I went here because the reviews on Yelp were great. I went with the chicken parm - and it was very good. The sauce was delicious! The service was outstanding. read more

This is one of the better authentic Italian restaurants in the Utica Area. Service is alway outstanding and the food is fine quality and very consistent. Nini the owner and son RJ are always there to welcome you. Would recommend as a place to go regularly. read more

Authentic Utica Italian at its finest! You will be pleasantly surprised at quality of the food and service!

Classic Utica establishment. Not much has changed over the years, and thats the way it should stay. There is so much history here, and family, it really is a class act. Let me first start by saying that I have no pictures of the atmosphere or gorgeous dishes, why? Because they menu has a nice line asking cell phones to stay away. It is a refreshing change to see a restaurant full of people actually talking to each other instead of having their faces in a phone, so I wanted to honor that. In addition, the family patriarch/owner wanders the restaurant constantly to make sure everything is great, and he should be respected for all his years of hard work. I will have to do my best to paint you a picture. The staff is dressed to the nines with bow-ties. Their service is impeccable, even holding the door for you as you enter. The tables are adorned with cute little oil lamps and fine china. Your water is constantly kept full, and my ice tea... each refill came in a new glass with the paper still on the top of the straw. We started with the greens for the table, which were a hearty portion and delicious. There is also the fresh out of the oven italian bread with olive oil for dipping. The second course was salads with house-made dressing, and one of our party had the Italian wedding soup with a really flavorful broth, all very good. The main course was manicotti and lasagna. We opted to get meatballs as a side. The pasta is made in house, as well as the tomato sauce, all perfectly done and decent portions. For desert, the large cannoli, the piece de resistance. Everything really was perfect. For a final thought, I recommend parking in their dedicated lot, which is secure, as this has become not the best area of the city. read more

Had not been in Ventura's 25 years. The interior got a complete makeover and much needed. Very nice now, very well done. The food was as I remember, they do a nice assortment of standard Italian well. If you have never had zuppa de pesce or braciole, I do recommend trying. One area of improvement is typical of Italian restaurants that have been around 50 years or more: They don't get modern salad. What they serve is a 1950's iceberg lettuce dressing delivery system. It's fresh, but times have changed most people want a mix of dark green lettuce. The Utica greens (escarole with stuff) are among the best in a city where really good greens are standard. Veal, Riggies, Seafood, all excellent. Can't go wrong here. read more

Had great meal today at Ventura's From the antipasto Salad greens and beans to our entrees excellent meal and Mo our waiter was great delivering our delicious food !!!!!! Plus the history about the Yankees great pictures Will be back soon w friends to enjoy another great meal !!!!! read more

First off, I would definitely go back. I love the old Italian family run restaurant vibe from the staff. The decor is a bit dated but our party of 8 had an enjoyable experience. My chicken francais was undercooked, however, I know they took it personally to try to make it right for me and I appreciated their efforts. I think next time I'll try something else but there will be a next time. read more

This gem in the city is owned by a very wonderful family. It was opened in 1943 and is still going strong. Ventura's takes pride in their business and this is shown by the cleanliness and friendly atmosphere. Nice table linens candles on table, etc. The food is always delicious and the sauce is the best in Utica. The Chicken Francaise is my favorite and my husband loves their Veal dishes. We love this place and it is one of our favorites. The ambiance is what we really enjoy and although we don't go there a lot and usually for special occasions we are always treated so nice and feel so welcomed. It's an older establishment and many people don't realize how wonderful this place is. If you never have been there or haven't been there for awhile please give it a try. Many famous NY Yankees have passed through their door and one can enjoy seeing photos of DiMaggio, Berra and many more. 787 Lansing St Utica NY 315 732-8381 read more

Ventura's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

So I have never eaten there but the thing that makes me appreciate this restaurant is the fact that they wanted to do something for essential workers so they gave the company i work for some gift certificates and cookies from caruso's bakery. Even though I wasn't one of the lucky ones i would like to say thank you. read more

We held our after funeral luncheon there. The service was second to none, and the food was delicious. There was a nice variety to please everyone, and it was a great value. Thanks, so much! Linda A. read more

