Dinner at Venezia Restaurant

Old-fashioned banquet halls aren’t typically my thing. I go a bit more for chic lounge-style and moody dining rooms. So when a friend suggested we eat lunch at Venezia Waterfront Restaurant, I freaked. This friend is about 20 years older than me and remembers Venezia as the place to enjoy high-end cuisine in a family-style setting years and years ago. The restaurant’s website didn’t picture anything to convince me otherwise.

When I told my husband of my intentions to lunch there, his look made me freak even more. “That place is so not your style,” he repeated. He detailed the numerous times his parents had dragged him there for what they thought was great food back in the day. Needless to say, my freaking was reach all time high levels.

I pulled into Venezia’s parking lot, after driving around this sleepy neck of Dorchester, and noticed two other cars. Ugh. I was prepared to stick this lunch with a bad review, and I hadn’t even entered the spot. I took a few deep breaths, wandered inside and sat at a table at the window, sitting right on the water.

A good view lifted my spirits, as did a nice glass of white wine. We ordered two appetizers – the calamari and the stuffed mushrooms. The calamari arrived first, dressed with sliced hot peppers (my favorite) and no dipping sauce. Perplexed by the lack of sauce, I took a bite and realized that the squid was so moist it didn’t need a sauce. Those chefs know a thing or two about calamari. The stuffed mushrooms were equally divine and so sweetly propped on a pristine rectangle plate with long slices of chives.

Our entrees were tremendous and HUGE. My friend had veal piccata and I opted for a baked pasta dish filled with chicken and red peppers. I was fairly full after our starters, so abandoned my entree after only 3 bites. No worries – my husband devoured every last bite later in the evening and couldn’t believe that a chef at Venezia had created it. He was very impressed, as was I.

Venezia’s staff was so professional and accessible, and anticipated every need. I had a hard time finding fault with much of anything actually. While Venezia may not be a hot spot to meet friends for drinks, it’s a great place for a week day lunch or dinner to impress the parents. The view alone is worth the price of admission.

Venezia is located at 20 Ericsson St, Dorchester, MA; (617) 436-3120.