Came here on a Saturday night, busy little place and we got takeaway, friendly staff and great food, dining in is a little more expensive compared to takeaway though but overall experience here was great and will be back for some more pasta
Stopped here a few weeks ago for dinner and absolutely loved it! The staff here are beyond lovely, very attentive and helpful, even going as far as to suggest a customisation to make the dish even better! Will definitely be back here again
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FANTASTICO!!! Bravo!
High: The most SUBLIME PIZZA!!
Low: no booth seating anymore : (
Dog friendly: outside tables only
This was the 1st pizzeria in Browns Bay ever! My parents used to take me there when I was a kid in the 80s. (Yes, that was a VERY long time ago) And it was soooo exciting because it was foreign, back in the day when our dining experiences were extremely limited AND there as booth seating!!!!
So I have very sentimental fond memories of this restaurant. For many decades I never ventured back because it had changed hands it just was never going to live up to those good old days...
UNTIL NOW!!! A group of 5 of us were in Browns Bay and in need of some food and I thought it was time to give Buon Venuti a go again. I was transported back to my 7 year old self (and my adult backpacker self with this authentic Italian pizza that was totally mouthwatering!
We cannot get enough and make excuses to go to Browns Bay just to order pizza.
Chef is ex Toninos in Mission Bay when it was owned by an old Italian - so he knows his stuff. My only other fave pizza place is Prego but Buon Venuti wins hands down when it comes to decadent pizza.
Takeout and enjoy beachside down the road or dine in at the rustic little red and white checked tablecothed tables with cute kitch dishes.
YOU HAVE TO GO try for yourself!!!! I wish these photos could convey just how mouthwateringly scrumptious, juicy and topping crammed these pizzas are.
I often don’t leave reviews but this restaurant I felt like I needed to voice how much of a great experience I had, the waiter was very friendly/ helpful and attentive and the food was delicious, will definitely be returning again :)
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Authentic little Italian restaurant perfect for a family dinner after a day at the beach.
Service: 7/10
When we walked inside there was no one at the front of house nor at the bar so we had to try to get the attention of the staff inside the kitchen.
The waitress was very lovely and got us our utensils and water, and often checked up on us to see if we needed anything.
The food took about half an hour which is a little long considering the restaurant only had one other table and there were two workers in the kitchen.
Food: 8/10
We ordered the garlic bread pizza, gnocchi with blue vein cheese with cream and veal masala.
The garlic bread pizza was quite small and the flavour closely resembled a spring onion pancake, and didn’t really taste like garlic, but still tasted great.
The gnocchi was super heavy and had a strong blue cheese and parmesan cheese taste. As time went by, a pool of oil started to form on the top of my pasta. The gnocchi itself was a little inconsistent in texture, some were harder some were mushier, but overall it was pretty good.
The veal had been tenderised so thoroughly it basically fell apart at the touch of the knife. The mushroom sauce was very tasty and the vegetables were roasted nicely.
The portions were okay for the price, my mother was full but I’m a big eater so it’s pretty hard for me to get stuffed.
Ambiance: 7/10
This is a lovely little space for a small family dinner if you’re craving some Italian food. It’s a little cramped inside so I wouldn’t recommend it for large groups of people.
There’s some calming italian music playing in the background and the restaurant is pretty peaceful and quiet.
There are beautiful paintings and art on the walls, and the dark lighting helps create a romantic elegant atmosphere.
This is a great place for a nice meal and I would recommend this place if you’re in the area. The portions are decent and the prices are quite affordable.
Such an incredible little gem.
It's always pretty quiet but the food is amazing. I solidly recommend it, it's got a cute little vibe, great for a date or group dinner.
This is one of my favourite little places to visit. It is one of my favourite local spots.
Please check this place out if you have time.
Very polite and welcoming staff (both the waiter and the chef) and amazing food. Quiet and cozy place. The lasagna is worth trying. Everything impeccable.
We had a lovely meal, blue cheese gnocchi was great, so was the special veg cannelloni. Also had another pasta dish from their special black board that was good! Definitely going back, to try their pizzas. Staff were really helpful and friendly.