I had the Italian platter. The ravioli, lasagna, and pasta were all excellent. However, don't opt for the Italian platter, if you don't like hot sausage. The braccioli was good, except for being overcooked. My father had the Vitello Alla Maria which was very good. My mother had the Pollo Alla Francaise which was alright. read more

I know this is a controversial topic, but Ventura's has the best greens in the city. That statement alone is probably sufficient for a five star review, but there's a lot of other stuff that I also like. I tried the riggies for the first time there despite having been to Ventura's for everything from my first communion to my grandparents' 50th anniversary and they were delicious. There were halves of cherry peppers, the sauce was delicious, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Utica and competition is stiff. It is worth the visit, even if you're just passing through on the thruway. read more

Always great, love the atmosphere. The owner and staff are always welcoming and friendly. This and Grimaldi's were always my favorite east Utica joints. Unfortunately Grimaldi's has closed :( read more

So, I am conducting a Leadership Development class for a corporation in Utica, NY and have come to find out that Utica has one of the highest per capita population of Italians in the US. WIN! As someone of Irish, Italian and Romanian descent, I consider Italian food wonderful and am exceptionally partial to it. I did some research and came across one of the oldest family run Italian restaurants in all of Utica - Ventura's Restaurant. Classic, well prepared old school Italian food. I arrived shortly before they opened for dinner service where I met Rufus J. Ventura, III, the current family owner, who opened his arms and the restaurant even before it officially opened for the evening. He poured me a glass of wine, took my order, and listened as I bemoaned the fact that Burlington, Vermont is not a haven of good Italian food. He even seated me, as the lone guest in the dining room, in what he called "Yankee Corner" - a table next to all of the signed NY Yankee pictures from the famous players that have graced Ventura's from the 1940's to this day. The food was incredible and Rufus even gifted me with a jar of their sauce to take back with me to Vermont. I loved this place! Hoping to book another corporate consulting gig here in Utica so that I have an excuse to come back and eat here again. Mangia! read more

Ventura's Restaurant - Wonderful homemade gnocchi in house sauce with meatballs. Classic Italian done exceptionally well. Mangia! - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

**This was a To-Go order** The staff was super nice. Bartender was an attractive young man with a totally sexy scar... ;) I think the owner was there and he was also super nice. Food was superbly wrapped up; no spills possible, which is a relief! The greens were tasty but SUPER spicy. Definitely the best I've had so far. Chicken Alla Francaise was amazing. The cut of chicken was great: no fat, no sinew, all meat. The buttery, lemony sauce was ridiculously good! The meal also came with, like, a whole loaf of what looked like homemade bread and had butter and cheese on it. It also was very good. This place rocks. I will be going again before I leave and I'm taking my friends with me. Everyone needs to come here for the amazing food and incredible staff! read more

Best eggplant parm, a solid competitor for the best I've ever had. Took my family here and everyone ate all the food we ordered. Lots of empty plates. We needed a spot to eat on our trip back from Niagara, and thought this place looked good. It certainly was. Well worth a quick detour. Staff is very friendly, service is good. Happy 5 stars. read more

This was delicious, authentic Italian food with excellent service. Our party of three had very different orders and each was very good. While they were slow for a Monday, we were greeted and seated quickly and served quickly and efficiently as well. The bread was divine. read more

My significant other and I ended up here after trying Joe's which was closed on a Sat night. Both are situated in not so great part of town. I give 3 stars, subtract one for neighborhood and one for the way we were handled for an issue. Meals started off with very yummy bread and an oil/pesto dip. I had chicken parm with a side of pasta which was to die for. GF ordered meat lasagna which she liked but where was the meat? Since she is diabetic she needs to balance carbs/proteins. Spoke to waitress who called over owner/mgr. Mikeyed with the bill subtracting & adding etc....but the net result was zero was done. I thought that was a low blow. read more

Stopped in for lunch today overall very impressed very nice classic ambiance! My Chicken Riggies were excellent and my uncles Prime Steak sandwich was as well! Our waiter Armond was very professional he made suggestions and was very attentive! read more

Absolutely wonderful food and what makes it even better is the staff. Very friendly. You get such an old school feel eating there. They treat you as you are a guest in their home. Everything we ordered was very good portions and priced well. I couldn't recommend this restaurant any more to someone who has never been there. read more

