Generous servings of homestyle Italian food served with a smile. Arugula and Southern Italian salads were big enough to share! Oregano in the dressing was an unexpected treat! Flounder, served with a side of roasted vegetables, satisfied! Eggplant appetizer was unusual and delicious. Supertuscan red wine is tasty. Make a reservation if you'd like to dine outside! read more

Way over cooked. With some cheap clams tossed on at the end. No sauce. No flavor. Just a dry cracker. read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - Overcooked clam pizza - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

Back on LBK and catching up on life with friends, we came back to Ventura's after an extended absence. Bread, salad tossed in a nice wine vinaigrette is included. My flounder francaise was good but the sauce was a bit thick. Others opted for chicken parm,eggplant parm and a pizza bowl. Service was very good- our waitress kept our table in stitches with her witty comebacks . The chairs were incredibly comfortable. Plenty of parking in Whitney Beach shopping center. Overall, a good value. read more

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Wanted to give it a try with mix reviews we took a chance but sadly it was bad I mean expensive for what we got served . Carbonara had absolutely no carbonara taste and only got a few piece of meat but it was the fat no meat at all . I can't describe the taste my sister either . My other sister got the bolognese and and was able to eat it but said it taste just like school lunch the pizza was good . The waitress was nice . At the end while waiting to pay the chef left the restaurant and not sure if it was him or staff outside but got some very strong cigarettes smells coming . Ambiance is good but will never go back one of the worst place we tried in a long time read more

Our server was super outgoing, attentive & friendly! We ordered a Caesar & arugula salad to begin with & both were delicious...And for our main course, a Sicilian pizza, which was huge & amazing... Sitting out by the water on their shaded patio made it extra enjoyable! read more

We were there twice. We came back the second night for the pizza. First night I had veal marsala, Delicious! I forget what everyone else had-but it was great.Highly recommend! read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - Pizza with the works! Amazing!! - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

We enjoy their Sicilian pizza, meatballs, and fried zucchini. Last week, we had the shrimp pasta dish, which was excellent. However, their online system is quite buggy, so it's advisable to either call in or dine in. read more

Nice new Pizza and Italian food restaurant in Bradenton. No liquor license yet, but great Pizza and service. A wide variety menu that includes steamed clams and other higher end food. Try them out and enjoy a nice meal. read more

We got a pizza delivered from Ventura's on Cortez tonight, it was delivered hot and fresh, and it was delicious! Highly recommend! read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - 18" NY pizza with half pepperoni and half sausage - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

Great food- so good we can't wait to go back! Tried the Sicilian pizza as an appetizer-great crispy edge- was torn between eating it all or holding back and ordering from the menu. We did the latter... The gnocchi was so fluffy and amazing- seriously our whole table wants to go back just for those darn gnocchi!! We shared an arugula salad- good enough for 4. Also ordered eggplant parm, shrimp linguini with scampi sauce, chicken marsala. Eggplant was fried beautifully- so good! Their drinks also were strong and tasty.... Would come here and sit at the bar to enjoy them. Wanted dessert- but seriously, couldn't eat more... So happy they are here on LBK... Full bellies- so happy read more

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We stopped here very hungry for dinner after a day at the beach and we're not disappointed!!! Starting with the fresh salad and crispy warm bread, delicious!! Then I got "Deb's special" that is a Crispy chicken cutlet seasoned and fried to perfection served with buttered noodles and arugula salad, it was all really good!! My boyfriend got the lasagna which was also delicious! Would def recommend checking them out. We will be back!!! read more

Ventura's Italian Restaurant in Longboat Key is an absolute gem. The food is truly amazing--fresh, authentic, and full of flavor in every bite. The restaurant itself is quaint and charming, creating the perfect cozy atmosphere for a wonderful meal. The service is excellent, with such a warm, welcoming feel. The staff and owners are genuinely lovely and make you feel right at home. We highly recommend this restaurant it is truly a gem read more

Husband and I were visiting from out of town and have been to this restaurant many times before but disappointed Saturday night. Waitress, who had little experience as her day job is as a loan officer at a bank, said they were in "seasonal transition " and the wine selection was quite poor. New chef's recipes not as good as before. We had veal cannelloni and pasta with clams...both better with previous chef. Also, Debra Murphy, new owner, who was really attentive in the past, must have been at her new Cortez location with her chef. read more

Enjoy our experience at the new Bradenton location. The pizza was delicious and the service on point and pleasant. Great to see them expand into Bradenton. Hope others give them a try. You will be happy you did read more

Great food from appetizers to salad. Get the calamari and bruschetta. We had the shrimp scampi pasta, lasagna and three different pizzas all very good. Great service as well. Quiet and relaxed and they take reservations. read more

Just okay Italian food. Probably won't return. Place is in a plaza a bit odd no windows.

