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Veneto
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1450 Douglas StVictoria, BC V8W 2G1
(250) 383-7310
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 1 am
Sun 4 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Veneto
17 reviews in English
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Review from Rhett W.
Vancouver, BC
1/17/2012
Fantastic food and cocktails. Great service, skilled bartenders.
You can see my full review on my blog (view my profile). -
Review from May C.
Vancouver, BC
8/29/2011
I decided to try this place out for their Pimm's Cup as I've heard good things. If you're looking for a good drink, look no further! Veneto has a really great drink selection, and the best Pimm's Cup I've ever had.
This tapas lounge is located inside Hotel Rialto, and very easy to spot from Douglas St. The ambiance was typical of a lounge, and there weren't too many people there so we were able to grab seats right away. We were only there to grab drinks as it was 10pm by the time we arrived.
It was a Wednesday night, and they had draughts and sliders on special. We ordered a Pimm's Cup, and one of each slider to sample because we couldn't resist the deal, even on a full stomach.
We were greeted with our Pimm's Cup shortly after we ordered, so the service was great. What's special about this Pimm's Cup is that it's served with Fentiman's Victorian Lemonade. For $8.50, you get a bottle of the lemonade, 2 oz. of Pimm's No. 1, and a glass with ice and sliced strawberries and cucumbers. Once you've had a Pimm's Cup this way, you won't want to go back to the standard soda based ones!
All of their cocktails were 2 oz, so that was a delight. I think all places should serve 2 oz. cocktails as standard practice! Oh, and refills of the alcohol was about $5.00 - great deal!
The sliders arrived and looked great. There were three different sliders: lamb with a mint yogurt sauce, AAA striploin wrapped in Guinness cheese, and pork with sauteed onions. Personally, I thought the pork slider tasted the best out of the three.
If you can get your hands on some Fentiman's Victorian Lemonade, it will make all the difference in your Pimm's Cup. In the meantime, I don't mind visiting Veneto for this amazing drink and hanging out in their mellow lounge. -
Review from Marty M.
8/15/2011
Wanted to grab drinks at a lounge and came across Veneto. First impression was great- nice restaurant, great feel, good music playing.
But then we ordered drinks. It took awhile for the drinks to get to our table and the server didn't check on is until we were done.
The drinks are pricey and not worth the amount they give you. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
3/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Veneto is one of my top spots in the city to grab a drink and here's why:
1. the bar tenders are all equally fabulous, talented and incredible. I tend to go, sit at the bar and chat and they are all fabulous.
2. They aren't afraid to try new things. Last night one of the bartenders whipped up a cucumber kumquat drink on the spot and it was divine. Who'd a thought.
3. The food is really good. I don't tend to eat when I go out for a drink but last night we shared the lettuce wraps and the duck poutine and it was absolutely fabulous. I would highly recommend both.
I've never had a bad experience at Veneto, their price point is a bit on the high side, but hey you get what you pay for.Listed in: Culinary Tour of Victoria
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Review from Pam S.
12/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I can really only comment on the bar experience, but it was pretty spectacular.
On a dark, snowy night (American Thanksgiving), the BF and I came here to grab a drink while we were waiting for our table for dinner.
He chose some sort of beer, I chose a drink that originated at Trader Vic's (irony, I know). To be honest, I can't remember what it was, but it was tasty.
What made this visit good was the bartender. She was patient while we perused the menu, and chatted with us like we were regulars.
Nowadays, bartenders are more about slinging than bringing (the friendly).
I do realize how lame I am.
I'd like to come back and try the tapas...if I make it back to Canada. Today, that's questionable.Listed in: Oh Canada...
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Review from Keira-Anne M.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2011
I've only ever been there for the cocktails (though the free salty breadsticks had me hooked) so I can't say too much about the place as a whole, but what I know, I love.
The bartender in residence creates libations that are the stuff legends are made of.
Ask for the 20th Century cocktail. I'll never again have anything like it. -
Review from Robin D.
10/25/2011
When in Voctoria, forget about high tea - go out for cocktails instead! We were exploring Victoria, in typical touristy fashion. We asked some locals for a good spot to grab a drink, thinking they'd send us to a location with a view.
Instead we hiked it over to Veneto. With no expectations, we entered the bar.
An hour and a half later we left the bar with a great experience and a feeling that we really had a treat.
The staff is wonky about their product, and that enthusiasm is contaigious. We tried a couple different drinks, include a sampler that basically covered the History of the Martini. We learned that quality vermouth is not the same stuff that our parents used - that it is aromatic and really flavorful. We learned about absinth.
In fact, they sent over tasters of some of the ingredients that went into their cocktail potions, so we could taste them as single-note items.
Really fun to explore with a staff that was willing to share.
For the quality and thought that goes into each cocktail, I thought they offered great value, and I left thinking I had an EXPERIENCE, not just a quick drink.
And the breadsticks are divine. -
Review from Stacey E.
9/27/2010
Not a bad way to end your day. It's a nicely laid out, quietly upscale restaurant and bar that specializes in cocktails.