My family and I went here for a birthday dinner tonight and it was delicious. We were greeted by the owner and the server was knowledgeable and very put together. The waiters were all dressed very well and the atmosphere was clean and classic. Between the scallops, gnocchi, calamari, and the desserts everything was delicious. Would recommend for sure read more

This place is a private italian restaurant. Came with the family two kids. It was Soo good. Pizza for kids and we had pasta dishes. Very good. Highly recommend. Original authentic food. read more

Chicken riggies were excellent. The bread was hit fresh and very tasty. My wife had cheese ravioli that she said was good. My only complaint is they charged us for each glass of tea. Really? How much does tea cost? read more

Even though this is not my type of restaurant, we went there because it was a childhood destination. I'll have to admit I was impressed. The service was professional, and they were able to accommodate my 'no eggs, meat or dairy' request despite a menu rife with same. Almost every selection has either beef, chicken, fish or cheese in some form or fashion. The waitress suggested their Utica Greens, which they made without cheese. They were quite good. The wine list was extensively Italian and fantastic. Recommend this place if you are wanting classic old school Italian fare. The rest of my party were satisfied as well. read more

Terrible, terrible experience - besides super friendly and courteous staff, there's really nothing to write home about... I'm shocked by the positive reviews as my experience was absolutely awful. I'm thinking may be the chef had a bad day? We ordered friend calamari and the greens - the calamari were rubbery and tasteless, absolutely overwhelmed by the breading (that's really the only thing that had flavor). The greens - again, tasteless - if it wasn't for an incredibly amount of cayenne pepper (guessing) there wouldn't going to be a taste, period. We also ordered the tagliatelle in alfredo sauce and some sort of steak - it just can't get worse than that (sorry!). Again, not much flavor in anything ... no flavor really and steak reminded me of a frozen dinner. Sad, sad experience .. read more

Super old-school Italian joint. The B&W celeb pics on the walls are worth the trip alone! The best greens in Utica, and that's saying a lot. Chicken riggies come spicy or sweet, and definitely no skimping on the chicken. Cocktails were well-mixed (maybe a little too well-mixed; thankfully my Mom was driving). The neighborhood has changed but this place has not. Recommended. read more

We were fortunate to be seated (without a reservation) shortly before 9:00pm on a Saturday night. We understand it had been an extremely busy evening for this fabulous restaurant yet the service, the atmosphere and the food were perfect. Our wait person, Erin was outstanding, patient and made excellent recommendations all around. By the way, the seafood Newburg we split as an appetizer was out of this world and the fresh baked bread is to die for! Don't miss the opportunity to dine here... hands down one of the BEST family run restaurants this Sicilian Italian had ever eaten at. read more

Yelp did not let us down. Phenomenal greens, wheat pasta hats, chicken cacciatore, lasagna, sausage, and funny enough, the best meatball pizza I have ever eaten. Marinara is superb and owner gave us a complementary jar on way out. App, 4 entrees, 6 drinks for $126. Very fair esp. given the large portions. Had lunch next day with leftovers. Easy 5 stars. Clean and great service. read more

As we sat down for our meal we were given olive oil and butter but no bread until we asked for it. The Anchovies Pizza had more anchovies per bite than most entire pizzas making it quite unappetizing. I also had the first fettuccini Alfredo in my life that lacked cheese. Overall our dining experience was below par at best. I would not reccomend this place to anyone. read more

Went on a Friday nite with girlfriends...restaurant was not busy. Food was below avaerage def not worth what I paid...they said they made their own pasta I doubt that! read more

I'm a California raised gal, but I was born in Utica NY. That's where my family's roots belong. I didn't visit much until my mom passed, now my dad and I come every year. If you're not from a town like this I really can't explain what it's like, even more so when you're Italian from a place like East Utica. We had dinner here on our last visit to Utica with my dad's old pals. Not only is the food fantastic but the place reeks with history. Look at all the pictures on the wall. If you're sitting at the bar and see any elders around you, try to have a conversation and ask about the old days. read more