Amazing food; one of the best, authentic Italian meals I've had!! The service was wonderful!

What's for dinner tonight..? We decided to go out and drive to Long Boat Key and try a local spot called Ventura's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. I give it a rating! From the delious warm crusty Italian bread served with a warm marinara homemade sauce to our appetizer of tomato al cáptese salad and a house salad served family style. Bill had homemade veal stuffed cannelloni with a pink sauce and I had a beautifully prepared chicken Marsala with a side of rigitoni. We finished our meal with a piece of limoncello cake and I had 3 mini cannolis with whipped cream! Fantástico! Delicioso! read more

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Got to experience this gem of a restaurant on Longboat Key. It is located in a plaza and offered a lovely waterfront view whether you were just ordering drinks or dinner. They offer an extensive wine list and menu. Wait staff was very attentive and food was very good handed down from generations of italian family recipes. I will definitely be coming back and cant wait to bring my family to enjoy when they are in town again. read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - Beautiful view from outside dining - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

I absolutely hate to leave a bad review but not only were we extremely disappointed in the food but the service as well. Probably the worst, TASTELESS "Italian food" we have ever had. The pics on the website are very deceiving...Pasta sauce had no flavor, chicken parm was served with some shredded cheese on top and no sauce..???Appetizers were overcooked breading. Half the time we weren't even sure what we were eating... Lacked any sort of atmosphere, it felt like a pizza parlor...Only one server for a party of 40 and we made our reservation over a week in advance. The waitress tried her best but she seemed aggravated from the minute we arrived. We tried to keep the mood positive and up beat but she could care less and acted as though we a burden and gave us a unwelcoming feeling. This was supposed to be a celebration of great food and exceptional service.. FAIL! Recap: food had no flavor, overcooked and dry and our server was not friendly or inviting :( read more

Wonderful owners and staff. Tucked away in a shopping plaza in north end of Long Boat Key, this quaint Italian restaurant offers authentic Italian with warm and attentive service. You feel like the menu is made up of Grandma's recipes. Worth staying away from the chaos of St Armand's Circle. read more

We live pretty close and really want to like this place but the food we've had has been mediocre. We had 2 disappointing take out experiences when they first opened - pizza with crust that was wet in the middle, penne a la vodka that was too small to justify the price (note that the recipe includes ham) and a wet side salad - we decided to give them a few months to settle in before returning. Recently we ordered takeout, the margarita pizza was good with a tasty sauce, eggplant parm over pasta was on the small side and the tomato sauce was bland, and the pizza with toppings was floppy and soggy in the middle (see photo). They've got outdoor seating which looks nice. Takeouts entrees come with a salad but apparently only if you ask for it. Hoping Ventura's improves and succeeds. read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - Wet crust - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

If you are Italian this place is not for you. If you are not Italian and like below average dining then depending on what you order you might enjoy the food. The ambiance is just okay. There are Valentines and Christmas decorations still in place which made me think , "How clean could this place be?" There is a handwritten sign on a white board when you walk in behind the hostess stand that sets the mood by telling us that like everyone else they are short staffed and we should appreciate their staff and be patient. I guess that's the new post Covid Italian way. Additionally, The owner was seen in the bar and dining area but never asked how our experience or food was , nor did he thank us for coming there for dinner. The food was mediocre at best. We ordered Pizza. The crust was hard and crunchy like a cracker, it crumbled. Obviously we do not recommend this restaurant. This is the third time we have been back over a 6 month period. Each visit is worse than the previous. We wanted this restaurant to be good and to succeed. We wish everyone there the best, but they will get no more of our money for subpar food and less than average service. read more

Pasta so overcooked. Service was below average. It's way easy to bright in there. Not going back

Lobster ravioli with vodka sauce was amazing! House salad was delicious. They brought wine samples when I inquired about Italian wines that I was not familiar. Service was excellent. Everything in restaurant was refurbished after the recent hurricane. We'll be returning. read more

Wish we lived closer to come all the time!! Julie provided the best service! The owners came to the table and made us feel like family! Food was exceptional! Went for my birthday and it truly felt llle a special evening! We had the best table too. With a lovely view! Had the calamari, bruschetta, chicken parm, linguine and calls, chicken piccata, veal, grouper, ravioli. Kids chicken and meatballs... we had a big group and everyone was more than happy with their meal! read more

