Jess Ferguson-Phillips
+5
Tired out this place with my partner for my birthday dinner tonight after a friend raved about their gnocchi to me the other day (I am a massive gnocchi fan). I have to say this is hands down one of my favourite restaurants I have ever eaten at. The food was not only to die for, but the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was so nice and intimate with soft lighting and candle lights. I cannot recommend this place enough. Anybody who enjoys food needs to come here and eat everything!
Omg!! Just loved the mouth watering food & the cosy cosy ambience of the place. Definite go to place for Italian!��
This was my first visit and we were blessed with being the first one in
Our host was amazing made us welcome
Now the food well mind blowing is the only word I can use quality meets flavours that took you to heaven
The cocktail was to die for so I loved the whole experience
Great food, great service, excellent wine list. Reasonable pricing. Highly recommend 👌
Wow this is a hidden gem and so very special. The atmosphere is very quaint and the food and service is absolutely wonderful. Don't go past this place as you'll definitely regret it!
Atmosphere, food, service and of course the imported beer and wines deserve a rating of 5 star++. The gnocchi were like clouds. All four of our party could not fault anything. Can't wait to return. A true authentic Italian experience
I can't recommend this place more. The best Gnoochi.. And the panna cotta!!! The man who makes them is a culinary wizard.
Might be the best Italian I've had. The service is pretty good too and the venue offers a great, intimate atmosphere.
The best little restaurant I've come across in years. Charming, cosy with a seemless mix of relaxed but attentive service. The food is gorgeous, simple authentic Italian flavours. You can't go wrong dinning here!
I needed pasta. These guys weren’t even open but they could see the desperate need for pasta in my eyes.... they opened the kitchen and cooked me the most incredible ragu. F I V E B I G S T A R S �����
We went there with some reservations as too often Italian restaurants outside Italy have just the Italian flags hanging there and nothing else to reflect authenticity.
Everything in there spells passion and knowledge, from the drinks menu where the Aperol Spritz is as good as you get in piazza delle erbe Padova, to the small but perfectly executed menu of Italian Classics.
The Arancini to share were crispy and accompanied by a simple yet rich tomato sauce and my partners vegeterian pasta dish had garden flavours all over it with the vegetables retaining a good al dente texture and spot on seasoning. I had spaghetti alle vongole where the flavours reminded me of a summer lunch in Italy.
The pasta however had too much water at the bottom where probably the Tua Tua were not drained properly but as John Legend says in his song `it was just a perfect imperfection`.
We finished up the evening with affogato and digestives thinking ahead the next possible excuse to make a return.
Great food, Atmosphere and wonderful attentive service!
BEST Italian I've had since Italy. Amazing food, great wine selection, cosy setting, and fantastic service.
Amazing! Great service, delicious food, what more could you ask for.
Went in on a Saturday night which was fairly busy.The Rigatoni and tiramisu was amazing and highly recommend trying it. Polite and friendly staff. Its my new go to spot for Italian food.
Everything was excellent. Lovely little restaurant. The pork ragu and gnocchi were great. The craft beers were surprisingly good as well.
We went on a Thursday night and the place was literally for us 🤩 The truffle mushroom gnocchi were delicious ❤ super friendly staff! Cozy place 👏 grazie!!! Will definitely come back!
Such good gnocchi and seafood spaghetti. Really lovely service as well. Couldn’t recommend more!
It's a very unassuming eatery, but definitely worth looking inside. The space itself is very small, so get in early or make a reservation. The staff are friendly. The food is made with wholesome flavours, and made with care, not the standard fast food type sauces! I had the stuffed calamari, which was very unique. Would definitely go again and try the other pastas and dishes they have on offer.
Amazing gnocchi!! We also love the melazane and the rigatoni 😋 cute and cosy little space. absolutely lovely service. Keeps us coming back!
Best Italian cuisine in Auckland. Staff were very friendly and the food were exceptional. Seafood pasta and eggplant were on the another level. Definitely recommend to all food lovers!
It was fantasitic , we used zomato gold and the food + service was superb.
Would definitely come back again.
오클랜드에서 와본 이태리 식당 중 제일 맛있었음
Thanks very much for the wonderful warm and hearty food!! the Putanesca was absolutely mouthwatering and what a beautiful ambiance this place has ❤️ Harshita was a great host and so friendly 😄 we will definitely be back.. thanks for such a lovely, cosy evening and great food!!