I was here for a bottle of wine and a variety of small plates with a handful of people on a week night. We definitely had the "B" team in terms of service. The appies were good and we were happy with the bottle we bought but the lack of service brought things down a notch. -
Review from Katie F.
4/26/2010
Came here for drinks while in town... I'm a lounge gal and I was told that this would be one of the few places that would fit the bill since most of Victoria is pub style for drinks.
People are definitely out earlier here compared to elsewhere! It was packed when we first came in around 10:00 and mostly empty when we left around 11:45! Love the prices - $7.50 martinis? Yay!
Open and clean decor with golden colored wood giving it warmth. The drink selection is OK here. The Devil's Hand martini called my name... Chocolate Vodka, Caramel toffee liqueur, Hazelnut Kahlua, Shaved Dark Chocolate. Mmmmm!
Good service and no issues. Would stop in again for drinks again and perhaps a bite to eat next time I'm visiting. -
Review from Tara Z.
Victoria, BC
3/25/2011
This place is upscale without being pretentious, which I like. I can go in there dressed in my ripped up Metallica shirt and get the same treatment I'd get going in dressed to the 9's. And the drinks are AMAZING. A great place to go with some friends and try some fancy cocktails, wine, or even just have some local beer. The food is awesome, I've managed to sample quite a few items. It's all well worth the slightly pricey cost, and everyone I've brought there agrees.
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Review from Arun S.
6/5/2011
Great little tapas lounge; we went here for an after-dinner espresso and dessert and it was perfect. The ambiance is basically a trendy and relaxed (non-snobby) lounge. We sat on the the couches in the lounge. They have 3 desserts for $9 (small servings). We had the lime panna cotta) (soft, light and flavorful), kahlua creme brulle (served in a mini coffee mug) with a little doughnut (we realized it was a play on doughnuts and coffee), and chocolate peanut butter brownie with banana and vanilla ice cream (very indulgent and rich). It was cool trying different little desserts. Service was quick and pleasant.
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Review from Jen A.
7/27/2011
I got the cheese platter, vegetarian tapas, and knickerbocker. I can't complain it tasted delicious- its just a bit overpriced. The service was great.
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Review from Dan L.
Victoria, BC
7/7/2011
Everything about this place is Very Very Good. I wouldn't say it has the best location or even a decent neighbourhood, but hey, it used to be the Dougie! The transformation is quite astounding with an upscale restaurant and a fantastic bar in place of a down-and-out flea bag Hotel. As other reviewers have stated, the drinks are crazy good and the tapas are delicious. I'm only mostly kidding about the neighbourhood, you'll be fine....
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Review from Bill E.
5/6/2010
I'll start by paraphrasing a recent quote that I agree 100% with:
"anything that calls itself a martini but contains anything other than gin and vermouth is the work of the Devil"
I don't remember if they had drinks mislabeled "martini" or not, I'm just sayin' I had a few really well made cocktails here and would recommend visiting! Nuff said. -
Review from Leila M.
Winnipeg, MB
8/5/2009
Veneto is a tapas lounge appended to the Hotel Rialto, and it's fabulous, swanky without being intimidating.
My partner and I had just come from dinner but decided to try three of the dessert small bites: the vanilla bean tiramisu with strawberry and fresh basil salsa, a mascarpone and grand marnier mousse cone with a black sesame seed ginger snap, and a panettone bread pudding with cinnamon syrup and vanilla gelato. All three were excellent. The combination of vanilla bean with strawberry and basil was unexpected but good, the bread pudding was warm and soft with a delicious caramel flavour, and the cone - my favourite of the trio - was sublime, a crisp and light blanket over a rich, thick, addictively sweet mousse. Actually, I was very tempted to ask for a giant bowl of the mousse after we finished the desserts.
The drinks and ambiance were also lovely. My partner sampled pisco here, and I had a caipirinha that was made surprisingly earthy and well-balanced by the addition of a dash of macadamia liqueur. It was a perfect atmosphere to sit, sip, and converse, and I wish we'd been able to stay longer. I highly recommend Veneto and hope that the establishment is still there if we make a return visit to Victoria. -
Review from Kier M.
Victoria, BC
9/25/2011
started going here a few months ago for a business meeting and it became obvious that the cook knows what he/she is doing - everything was delicious. Have attended some 6 or 7 times since and not dissappointed in anything- obviously some better than others but all good and i'd give the chicken dinner a 5. It seems to be the happening place and i would imagine some might complain of the noise but obviously the people that go are having a good time. This place is in my top 3 at the moment
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Review from Jennifer E.
6/23/2011
I feel bad that none of the other reviewers on here have had a chance to experience all the food- it is AMAZING! My husband & I ate dinner and dessert here and it was hands down the best meal we had in Victoria. We shared a flatbread appetizer (awesome!), a chicken tapas trio (huge portions!), and each had main courses. I wish we would not have ordered main dishes- I would have liked to try more of the tapas. The dessert trio was great- just the right amount to share. The atmosphere is trendy, but not overwhelmingly so. We don't drink, so I can't comment on the quality/selection of drinks. We would come back to Victoria just to eat at Veneto again! We stayed in the adjoining Rialto hotel, which was also fantastic with excellent service.