I have been in this restaurant few times and every time I had great service and foods are mouth watering delicious all dishes and pizza are so good that makes me go back every time ...great place to eat...
We came here last night for my dads birthday dinner. The food was great and service was excellent. Our table ordered funghi pizza, the venison special, vegetarian cannelloni + spaghetti peperoncini al'aglio and everyone was very happy. I'm vegan and even though none of the desserts are vegan our server went and checked to see if any of the gelato were dairy free and two flavors were so i was able to enjoy dessert with everyone else. Thanks!
Heard that there were new owners and thought I'd better give it a try. The service was very friendly, menu extensive, and the pizza was one of the best I have ever tasted. The ravioli that I had for entree really tingled the taste buds too. Overall a great experience.
I have been so many time to this restaurant. it's the typical Italian restaurant, ran and managed by a family. it's his point of strength. it's like to eat at home. everything is made at the moment, so fresh and prepared on the spot. Gina is a fantastic chef! try the pizza and you won't be disappointed!
Always enjoyed the food here, authentic Italian food. Sometimes the service can be a bit slow when busy, but we normally go early so usually have quite fast service.
Reading through the reviews I can't help to wonder how many of the low ratings are actually posted to the wrong restaurant, i.e. the one with the same name located in Papakura.
Absolutely loved the food and our visit here tonight. The staff we really lovely, beautiful atmosphere and WOW the food is amazing! We will definitely go back. It's not often I would give a 5/5 but I just couldn't fault this place so it would be wrong to give it any less!
It's my son's favourite Italian restaurant- what can I say?
The food is yummy, servings are generous and the crew are amazing.
They get quite busy.
love this place, been here many times. i do admit the service and food arrival time can range from poor to excellent depending on the night but it doesn't faze me as the food is always amazing! i will go back again and again!
My partner and I have dined here a few times now , as well as getting takeaway meals from time to time. We have both enjoyed the meals immensely , especially the tortellini dish ! The service is of a very high standard and impressive. We would definitely recommend checking out Buon Venuti .
Love this place, has great food, great atmosphere food always tastes great! My favourite is the Galliano chicken recommend it highly! If your looking for good Italian food this is the place to go :)
I'm not a food expert by any means but every time I go there I love it. It's a quite little place where you can have fun.I won't mess around and say I get the chicken crepes (that sauce, this one is out of this world) and then the Gina special (what a pizza) can't go wrong with this combo, see you soon Mumma, I'm coming home,
Buon Venuti is a small family run restaurant in Browns Bay. It is home cooked style food, like you'd get in Italy. The atmosphere is very relaxed, food is superb, and the staff very friendly. We have been going to this restaurant for about four years, and we go there to relax, enjoy the whole experience, and not be rushed. Would, and have recommended this restaurant to anyone.
Been going here for many, many years- never had anything but a great meal, the homemade pasta, the creamy sauces, the flavours! There's a reason we keep coming back. The food, the family atmosphere, the charming ambiance- everything about this restaurant is top notch.
Grant and Denise
Oh yes. Really good authentic Italian, at a great price! The staff are fantastic, I believe it's family run but I may be mistaken. Hidden away, we almost missed it but I'm so glad we called in for dinner.
This is one of our regulars, cheap and cheerful authentic Italian food. New owners but just as good as previously. Recommended for a value meal with friendly service
it's a small place in Browns Bay not on the main street but the food it's great. It is for sure a taste of Italy and it is done pretty much the way food is cooked in Italy. It is a family owned place and the whole family works there so the atmosphere it's great.
Delicious authentic Italian food served in a lovely atmosphere! The pizzas here are great and in the same style that you would get them in Italy. We also had a chicken dish with a creamy sauce that was just heavenly. The restaurant itself has a nice atmosphere with a rustic feel to it and Italian national colours everywhere.
