Insider Pages Reviews for Vento

5 Stars: Great for groups (by stevekakleas)

stevekakleas — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I had my going away dinner party at Vento and everything was perfect. Our waiter was really friendly and made sure we were good. We had to call in advance cause it was 25 of us. Definitely good for large group and they will make sure everything runs smoothly.

5 Stars: great place (by Dege)

Dege — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The staff was great - they gave me no problem changing my reservations. The waiter was attentive without being hawking. The lobster salad app and ravioli entree were very good. We sat a party of 7 and all ate well and the bill was very reasonable even with the 3 bottles of Moscato (great drink). I recommend this restaurant and will be revisiting sometime in the future.

4 Stars: Good food, great atmosphere (by shert)

shert — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

If you come here, try to sit outside at the Cafe'. It's so nice to sit out there and eat and watch the crowds. The food is good, I've been here twice. It's reliably good food at a reasonable price, which is suprising down in the Meatpacking District! The wood burned pizza's are always delicious, this time I tried the Tilapia which was very good as well! The olives are delicious. And we had the Zeppeles for desert and they were amazing.

4 Stars: very good (by speakyourmind)

speakyourmind — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

all round great food, service, price and location

cant go wrong, lunchtimes getting busier as soho house stopped serving lunch

5 Stars: Fun, casual vibe! (by Soledad)

Soledad — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Pretty location on the corner of Hudson Street; tables outside in warm weather make for fun people-watching. Friendly, efficient bartenders make eating at the bar even fun. Great selection of wines.

5 Stars: Great Date Place! (by Ramona1982)

Ramona1982 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Last night I had my two year anniversary here. My BF and I loved everything about it. We were seated right away. Our server Ruth was so sweet and very knowledgeable. She recommended the Prix Fix (by the by: I'm really glad a lot of restaurants decided to extended the Restaurant week menus!) We got the Mushroom Ravioli app (A-mazing! should definitely always be on the menu.) and Shrimp App. And then the Lamb and the Codd entrees. The Lamb was killer. The Cod was okay. The wine Ruth recommended went really really well with all the dishes. The desserts were okay. I liked the Lemon Tort, but we weren't really fans of the chocolate dessert. The service was attentive and not overbearing or uppity. This is a really fun laidback place to go (great music) and not too pricey. Highly recommended =)

5 Stars: MVP of the MPD (by oenophile99)

oenophile99 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

The calibre of service at Vento attains a level that one typically associates with the city?s elite establishments, yet rarely experiences. The majority of the servers provide attentive and thoughtful service, while others exceed this estimable barometer, demonstrating rare skill and poise. While the service truly distinguishes the restaurant from its overbearing, hoity-toity fellow MPD venues, the excellent food and chic, upscale atmosphere work together with the service to create a stellar dining hat trick. The wine list is particularly impressive, and unlike many other restaurants, Vento offers high-quality wines by the glass, all of which are served in pristine condition.

The ethic of service here may seem an inexplicable, anomalous phenomenon in such a neighborhood as the MPD, where many restaurants consider it your privilege to receive haughty treatment. Yet, over the course of the year (and a few months) that I have been going to Vento, it has become apparent to me that Vento?s approach to its clientele is attributable to the impeccable management style of the general manager, JC. His sophisticated ease and accommodating demeanor seem positively effortless, and as vibrant an atmosphere as Vento affords one, there is a relaxing calm here that I believe emanates from JC?s direction.

I first went to Vento because I had heard it was a favorite spot of New York Rangers? goalie Henrik Lundqvist. I was initially hesitant to try it, given the aforementioned general attitude of the location. Now, as a diehard fan of Vento, I would love to see the struggling Rangers hold a team dinner there. Perhaps they could derive inspiration from the winning ways of JC and his Hudson Street team, and find a way to make the playoffs (Renney and the Blueshirt fans deserve that much at least).