Visiting Longboat and the Mrs wanted pizza. We started with a house salad. We thought $10 is a bit pricey but they were so big we could have easily split one. It was filled with fresh greens with lots of crunchy veggies. The house dressing is olive oil and spices...YUM. We had a Sicilian pizza with sausage and mushrooms. The crust was crisp but still tender to bite. Not overly sauced makes for a great pie. We took 1/2 home! Our Morgan was great! Service overall on point. Empty dishes removed promptly but we did not feel rushed. It is in an older plaza but the inside has a rustic look. read more

Placed a late to go order and the food was amazing and so was the staff helping out and making sure I had been attended to. Felt the nice family vibe and will definitely be dining here. read more

We hosted a party for my mother in laws 70th birthday in their private room. The space was great for 11 people. We had a pre-fixed menu - bruschetta, pizza, salad, lobster ravioli and chicken piccata! It was all delish. read more

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The pizza was underwhelming. The waitstaff was inattentive. Sitting outside on the circle was very nice.

Quaint little Italian restaurant. If you don't want to cook then come here. They give you enough food on a plate to feed two people, easily. I ordered the linguine in an Alfredo sauce and it would have fed at least two kids. The Sicilian pizza is a huge rectangle. Chewy crispy crust, very good. The chicken bruschetta was big enough to feed 2-3 people. If you look at it as a plate per person, then you may think it's pricey, it's not if you consider the amount of food. Good taste as well. read more

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The sign says Open at 3 for Happy Hour! So we showed up,for the first time at 3:15. Looking forward to trying the new place. We came here when it was the Bayou. I go to open the door and it's Locked. I walked around to side Door Locked.. We called! No answer! Crazy!!!!! read more

We found Ventura's Friday evening and it was a lovely experience, from start to finish. Eating by the water is always special for us, but the people and food were outstanding. Olivia served us efficiently and promptly, making sure we got exactly what we wanted, and Deb, the owner chatted giving some history about the restaurant and her passion to serve great food. I had the Carbonara because it is made the "correct" way without sauce. It did not disappoint! Husband ordered pasta with marinara and shrimp. The marinara is wonderful ! ( yes, he gave me a taste) We shared the limoncello cake and it was as delicious as everything else. We are looking forward to a return trip! read more

Very busy place. Not much ambiance. Our side salads were pretty wilted and tasteless but the main dishes--spaghetti and meatballs and chicken cacciatore were excellent. We got right in but it took 20 minutes to get a soft drink and another 20 to take our order and another 20 to be served. I saw our waitress chatting with people at the bar and also next to us as I waited for my drink and then again for her to take our order. (The salads probably sat for 20 minutes which is why they were so wilted.) Perhaps if we got there before dinner time it might have been more timely. Not sure I'd return. Kudos to the chef, but the long wait for everything was disappointing. read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - Sad and wilted salad. - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

Delicious pizza, great atmosphere and attentive service. Although it appears to be crowded (especially during season) our wait for a table was quite short, and even though the servers were busy, we were given menus quickly and our wine arrived shortly after we ordered. The pizza crust isn't as thin and crispy as we enjoy in Italy, but the sauce and toppings are fresh and tasty. read more

The food was good and the portions were generous. I liked the ambiance and the look of the bar so we sat there. Mistake. The bartender was indifferent. A couple who came in after us and ordered pizza were done while we still waited for bread and our salads. I asked the bartender about getting some bread and she snapped, "We're busy". Finally, the bread and salads arrived and in less than a minute our entrees arrived. My wife wanted a refill on her coffee but the bartender never checked back with us. She even avoided looking in our direction. I wanted to mention it to the hostess as we left but we couldn't find her. Very disappointing. read more

Ordinary at best. They did deliver to my home on longboat and on time. The food had no taste. The pasta with pesto had no flavor of basil. The chicken piccata was equally bland. The broclini was probably the best part of the meal. Ordered two salad neither was very good or tasty. They did deliver on time. We will not be ordering again. read more

I love their pizza, but the consistency is lacking i ordered potatoes and vegetables a couple days ago and it was great! Order pizza and potatoes and vegetables tonight and received overdone pizza and just potato and vegetable. No seasonings and olive oil This was a disappointment read more

Ventura's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar - Italian Near Me - Longboat Key, Florida

Excellent food. Very large portions...leftovers provide 3 to 4 extra servings. Restaurant is spotless. Service is friendly & fast. Crispy bread great salad with homemade Italian dressing. 1 read more

I ate their the other nite with A group of 4. I ordered the chicken Francaise? It was so delicious. One other person Ordered the chicken parmigiana She likes the skin taken off but they don't here. The marinara sauce was just okay. They must not use salt in their food. We ordered the fried zucchini appetizer which was tasty but it came with the marinara sauce. The sauce needs more flavoring in it. The other couple ordered lobster ravioli and were pleased. The owners are wonderful and friendly read more