MEGW9062 For 20% Off Zomato Gold
+5
It's a tiny restaurant so make a reservation if you want a table on the weekend. The food is 10/10, some of the best Italian food we have had in Auckland. We had the stuffed calamari, the gnocci and the pana cotta. We will definitely be back to try everything on the menu.
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My last post for my @zomatonz Collection collab! I’ve had heaps of fun being involved this month, and now I’ll be passing this over to the next Zomato Collection foodie! Comment and tag to nominate someone who you think has got what it takes! (Disclaimer: the foodie will not be determined by the number of times someone is mentioned nor randomly picked). ANYHOW back to the food at 📍Venosa for some deliciously authentic Italian! We got: Melazane Fritte, Gnocchi, Spaghetti Putanesca, Carbonara, Rigatoni and Calamari Impiniti. -
• Melazane Fritte (9/10) crumbed and fried eggplant, this is an entree that you don’t wanna miss! The crumbed coating was crunchy yet light, encasing super soft eggplant that created a textural contrast on the palate. Mozzarella hardened for being left too long, but the bean purée was creamy and refreshing. Some extra seasoning would have been banging! • Gnocchi (11/10) OHH MYY @_takeawei and I were still dreaming about this the next day THE GNOCCHI WAS SO SOFT and melts away, reminded me of PILLOWS, yet without being overly chewy and you can taste the starchiness of Potato! The sauce is to die for, perfectly seasoned creamy truffle sauce, dotted with field mushrooms and dusted with cheesy flakes, I’m salivating as I write this 🤤
• Spaghetti (8/10) it’s got a kick of spice which perhaps overpowered the other flavours of the dish; pasta itself was cooked perfectly however, but best to eat when it’s hot! • Rigatoni (9/10) tomato-based, the pasta sits in slow-cooked Pork ragu which was zesty, smooth and flavoursome! A little bit more of that sauce would have sealed the deal for me. • Carbonara (8/10) pasta was a bit on the hard side, but the pancetta, parmigiana and egg yolk made it an enjoyable dish! I think some sauce or some more seasoning would have made this better! • Calamari (9/10) this is whole stuffed squid with a mix of prawn, sausage and herbs! Although portion size was not what we expected, I was personally impressed by the softness of the squid and the flavours of the stuffing! Flavour-wise the sausage overpowered the prawn, but the pomodoro sauce was the perfect condiment tie it together!
However we actually initially ordered Tahini Butternut Squash Pasts instead of the Spaghetti...
Food: 9/10
Price: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Ambience: 8/10
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A hidden gem in the heart of Kingsland, named after the family's hometown, this super cosy restaurant is serving up some delicious authentic Italian food!
The place is quite small and thus, easy to miss if you're not paying attention, seating only about 20 people. With the walls filled with photographs and shelves full of Italian ingredients and wine, the cosy and warm atmosphere does make the experience unique, giving customers 'a slice of Italy'. We were welcomed as soon as we walked in and seated by the window. Their menu is simple, working its way through appetisers to desserts from top to bottom.
For entrées, we were recommended the Melanzane - a crumbed eggplant with mozzarella, pesto and bean puree. The Melanzane did not disappoint and was definitely my favourite - I'm not usually a fan of eggplant but this is probably the only eggplant dish I've actually enjoyed - we loved it!
For mains, we had the Rigatoni, served with slow-cooker pork ragu, and homemade Gnocchi served with mushroom in truffle cream sauce. The only thing I would note is that the Gnocchi portion appeared rather flat on the plate. Nonetheless, both were great delicious options for the cold night and we devoured them quickly!
Overall, we were well looked after thanks to amazing and friendly service and we thoroughly enjoyed the food. Go give them a visit (plus they're also on Zomato Gold)!
Check out my insta @ohmyfoodiegoodie to follow more of my tried eats!
A cute little place in Kingsland. Actually feels like a little restaurant in Italy. Very European with its decor and ambience, absolutely loved every bit of it. Great customer service and amazing food. I would be going back for the gnocchi again and again. And beautiful selection of wines.I had a glass of Anglianico Riservera and it went really well with my main.
visited this place and enjoyed dinner with family. nice restaurant with great Italian ambiance ... was welcomed and served with big smile .. food was amazing... shall go back 100%
Lovely little restaurant located in the heart of Kingsland. Went on Zomato just because we wanted to explore different options and glad we did come here, the seafood spaghetti was fabulous, very nicely done, loved the subtle hint of spice in the noodles, the portion was good. Very good deal as bought Zomato gold so buy 1 get 1 free, my friend had the gnocchi!! Boy that was amazing and soft with a bit of chewiness! Amazing will defs visit again!!