3 Stars: NICE ROMANTIC EATERY (by JSENAT)

JSENAT — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

this is a great spot for a first time date, for you and your friends or even in my case, my boyfirends bday dinner. we were seated very fast, the food was excellent, my waiter, michael, was so attentive, he recommended almost everything on the menu and the food was out of this world. the bill wasnt that bad for 7 people.. Everyone went home happy... Only thing is, if you are accustomed to eating large portions of food, this spot may not be for you , but think about it you will have room for dessert and feel full after...

4 Stars: Great, reasonable Sunday night dinner (by amm212)

amm212 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

On a recent Sunday, a friend and I were in the Meatpacking District and decided to have dinner at Vento. It was a beautiful night and we wanted to sit outside and they have one of the most perfect outdoor seating areas. I have not been to this restaurant in quite some time, probably about 2 years. I was pleasantly surprised with my experience. They had a Sunday night dinner special where you can order a pizza or pasta with wine or beer for something around $13. It was a great deal, the atmopshere was perfect for a Sunday night, but the service could use a little bit of work. It is definitely worth a try or a return visit.

2 Stars: Not giving because of the clams (by 5485144)

5485144 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I ventured into vento on a lazy afternoon just feeling out the vibe. Let me paint the picture I was greeted at the host stand pretty promptly and seated right away then I waited for a server for about 15 minutes. I tried menu items that were disappointing for this area and price range. The seafood salad was just wrong I have been trying to put my finger on exactly what was missing and after a lot of deliberation all I could come up with is taste. I think my waiter was a little hungover but still he was nice enough. I had the baked clams which were the highlight of my experience. They had a clever uniqueness and this coming from a clam fan. I am not a fan of this place but I honestly have not eaten enough vento to give up on it. I will try again.

3 Stars: Amateur Service, Food Okay (by eveningout)

eveningout — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The space is very nice, and the ambience is relaxed and fun, given that it's right in the middle of the Meatpacking. Our expereince was pretty much ruined by the bad service. Our waiter was fine, but the timing of everything was terrible (not sure whose fault that was). We waited over TWENTY minutes for our bottle of wine to come to the table - our waiter explained that this was because the wine cellar was waaaay below ground. Umm...okay. We were happy after we finally got the wine, but then, when our food came, it came all at once - our cold appetizers AND our hot entrees. No good resaurant ever lets this happen. Someone else delivered the food, so we let our server know what happened. He just apologized and asked if we wanted anything else. Yeah, how about fix the problem? Obviously this was really annoying, and we had to rush through the appetizers so the entrees weren't completely cold when we got to them. Not how one wants to enjoy a meal. The food was okay, not special. We actually found our dishes to be lacking in salt. The service was so annoying that we will not be returning.

4 Stars: Highly Tasty Lunch (by blondegiraffe)

blondegiraffe — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This place is very good, moderately priced, and overall very pleasant. My sister and I stopped here for lunch after Pastis had an hour-and-a-half wait...I love Pastis but I was not waiting that long. Anyways, we split pizza and a burger and it was good...not stellar, but good and worth the non-expensive prices. A solid neighborhood place if you want simple Italian American fare.

Side note...a foursome of 12-year-old boys were there, acting like complete idiot kids. And they had more pocket money on them than my sister did, and she's a grown woman! Very bizarre to see!

5 Stars: I'm addicted! (by finediner83)

finediner83 — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I love this trendy restaurant. I've been about 10 times now. I've brought friends, relatives, and dates. Everyone loves the food, service, atmosphere, and location!

The cheese selection is fantastic (I recommend the La Tur)! The waitstaff is knowledgeable and seem to enjoy discussing the menu with us. I wish they still had the riesling wine by the glass but it's know show-stopper for this place.

The bread is always fantastic. I would skip the crispy chicken and go for either the whole wheat fettuccini or the filet medallions. It's just a fun, hip, and alive restaurant any night of the week.

