaneously arrive, as also the wine is being hurriedly opened. So, now at a tiny 2 person table there is 4 appetizers and 2 servers awkwardly pushing things around, and trying to open wine. It's called "meal coursing" look it up. However, at least we finally have wine! It's red wine, but it's hot. Not room temperature, not warm, but HOT. There was no offer to taste the wine or presentation. Whatever, I'm happy I finally have wine. The appetizers are decent. Nothing special or exciting. We get through 2 appetizers and guess what? Both pastas and my secondi now show up. This should be fun! Well, now clown college resumes with the pushing around plates and fumbling about. We're not even done with 2 of the appetizers. Side note : we eat fast. My wife's pasta was missing the chicken she added to the dish for an up charge. My wife informs the server that she is missing the chicken. The server says she'll talk to the kitchen. So we're assuming she'll eventually bring the chicken. Nope! We have to flag down an 18 year old kitchen runner/busser and the only professional in the whole damn building and ask him for the chicken. His name is Axel. He's apologetic, professional, accommodating and fixes the problem. My wife's pasta was NOT good. At this point she was waiting to only eat the chicken because the pasta was so bad. Allegedly, her pasta was a pesto sauce. The pesto flavor was bland and barely detectable. The pasta itself was mush. They don't serve al dente pasta here. The complete total opposite! The server tried to make the excuse that they make the pasta fresh. Yes, so does Monteverde and Gioia right down the street and their pastas aren't mushy glop. Finally the grilled chicken breast arrives and we were told there would be no charge for the chicken because of the mistake. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there with my pasta and my secondi. So, it's a race against the clock before one dish gets cold. Once again: MEAL COURSING! I got the specials. Lobster spaghetti and the lamb chops. My pasta was of course mush, with the saddest, tiniest lobster tail that was both tough and burnt. The lamb chops were just ok. We couldn't wait to get out of there. Check comes and we quickly give the credit card and we're going to fill out the tip. At this point we realize that we were charged for the chicken AND the appetizer we did NOT order. The card has already been charged, so the server gives me $12 dollars cash. What a joke. In summary: the worst pitiful service with below average to bad food. Skip it. We'll never go back. It's the West Loop! You have to do better. So many other better options. The only redeeming thing to happen was meeting Axel. All throughout the evening he was helpful, hustling, and apologetic. He should train the entire front of house staff. He's 18 and could run circles around everyone there. I can't wait to eat at a restaurant he manages one day. This Place should seriously feel embarrassed. Do not go! read more

I have nothing but great things to say about Pasta Veneta! It's an intimate spot with a great wine list, delicious pasta dishes and great service. Perfect for a date night or evening with close friends! read more

At time I'm writing this review, Pasta Veneta is new. It's a little over one month old, I believe. I went there with my wife late on a Tuesday evening. Overall, we had a very nice night out. First, I enjoyed the ambience. Unlike many restaurants in the West Loop/Fulton Market area, this restaurant is not load and full obnoxious people who think they are too cool for school. Maybe because it was late in Tuesday night, but the restaurant was as quiet and the other patrons where talking at a normal sound level. Second, I love that decor. It was minimalistic and industrial, like the neighborhood that it's in. Third the food was excellent. My wife and I ordered the following: the beef carpaccio, focaccia bread, New Zealand lamb chops (a special), butternut squash shell pasta with taleggio Sauce, and the tiramisu for dessert. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the cheese sauce was tasty and not overwhelming. I also enjoyed the combo of meat flavor of the lamb chops with the mashed potatoes. Also, the tiramisu was light and airy. Fourth, the meal was a good value. We ordered all the food I mentioned plus my wife had a glass of wine and we each had an single espresso for right around $100.00. Not a bad deal for a restaurant in this area. Fifth, parking was easy. This area is renowned for how hard parking can be but, but we easily found a free parking spot just West of Racine on Fulton Market less than a block from the restaurant. In sum, this a must visit new Italian restaurant. read more

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Best homemade pasta in Chicago. each dish was cooked to perfection and deliciou we ordered several different dishes and all of them were great thanks read more

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great place, great service, great food. we had 9 people in our group and ordered multiple appetizers, main dishes, non-alcoholic drinks and a bottle of wine. our total came out to around $330, which was very reasonably priced for the portion sizes you get. i got the duck confit with duck ragout. at $24, i expected only a small portion. but, i was pleasantly surprised that there was plenty of duck to go with the pasta. definitely recommend this place and will be going back the next time i'm down in west loop. read more

It was our first time at the restaurant and we had a very disappointing experience. When we first showed up although we had a reservation, they did not have a table for us. They worked to assemble a table, but it was not in a good location. Next service really suffered no one came to the table to help. The starters were very good. I ordered the carbonara and it lacked flavor. It's not a restaurant I will go back to. read more

Just had the pleasure of eating here for the first time and everything was delicious. The ceviche was one of my favorite meals - a must have. Everyone was super attentive and kind. We also had the spinach tortellini & the Penne Arrabbiata & highly recommend both of you go. read more

Service was good, but the food was very disappointing. Drenching an item in olive oil does not make it a good italian dish. In a city full of great places to eat, I am sorry I went here. read more

It's a relatively new place. Great food with some original truffle in their pasta. Renneee at the bar is a vibe.

It was my first time in Pasta Veneta, and I can say that it's the best pasta in Chicago. I will definitely recommend this place. The service was excellent as well. read more

What a hidden gem! The atmosphere is great and perfect for a date night or an evening just catching up with friends. They have an extensive wine list and delicious authentic Italian cuisine options. Everything we had was tasty from the apps to the dessert (I could've licked that crème brûlée dish clean!) read more

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