Bit of a tight fit and you might miss it if you’re walking Past too fast. Worth coming on a weeknight because once this place fills up on a weekend night, no one leaves! Had the same spaghetti twice in row as it’s one of the best I’ve had.
A very cute, tiny place. Staff very friendly and quick service and turn around. Pasta was delicious. I had the Rigatoni, very tomatoey sauce with a nice tang. My partner got the seafood spaghetti which had a nice spicy kick. Would go again.
Some of the best pasta I’ve had in Auckland. Came out very quick, service was friendly and efficient. I’d try the Gnocchi and the Sausage/Peppers pasta.
One of the BEST Italian restaurants I've been to in a while. Amazing amazing menu which boasts SO many vegetarian options. Fav pick- Melzane Fritte. Never has an eggplant been given so much love.
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The entree I had from this place is the best I’ve EVER had.. it was eggplant double battered in breadcrumbs I believe, topped with mozzarella, tomatoes and pesto. Soo good, would come here for just that as a main for myself. Very cosy little Italian place, never really gone for Italian as my choice for dinner but this place changed my mind. Big fan now changed my view on Italian food a lot. Delicious pasta main, vegetarian and very olive oily which I loved with suttle other flavours. Dessert was really good too, very strong though needed a bit more ice cream to tone down the alcohol I thought. Prices were not too bad, high but worth it.
The only issue I had with this place was the service. There were two female waitresses, I’m assuming it’s a family owned business and they were the two daughters or something. They were friendly enough to order etc from but the kitchen was in view and they kept making faces at each other after people walked in and after people and I had ordered like they were just not bothered bout the whole thing. Seemed a bit judgemental and just didn’t want to be there. And it bothered me how I could see their reaction to it all. At least don’t let people see if your gonna roll your eyes because someone walked in for dinner at 8:30. Or just say sorry the kitchen is closed.
I’ll be back for the eggplant dish no doubt though, just hope they are in a better mood if working.
Small Italian restaurant with amazing atmosphere, cosy, friendly staff.
Really tasty cheese chips as a starter. Main meal was good, although looked almost the same even if we ordered different ones. You could only tell based on the shape, that one is rigatoni, second one is gnocchi :D Was ok though. Actually not very wide choice of meals, but wide range of drinks.
Very nice Italian Tiramisu as a dessert. Presented profesionally.
I loved the food there. I have been there on three occasions and each time I found the food to die for. Highly recommend the nocchi and also the eggplant dish. The lemon chello is so delicious to complete the picture.
Have you ever walked into a restaurant and knew the ambiance was perfect? If not, come to Venosa in Kingsland. As a born and bred New York Italian, Venosa is the only restaurant in Auckland that ticks all the boxes. The classic bruschetta is an amazing starter-- built to perfection. If you want a second starter, I recommend the fried eggplant- delicious! We had the gnocchi, rigatoni, and orecchiette-- all three to die for. To be honest, the gnocchi was homemade and astounding. The rigatoni's sauce was out of this world. And the orecchiette was mouth watering. The best, however, is saved for last. The tiramisu at Venosa is the best I have ever had. I could literally eat the whole cake if given the chance. I would ask the owner (who also serves you) about wine recommendations. His were spot on. Not to mention, his limoncello was brilliant. Venosa is a two-thumbs up!
My friends and I tried the food at Venosa a couple of weeks ago for the first time, and it certainly won't be our last visit. Amazing food, with friendly and helpful service. I really enjoyed my spaghetti carbonara (they kindly accommodated my request to replace the fettucine with spaghetti), and my friends couldn't stop raving about their meals either. I also tried some gnocchi from a friend's plate, and I LOVED it! I normally avoid gnocchi as I find it too stodgy and heavy, but the ones served at Venosa were super light and fluffy. I plan to make another visit soon so that I can order the gnocchi for myself 😊
Fresh, tasty ingredients combined with a great chef and atmosphere add up to make this restaurant something both delicious and special.
I ordered the gnocchi which were absolutely amazingly fluffy, soft pillows of downright tasty.
My partner order the Rigatoni, which in his description was "absolutely delicious" and when pressed said "yeah it was really good."