5 Stars: Cozy, Chill and Cool (by gripdxd)

gripdxd — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I was here for a business lunch with a large party. The servers were great. Everyone was pleased with their meals. I had the lasagna, I recommend it. It's a small serving, but just enough. If you are hungry you better get an appetizer. Our drinks were always filled. We also ordered some meat and cheeses as an appetizer, once again they were all very tasty. Then we ordered dessert, but almost didn't. I'm glad we did. I recommed the pineapple/coconut sorbet and the creamsicle gelato delicious. There are few places to dine in this part of town. I highly recommend it for a business affair. The music is also very lounge and chill like. The decor is modern and trendy. It's a tasteful place and I bet the bar gets some good action.
Check it out!

2 Stars: Bridge and Tunnel special (by evillagedweller)

evillagedweller — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I don't understand Vento. There's a huge line, the bar is crowded, and upon reading the menu, it looks impressive. But I was fooled. In short, the food and atmosphere combined to create what's best described as a North Jersey Strip Mall dining experience.

Let me say up front that service was not an issue. The staff was attentive and quick, and our wine glasses were always full.

We got a great wine, a $40 multepuciano that was velvety smooth and full of wonderful woody and earthy tones. It was the highlight of the meal.

Then we noticed that they were playing in it's entirety, Michael Jackson's HISTORY album. From "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" to "Man In The Mirror", nothing says contemporary Italian like an hour of MJ (sarcarsm).

Then we got our Salumi platter. The salumi came out looking like oscar meyer cold cuts, and tasted almost no better. The Spicy Italian sausage was considerably better than the mortadella, but both could have been skipped completely.

A shared Seafood salad was pretty good. Lots of fresh greens in there brought out a springtime fresh flavor. At this time, the stereo had switch to George Michael's "Freedom".

I ordered a short rib for dinner, which tasted like my grandma Edes made it. It was rubbery and overcooked. Totally bland, flavorless, and I should have sent it back. My wife had a decent piece of fish, that she loved, striped bass, I believe. I tasted it, it was good. Had a nice crisp skin and minimal prep. She chose better than I did.

We left as a meatpacking bachelorette party was sitting down, down to the bridge and tunnel bachelorette with sash, tiara, and veil. About 12 drunken bridesmaids accompanied her.

Skip Vento. It's more reasonably priced than other Be Our Guest restaurants (Ruby Foos, Blue Water Grill) but it's really just a tourist attraction. If you're in for a good meal in the meatpacking district, go down on Washington a few blocks and find a much better place.

5 Stars: Great find for Italian and a celebration... (by uniquecitigirl)

uniquecitigirl — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This is the first review I have ever written, but felt compelled to let everyone know about this great place. We had an 8:30 reservation for 8 ppl to celebrate a birthday. First the birthday girl was quite late and then we needed to add two more ppl to the reservation - this was easily accommodated. And finding a place in NYC that is patient and not rushing the customers now a days is not easily attainable.

The staff was very polite and accommodating from the hostess to the waitress.

The food and drinks were excellent and the best part of it all is that the prices were EXCELLENT! The table's favorites were the prosciutto and parmesan cheese, the filet mignon medallion and the panini dessert. As far as drinks the orange grappa specialty drink was a big win.

A plus is if you would like to have an after dinner drink you can head downstaits to the lounge area they have. This is a great find for Italian food and a celebration.

4 Stars: Great club, good bartenders, not over crowded. (by RuthyC)

RuthyC — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

It was an Awsome place very clean and chill atomsphere. great music and friendly bartenders. would definitely go again.

3 Stars: good, but not sure i'd go back. (by nishnish2000)

nishnish2000 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

made reservations and were seated right away.
the food here is good, no doubt, but the portions are just soooooooo small. i ordered the salmon and it was good, but all I got was a small peice of salmon and some wild mushrooms on the side. the chicken lasagna here is amazing, i'd probably order that next time, that is if i go back.
the chocolate dessert we had was really good. topped with caramel icecream.
the cappacino was a ripoff at $8 - if i read that correctly.
crowd is upscale somewhat, you need to dress the part else you will feel out of place.

