Ventura's Restaurant

Excellent Italian restaurant with a top-notch menu. The Utica area has several Italian restaurants, but this one tops them all. You will not be disappointed here. Portions are big, and the prices are reasonable. The only other thing I should mention is that the blue cheese dressing costs $2.50 extra, but nowhere on the menu is this communicated.

The best Italian restaurant in Utica. Every dish is excellent. It has an old school vibe that feels nostalgic. And the staff is very accommodating.

Ventura is the best Italian food in Utica, New York sauces excellent and so is the sauce. In fact, I like everything they serve thank you Vito for all the work you put into it. 5 stars .

This delightful gem on the outskirts of Utica, offers authentic Italian food, uncommon delicacies, like escargot and frogs legs, a decent wine menu and a full service bar. The desserts were magnificent. Everyone tried everyone else's meals and desserts, and there wasn't a single disappointed person in our very large group.

Such a gem. The food here and the wait staff are excellent. If you like Italian food this is the place to go. Our waitress was attentive and we did not want for anything. Portion sizes are huge and I usually leave with enough leftovers for a second meal. Decor and restaurant interior has not changed in years which is what gives it, it's charm. Have been a couple of times and while I made a reservation, reservations were not really needed. But definitely the place to go for a classic Sunday Dinner.

What an amazing find in Utica! This is the place to go-to for excellent Italian food and service! I was slacking on planning and knew we were going to be in Utica for an early dinner before having to go somewhere else so called the same day a few hours before and they said it was fine to come in at 4:30 for dinner. When we arrived we were greeted and shown to our table. We were the only ones there, but a server who was very attentive came right over got our drink orders and let us have time to check out the menu. I went with a special of Utica- Chicken Riggies and they were the best riggies I have had and living in central NY I have had my share of riggies! The hubs also agreed! My husband had the Italian sampler platter and it includes good portions of lasagna, ravioli, sausage, meatball, brioche, pasta and all of it was so good. All the pastas and the red sauce is homemade and you can tell. Delicious crusty bread is served with olive oil and pesto as well as a salad with all the meals. The salad is Jody your basic iceberg lettuce with onion, tomatoes, cucumbers. My only complaint would be I forgot to ask for the dressing on the side and there was a lot of dressing for me on the salad. Didn't get dessert because we were stuffed. Service and dinner was great, and you can tell this is a Family-run place that is loved by the community.

Ventura's is one of my in-laws' mainstay favorites in the Utica area. I experienced their food for the first time last night when they ordered the family special. It included garlic bread, salad in Italian dressing, ziti (which looked more like penne to me), and chicken parmigiana. The garlic bread was soft and fresh, but not very garlicky--just some light garlic butter seemingly on the top. The Italian salad's Italian dressing was very, very vinegary and too oily to me, but thankfully the garlic bread provided counterbalance. By far the best item was the chicken parmigiana. The tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese were delicious, and the chicken was tender. The pasta was also good, though less remarkable. I can definitely understand why my in-laws have kept Ventura's in their regular restaurant rotation.