We had a couple of their Classic Italian Negronis, which were a great accompaniment to our dishes, and evening. We both really enjoyed our nights there, on a typical sunny Friday in good ol' Kingsland. The owner is a very cool host, too.
Super yummy! The arancini were a highlight. We had the rigatoni, gnocchi and cockle spaghetti (the special) which were all absolutely delicious.
I've only been to Italy once, and it was quite some time ago. This brought back some great memories - small restaurant with fresh food prepared with love and care and a friendly owner who understands what it means to provide customer service.
In a word? Faultless.
The gnocchi was to die for and we after attempting to share a tiramisu, we quickly need another - it was THAT good. I'd have to say this is the best Italian dining experience in New Zealand.
It's tiny and it's busy - so book ahead and turn up hungry!
I walk past every day, kept promising I'd visit, finally went in, was going to buy the more expensive antipasto but instead was recommended the cheaper $12 rigatoni special, and it was all good, tasty, hot, ample. The owner is a really friendly guy, fits right into the Kingsland scene Definitely will go back with others.chur
npk
I love this place. The atmosphere, the food, the gnocchi and the staff. Dave is a great host and makes you feel very welcome. The whanau story is lovely and it's a great place to diuck in and out or stay a long time.
Such an amazing dinner! One of the best whole dining experiences I have had in a long time. The service was incredible, I was recommended the perfect wine, the arancini balls were impossibly good and the gnocchi was lighter than a cloud. I can't believe I didn't know about this place until yesterday - it has fast become my new favourite in Auckland. Can't wait to go back.
Absolutely fabulous little place with wonderful personal service. Meals were delicious and very reasonably priced. Great wine selection and knowledgeable staff that made us feel very welcome. Excellent vibe. Great night. Love it, we will be back!
Been here twice now and it is absolutely amazing. The Rigatoni with pork ragu is superb as well as the Gnocchi.Great atmosphere and service
Tonight we had dinner at Venosa. I was surprised I could get a table on a Friday night. I have to say we have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in both New Zealand and Australia and Venosa can hold its own. I would even rank it above George Calombaris's Greek restaurant. Venosa is a great little restaurant with great food. And we are so happy that it is our local. I'm sure we will spend countless evenings there. Keep up the good work
Came here on Monday night. Service is always warm and welcoming. The food is outstanding. had three dishes that were recommended. Had leftovers for the next day which were even better! This is a new fav. Perfect warm little place for winter.
most definitely our favourite restaurant.
authentic to its core..
friends traveling from out of town said 'book Venosa! its our new favourite!'
Definitely in my top three Italian places in Auckland. The food is so, so good.
The arancini is a must. I have no idea how these guys do it. Super light and crispy on the outside with a fluffy, soft interior. Antipasto of the day is always beautifully made.
Their current soup of ham hock and beans is out of this world delicious. The best soup I've ever had hands down. A silky smooth stew akin to gravy with buttery beans embodied with the insane flavour of salami, prosciutto and pancetta.
The gnocchi is pillowy soft. The best of it's kind. All I could ask for is a custom dish of gnocchi and the incredible pork ragu usually served with the rigatoni. Perfection.
The green Arancini is a beautiful blend of pesto, risotto and olive oil. Served on a bed of promodoro sauce and rocket leaves, it is one of the most simple yet scrumptious dishes in entree menu. Loved it. Thank you chef!
Celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary with a meal at Venosa. Everything was just tops. Great service, wonderful food and wine. I'll definitely be going back. If you haven't been yet and enjoy truly authentic Italian food, put this place on your list and go.
Can't understand why this place isn't rated higher.. All the reviews are positive and after coming through here multiple times I can easily say this place is one of my favourite places to eat in Auckland.
Service is outstanding, totally knowledgable, friendly, helpful and accommodating. The food is authentic, fresh & delicious. The set up is warm, inviting and homely. And the price is more than reasonable.It doesn't have a downside.. Except that I can't eat enough food to justify just saying 'one of everything' when it comes to order.
OMG AS AUTHENTIC AS IT GETS. If Italian food is your thing you will love love love Venosa. Gnocchi is heaven sent, the atmosphere was awesome when we went great background music and the host was just lovely. Looking forward to going back so many yummy things to try
Awesome delish amazing food from chef Colin and Dave, the owner, is the host with the most. Been back many times, looking forward to 2016 menu. Go team V!!!