3 Stars: Italian food (by Adrienne H.)

Adrienne H. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:32:00 GMT

This place wasnt bad, I've just had better Italian food. The price is moderate. The atmosphere isn't too bad either. I had a pasta dish that was alright and my friend had the pizza that she said was pretty good.

4 Stars: AWESOME SERVICE!! (by valg79)

valg79 — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

ok, i was just there this past saturday. we had reservations for 9:15 and unfortunately were about 20 mins late because we could not find parking. we got there about 935, the restaurant was PACKED and they seated us (group of 6) immediately. i must say that we had the BEST waiter ever! Rick was super attentive, fun and funny! he kept coming up to our table to refresh our drinks and to check if everything was to our liking! i will def recommend this place to anyone in the mood for good italian food with a fun flair as well as to anyone who is tired of the usual obnoxious nyc wait staff! if you go there, ask for rick to be your server, as he was superb!

3 Stars: Not Bad (by lejam)

lejam — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon Vento on Saturday night on our way home. It was packed, but suprising that we did not have to wait forever for a table. The servings are a bit on the miniature side. I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the branzino. My salmon was rather bland, but the addition of the peach was very unique and tasty. The branzino was well seasoned and delicious. The ambience was okay, nothing too special, except for the outdoor seating.

3 Stars: where's chef Carmine (by really90)

really90 — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

i've been to vento in past and now i hate it the food has taking such a dive! it seems like no one is running the kitchen has a clue of what good italian food is and when did a chop salad become italian, com'on now shrimp parm. what happen to the old chef there. I see this new guy and apparently.... carmine is gone and it shows. plus the staff has no clue what's good and whats in this or whats in that, they all seem to be "in the weeds".

4 Stars: Good food value for the money. Lame beer selection. (by shannonct)

shannonct — Sun, 27 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Overall, I was very pleased with my experience at Vento. The food was consistently good and a good value for the money. The wait staff were attentive but not overbearing. It was a good, hip, and not overly loud place to spend a meal with friends.

My one disappointment was the pitiful beer selection. It baffles me how you can offer $500+ bottles of wine and then a handful of tasteless fizzy yellow beers.

5 Stars: Best for a big group - had a blast (by heathermann)

heathermann — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We had a great time, party of 10 for a bachelorette party. I asked for Brian to be our waiter, since I saw in the below posting that another user did that. Worked out great.
Amazing food, service and ambience. I would do it all over again!

5 Stars: Very lovely valentine's day dinner (by watchmesparkle)

watchmesparkle — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

My fiance and I went to Vento for dinner on Valentines' Day, and it was fantastic!! It wasn't as crowded as I'd expected it to be; but maybe we were a little early at 7pm. We did have a reservation (which I highly recommend having) and were seated immediately at a great table upstairs. I really appreciated that the tables weren't too close to each other- in some restaurants in this city, you literally sit on top of the people next to you; its ridiculous!! The table was great, the waitress was very friendly and took great care of us, the drinks were great, and the food was awesome too! We had calamari, meatballs, ceasar salad as appetizers, then I had a filet mignon and my fiance had a chicken dish, which was amazing!! The filet was cooked to perfection, and had this amazing pesto sauce on top...it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I will definitely go back!!

5 Stars: Perfect for a group or romantic dinner (by javagirl73)

javagirl73 — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We were a group of 9 women starting out our bachelorette party evening on 03/09/07. Absolutely everything about our experience was perfect. We had a subpurb table on the second floor, the service was impeccable (I think our server's name was Brian), the food was expertly prepared, the ambiance was mellow smooth (fantastic lighting! no make-you-ugly down lights!)... We could not have had a better experience. It would also be the perfect spot for date night.