We are Ventura regulars when we are in town. The place is amazing. Spectacular food (bring your appetite), excellent service, elegant ambiance (soft background music, crisp linen tablecloths and napkins),and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Ventura's is family run, and it shows. There is personal attention to detail in every aspect. I am Italian/Sicilian, and very fussy about Italian food...essentially, I hate to pay for anything that I can cook better! Well, I would eat at Ventura's 7 days a week. We have never had a bad meal or less than wonderful experience. I can't offer a recommendation because EVERYTHING is great! Don't miss an opportunity to dine here...the operative word being "dine", as Ventura's is fine Italian dining at its best! Ignore the neighborhood...Ventura's has a large, lighted parking lot, and the neighborhood, if not elegant, is very safe. read more

I'm partial to locally owned restaurants and this place was exactly what I was looking for. Great ambiance and the food was very, very good...don't eat too much of their outstanding bread or you won't have room for dinner. Reasonably priced. Would have been 5 stars if they would have had better creamer for their coffee. They made Chicken Picatta for me which is not on their menu. The Picatta sauce was 1 word...YUM. read more

I stopped in Utica on our way home from Toronto. We were looking for a place for dinner. My son has a nut allergy so it's difficult to find a place safe for him. We put it in our gps and it took us to the parking lot. We almost left but figured out the restaurant was a half a block past the lot. They made a pasta with garlic and oil for my nut allergy son and made sure there was no cross contamination in the kitchen. I had a veal dish with eggplant and vegetables in a tomato sauce that was great and my wife ordered chicken parmigiana with pasta and was surprised how fresh everything was. The waiter was great and everyone there was friendly. read more

After reading the Yelp reviews for this place, we headed here for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon when passing through the area. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be, but I wasn't dismayed either. We got the chicken riggies (mix of sweet and spicy), fettuccine Alfredo, fried calamari, and the greens. It was all good, but not spectacular. The salad was small and overly drenched in dressing. The Alfredo sauce was on the oily and bland side. The calamari was okay, but the dipping sauce was a shrimp cocktail sauce heavy on the horseradish. I'm used to a nice spicy marinara for dipping, and I wasn't thrilled with the cocktail sauce. The portion of the riggies was impressive. Not so with the fettuccine. The waitress was a little stiff in the beginning, but she warmed up after a bit and became downright friendly and borderline delightful. The owner greeted us pleasantly in the beginning, but ignored us on the way out (and there was only one other table occupied in the whole restaurant at that time). The prices weren't great, but not bad. The price of a soda, however--ridiculous! For a diet coke it was $2.50 for a small glass overfilled with ice. AND--no free refills. So two tiny sodas cost $5. The atmosphere was quaint by some people's standards. I found it outdated and dingy. Four tables were filled when we arrived, all with senior citizens. We were a family of four: my partner and myself, our 7 year-old, and our 4 year-old. It definitely didn't feel like a family-oriented restaurant on any level, which even my 7 year-old daughter noted aloud. But with a little guidance, our waitress met us halfway as best she could. The background music ranged from 70s disco to Frank Sinatra. It was an interesting experience. read more

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Very disappointed with the food and service.....the wait for our meal was exceptionally long, even tho we were the only customers in the restaurant .....and the food was delivered cold. Entrees ordered were veal parm.....veal Marsala......cavatelli......and rigatoni. The veal was like shoe leather.....and had absolutely no taste.....the rigs were dry and barely covered with sauce.....and the cavatelli was drenched in garlic oil. The best part of the meal was the garlic bread.....salad....and Ventura greens......entree portion size was small. Needless to say....we will not be returning to this establishment and never recommend it . read more

Venturas restaurant is a must if your looking for wonderful food, wonderful service, and decent prices! I have to say that out of every restaurant that I been to in the area (and I've been to a hell of alot), Venturas has the best veal in the city and area, hands down. There is a good family atmosphere there were alot of locals go to dine. read more

Delicious!! Everyone in our party of six choose something different from the menu and everyone was happy with their meal. Wish I lived closer so I could go there again soon. read more

Ok... The place could use a little a TLC but it wouldn't be as original and authentic if they did a total revamp of the place. We were the first ones to come in for lunch and the quiet setting threw me off but within minutes the music started along with the good times. Enjoy the photos on the wall and enjoy your meal... I sure did read more

Ventura's Restaurant - Chicken parm lunch portion. It had that flavor good parms have. Enjoy it - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

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What a good meal. I haven't been here since I was little but the food is still sooooo good! The service was wonderful as well.