Authentic Italian, reminds me of the restaurants we ate at in Italy. Delicious food! Nice range on the menu too. Ambient atmosphere, friendly staff, Will definitely return. Thank you for the beautiful meal
Delicimo! After a simple google of restaurants in Browns Bay, we decided to head along to Buon Venuti - we were not disappointed. The welcome and ensuing service was excellent. The ambience was cosy and pleasant, a warm busy-ness in the kitchen and on the restaurant floor that is well attended and managed by Maria. Everything is cooked a la carte so flavours are full and fresh - well done Gina! My cozzo (mussels) and aubergine parmigiana were taste sensations! We will be back! Thank you for a most enjoyable dining experience.
We have been going to Bueon Venuti for years. Gina and Maria are excellent cooks, The food is always great. 10/10 Laura the waitress is great too. Very friendly staff and food to die for. Try the chicken crepes.
In one word - YUMMY!
I loved the Italian atmosphere and music! It took me back to Italy! The steak was perfect! And the home-made tirimisu was to die for! I've read the reviews about the service but still thought i'd give it a go! I had no problem with the service! Our waitress was very friendly and brought our drinks instantly!
It was great to return to Buon Venuti, and just as great to find things hadn't changed.
Still the "real deal" - true Italian food with a southern Italian influence, friendly prompt service, very reasonable prices.
We enjoyed a good Chianti, gorgeous scallop entrees, very nice spaghetti marinara in a Neapolitan sauce and a to-die-for smoked salmon fettuccine. NO room for dessert!
We'll be back!
Good and hearty Italian dishes, all true to Italian style, just like the true blue Italian proprietor of this fine restaurant.
If you are after Kiwi style Italian food (unseasoned half raw veges, pasta drowning in cream, cheap cheese, etc) the I suggest not to go here since veges are cooked in the traditional al forno way, seasoning is used throughout, the sauces are all well made with proper cheeses in the traditional Italian style.
And to top it, the food is very affordable. Granted, the servings aren't overly big, but it's quality rather than quantity.
The wine list also contains as selection of real Italian wines, but it caters for all tastes and styles, so even for the uneducated palates local Chardonnay plonk is on offer. BYO is allowed at a very reasonable corkage fee.
Buon Venuti is a great little restaurant. It’s a high quality suburban Italian family business which maintains consistent food quality, a great menu, and a lovely ambiance, including Italian music and candles. If anything lets it down it’s variables in staff and service which has been different each time we visited. On our experience a little more attention would be appreciated on arrival. Most people would like a drink (or at least a chance to look at the wine list) shortly after being seated, and fresh filtered water on the table. Once you have a drink in your hand cooking delays are no problem in an atmosphere like this, particularly if they are quick with the yummy garlic pizza snacks. A recommended outing.
Amazing soul good at really reasonable prices! Best pasta we have ever had, definitely favourite restaurant ever.
The pizza bread and chicken crepe are incredible and the effect is better than chocolate when you have had a hard day.
Go in and meet the lovely family that owns it as the are always smiling and always make you feel very welcome.
Best BYO restaurant in the whole of Auckland.
I've lived in Browns Bay for a number of years and somehow never tried Buon Venuti until today. I will definitely be coming back! My wife and I had a standard sized pizza to share as a starter, which was the perfect size and delicious. Mains came shortly after and really hit the spot. Staff were friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is cute and cozy. Portion sizes were more than enough for us.
Only snapped a pic of the Special Pizza and Banana Delizio.
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My partner walked into this place last minute. I was craving something like ramen noodles. But we had already eaten out at a Korean place the night before. Anyways, we were instantly welcomed in and set at a table by a young fellow. This waiter was very lovely, polite and patient. He lets us settle in, he asked us politely if we were okay with the table choice. He then asked if we wanted a litt candle on our table. This was super cute as it was Valentine’s Day but we weren’t really there for that. But it totally set the mood.
He kept us informed and allowed us to sit while he went grab us water. In the mean time we had a think about what we wanted to eat on the menu. At the right time he was back to check on us and we ordered.
The food didn’t really take that long to come out either.
The food was delicious though!