4 Stars: Good pizza in a trendy environment (by free2fly3520)

free2fly3520 — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

we thought about going here many times, but when I called to make a reservation, they were always booked. We happened to be in the neighborhood (meatpacking) tonight and just peeked in to see if our party could be seated (saturday night abt 7:30) they werent very busy and seated us right away. The pizza, pasta, wine menu, service, and prices were unexpected.
we were very pleasantly surprised.

5 Stars: Great for after work or a date (by ljm123)

ljm123 — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Besides the really cute, warm atmosphere, I thought the food was delicious. Small portions, but it's cool b/c you can order a bunch and share. And the waiter lets you know about the small portions upfront, which I appreciated. Also, really good desserts. Overall, a great eating experience.

4 Stars: Bravo B.R. Restaurant Group (by sexybabs)

sexybabs — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The food was pretty good. I had the truffled pasta along with some other food, dessert, esspresso. BTW, very good esspresso. But more importantly was the service. On point yet casual and relaxed. However, the uniforms could use a little polishing up. The physical plant was very clean and emaculate. Enjoyed the experience. Thank you.

3 Stars: pasta tasted like chef boyardee, and cost an arm and a leg (by style66)

style66 — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

the atmosphere is good, somewhat cramped....the hostess was accomadating, and the waiters were very nice (and cute!), but the food, and cost were not so hot. I ordered a pasta dish that involved ricotta or something, and I was served a tiny portion of basically pasta and tomato sauce. it was extremely tasteless and didn't have any redeeming qualities. I was still hungry, so I tried some of my friends food, and got a taste of the blandest salmon I've ever had. the portions of meat and fish were pretty laughable too.
it didn't bother me until we got the check....which came out to 73$ per person! it was a bad experience, I wouldn't recommend it.

3 Stars: Trendy in an Ugg Boots sort of way (by creativelolita)

creativelolita — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The drinks are good when you can get them (we waited a good half an hour for ours) and the appetizers are solid. Still, with waiters that ignore you, food not prepared the way you ask for it to be (the third mishap with my steak was enough for me to ask them not to bring it back so I drank while my table ate their food) and a generally average locale I really don't get the hype. It's trendy but who cares--so are UGG boots but does that make them worth it? Spend your money elsewhere and come here for drinks.

5 Stars: #1 on my BR Guest List (by b102198)

b102198 — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I love Vento. I have been there about six times now and absolutely love it. Always treated fantastic and the food is so yummy. The pizzas are the best and they have a pretty decent wine selection. Great for parties of six or more as it is a fun spot to giggle, eat, drink and be merry!

5 Stars: Italian tapas...who would have thought they would be so exquisite?! (by drpersianversion)

drpersianversion — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I highly recommend this foray into Italian cuisine. Not the usual pasta/pesto/basta basta...this place ventures into something totally unique to me....Italian tapas..and they did a fine job teasing and definitely pleasing my palate. Everything was delicious, prepared just right and full of flavor--from the dishes to the dessert. I highly recommend this culinary adventure for the food, the fare, and last but not least, the flair!

5 Stars: An elegant evening at a low cost (by winnieholden)

winnieholden — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Honestly, why is this wonderfully glittering place so inexpensive? What's going on? (And long may the management keep the prices so low). I had a lovely birthday dinner here with my boyfriend, parents, and some old friends. We even spotted a minor celebrity. We had a large shared plate of high-quality appetizers (cheeses, meats, olives) that was only $8. Desserts were as low as $2 This is a great place to go if you're treating-- you'll seem very generous but not have to face a huge credit card bill later. A three-course dinner for 6 including one drink each cost only $163. The service was lovely, the atmosphere was great for out-of-towners seeking a glamorous New York night. I really hope this restaurant keeps up their insanely wonderful pricing-- in the meantime, rush out and enjoy it while it lasts!