One of the best dining experiences I have had in Auckland in a very long time. Finally real Italian food and proper Arancini and Gnocchi. Fantastic atmosphere and service. Great drinks selection. Didn't have time to try the desserts but will certainly be back soon to try the Pana Cotta
venosa is a tiny little restaurant, with old family photos on the wall and a lovely home-y, intimate atmosphere. the menu is small and totally kick-arse. this is italian done right, super delicious and well portioned. the gnocchi in a triple meat ragu' is light and fluffy and rich and divine... probably the most popular dish on the menu at the moment and rightly so (imho). decent prices, all mains in the low 20s.
highly recommended!
We were the first table to arrive at the dinner, and the food was delightful and authentic. Despite there being only one lady serving the entire restaurant at that time, she was really nice and attentive. I would definitely recommend coming again for more pasta.
Amazing place, really kind staff and cozy home vibe, great tasting italian food if you’re looking for traditional cooking with a twist, and very decent pricing too!
We love Venosa. It's authentic, rustic and delicious.
Please ignore the Maddie W review, this is not representative of the heart and care that the owner gives towards her customers and the yummy food.
Some customers are never happy and it's sad that one person's impossible expectations can damage a hard working and lovely business, and just so unfairly!
Go to Venosa, enjoy the wine and authentic Italian food. Have a yarn to the owner - she's awesome!
Amazing food. The gnocchi was so fluffy and light - best gnocchi I've ever had. We also had the Italian sausage and peppers pasta which had an amazing kick to it. The negroni is strong - just FYI as damn it hit like a champ. The owner is super lovely and friendly, this place is amazing for date nights and catch ups.
We have had dinner here twice in the past fortnight. The food has been exquisite. Loved the eggplant dish, the chickpea pasta, and my favourite the pork ragu. Highly recommend a visit for some old school ambience
Great food, great service! I got the gnocchi in truffle cream and my partner got the meatball pasta. Mama Mia! I looove the truffle cream so much I ordered a serving of garlic bread to mop up the cream. The meatballs taste like they are made in house and not frozen store bought ones.
We also ordered the crumbed eggplant for our entrée. Omg, I never knew eggplant could taste like this!
The manager on duty, Mamta, really completed the entire experience. She made us feel right at home with her superb service.
The Gnocchi was perfect. The softness and taste was flawless.
Went here with my girlfriend for an early dinner. Owner was very nice and attentive to us and gave us a table although we hadn’t booked prior. We ordered the Pork Ragu and side Bread. Food came out quickly and tasted lovely. Great experience & Would come again.
Lovely restaurant - have been here a couple times now so feel qualified to leave a good rating. Food is great, they do my favourite garlic bread in all of Auckland and the tiramisu comes highly recommended. Staff are friendly and attentive, and the whole place has a lovely, warm atmosphere. Definitely a great place for a night out.
Lovely authentic Italian restaurant with a charming owner who multitasks cooking, greeting customers, always checking up and assists with payment. The food is authentic Italian food that reminds me of the meals my father cooked for me (we are Sicilian). The atmosphere is very homely and cosy, especially romantic if you are going on a date! I highly recommend the tiramisu. Very fairly priced too.
Ignore the bad review some of them are baffling! Don’t take advice from gluttons that need 3 servings to feel full or people who receive 50% off their bill but STILL complain because they fail to read T&Cs on their deal.
A little gem in Kingsland. Delicious Italian food, every mouthful was spot on. It’s a very small restaurant but the food and service is really good. Our knowledgeable waitress was passionate about the food she helps cook. The Italian and Spanish red wine we ordered was lovely and smooth, we polished off two bottles with a table of 4. And they were playing Italian music, helped with the ambience. Will be back again.
Underated Italian restaurant serving traditional dishes. I ordered the cabonara and tiramisu. Never had cabonara like that before it definitely exceeded my expectations and the tiramisu was to die for!! So soft and melts in your mouth. Will be back for sure!
Okay hear me out. This place may have American music.
But I tell you what, AMAZING Italian food. The Gnocchi is creamy, balanced spaghetti puttanesca is balanced, spaghetti bolognese and amazing tomato sauce.
If you're concerned about drinks, the negroni is phenomenal.
It was a great experience. We had a lovely and friendly host. The food preparation was timely, and the atmosphere was fantastic. And of course the food was amazing. Loved the experience, and we will be there again soon...
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