We had calamari and prawns for entree. They were both great with the great sauces they were marinated in😍
For our main, we had Rack of lamb and an Alfredo fettuccine with ham and chicken. The fettuccine sauce was delicious with everything in the pasta. 😍 My partner had the rack of lamb and he said it was lovely but just a little too “tomatoe-y”😅 Then again, he doesn’t really like tomatoes. So for that I’m sure it was still great cause he ended up eating it all!
Hospitality and customer service was GREAT, from the start til we walked out the door!
Big ups to the Buon Venuti Ristorante & Pizzeria! Your workers make it more comfy to sit there and talk whilst eating food😍
That last minute turn up ended up being our fave part of the night!
We will definitely be back to try the pizzeria😍
Hadn't been into Buon Venuti since 1992 when I lived in Browns Bay, and while the ownership has changed hands, and they've remodeled a little, the food was "FANTASTIC", just like it always was. Very attentive young lad serving us provided top notch service. Do yourself a favour and try it, you won't be disappointed.
I meant to do this such a long time ago but awhile ago me and boyfriend went here and now we are coming back tonight and we are so excited. The food is so good and the atmosphere is the best, such a lovely friendly vibe, definitely my favourite Italian restaurant
Love this place! Food is always well prepared and delicious! Staff are lovely. Ordered quattro stagioni pizza and garlic & mozzarella pizza bread......so tasty!
Definitely recommend Buon Venuti!
Lucky in Love Auckland Weddings
+5
SUPER SATISFYING! My favourite pizzeria since - I have been coming here since I was a child, on and off for the last 40 years! The current Chef does the original Italian owner justice, creating dishes that will leave you wanting more! Very friendly team and cosy rustic ambience. The most delicious pizza and pasta in Auckland.
Im a pizza fanatic, and this is probably the best Italian pizza on the North Shore and top 5 in NZ.
Superb Italian food with great service. The guy tending us was really friendly and welcoming. Cosy place on a wintery weather.
We went with our teenage kids. We haven’t been for a while so weren’t sure what to expect. The new owners are doing a great job. The atmosphere is so much fun with the opera and Italian music playing set the scene for an enjoyable evening. The Italian wine was great and the portions of pasta are so generous. My unfillable son loved the gnocchi.
We shared the pizzas which we had to take home as they are large. All round I would recommend this restaurant. So casual, with a great atmosphere and good value for money.
Karen Norton Fernandez
+5
Every meal I've had here has veen excellent. Bellisimo!
Lovely food and people, one of, if not my favorite pizza in Auckland.
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I hadn't been here for ages and didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The new owners have done a great job in tidying up the place and it has a homely, comfy, relaxed Italian vibe. The owner/chef is really friendly and so are his Team of mainly young students. He's also a great chef!
Located next to a carpark in the middle of Browns Bay with ample parking on both sides, it's suitable for couples, families, groups- everyone really.
On offer is a,wide selection of pastas, pizzas, italian starters, desserts & well priced drinks. Our meals were fresh, tasty & delicious. We had chicken livers to start along with garlic bread to mop up all the delicious sauce followed by carbonara pene and spaghetti bolognaise for mains.(you get to choose from various pasta options for all the varieties)
Tip 1: Try not to fill up on too much bread as the main portions were large but fortunately they provide doggie bags as the food is just too good to leave behind. The above dishes plus the most expensive red wine on the menu was around $120- great value.
Tip 2: It was very busy so I'd recommend booking- especially on weekends/for larger groups.
Summary: This cute wee hidden gem of a restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Browns Bay at a great price for quality food. It's like sitting down in Mama's kitchen for lunch & a big warm hug 😁
I'm always nervous ordering scallops and/or chicken livers- it doesn't take much to wreck them. Both were fresh and cooked to perfection. Service was awesome. Atmosphere was lovely. Thankyou.
Lovely restaurant with friendly staff and delicious food. The restaurant is very quaint and should definitely be considered for your Italian fix :)
My favorite Italian restaurant. Food is on another level. I took friends who are celebrating Persian New Year today. They loved it. Thank you so much
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