4 Stars: I actually had an inexpensive dinner date here! (by callmezo)

callmezo — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Saturday night about 2 weeks ago, walked in around 9pm (I think) and asked if they had a table for 2. They took my name and said about 30 minutes. We walked around and came back in 20 minutes, sat at the bar and had a drink, and our table was ready 10 minutes later. We sat upstairs, which was packed with intimate, to very large and loud groups, but still nice. The waitress told us the portions were not big, so we each got an entree and shared a side. My date had water, and I had a glass of wine. We didn't walk away full, but just enough to go someplace else after for drinks and not be bloated. The best thing.. my bill was UNDER $50 dollars! The cheapest dinner for the quality and calibur of restaurants I've experienced. So I'd say, make a reservation, bring a date, don't get crazy with the drinks, enjoy a nice meal and coversation and service, and leave with more money in your pocket to enjoy more overpriced drinks someplace else and have a great night, starting with a great dining experience.

5 Stars: Awed and Amazed (by jimbos1015)

jimbos1015 — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Read about this place and filed it in the back of my head and stumbled on it yesterday. Spur of the moment decision to eat out and we were delightfully surprised. Service was friendly and attentive. The small plates of wonderfully prepared Italian fare is a great way to taste your way through a simple but elegant menu. From cheeses to salads to well chosen pastas, meats, fish, and of course gelato!! Everything was wonderful. Can't wait for an excuse to return!

5 Stars: Great trendy place (by destiny099)

destiny099 — Fri, 12 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to Vento a few times and always had an enjoyable dinner. They have currently changed their menu. I love it! You can taste a little bit of everything. We had a cozy corner table upstairs. Our waiter was more then helpful. A MUST GO!

5 Stars: Great Food, OK Service (by ljsquintz)

ljsquintz — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We sat at the table (without menus) for a while before the waiter came over. He apologized for a taking a while, but someone else should have greeted us. The food was great, and came out quickly. After they brought the check and we were sitting for a few minutes finishing dessert. TWO people came by to take the bill, but we hadn't put the money down yet. The hostess SLOWLY walked by our table scribbing something on paper. They were obviously waiting for us to leave and we felt very rushed at the end of the meal. The atmosphere was nice (tables were a bit too close together) and trendy, but waiters seemed rushed.

4 Stars: Good night out (by anaps28)

anaps28 — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

A group of six of us had an 8:30 reservation, they sat us pretty quick, just be advised you must have your whole party there before they will seat you. Dinner was good, service was good. The bar scene picked up around 10-12. After that it died down and everyone seemed to head downstairs to the lounge. Even though we had just sat and ate we had to go and wait outside to get into the lounge downstairs...If your just going for dinner and a drink its a nice spot and the food was pretty good. Definitely order the Zeppoles for desert.

2 Stars: Vento Experience (by ourrestaurants)

ourrestaurants — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Frequent customers in the meatpacking district, however this was our first visit to Vento/LevelV. Dinner first, then head downstairs for drinks at LevelV. The food was just okay, picked at our meals and agreed -- not a place to return to for food. Would have considered returning for drinks -- ambiance was pleasant. The manager told us the entrance to LevelV was outside, leave Coats inside - restaurant and lounge share coat room. What is that!? Headed outside in the cold, without jackets and couldn't get in! We are a couple (late 30's)-- a VP of an international restaurant company & an NYC business owner. Both dressed very well, polite and quite honestly, 2 polished individuals! What a joke. We found this to be a disgusting way to treat customers who just ate inside. Would not return with clients, friends or family -- many other more rounded, respectful restaurants nearby.

2 Stars: Nothing to write home about.....at all! (by barb1022)

barb1022 — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Very disappointed after going there to celebrate my birthday. Nothing spetacular at all! Not even their drinks were good......if you must try, then go, but remember.....you were warned!!!

3 Stars: Good food & place, lousy waiters (by sbrandon)

sbrandon — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I booked 11 people for a bachelorette dinner here. The place was beautiful. Good staff to make reservations, and we sat on time as promised. The waiter was extremely annoyed because we weren't big drinkers at the restaurant. Normally we would be, but we were clubbing afterwards and had our own liquor agenda. He even had the nerve to pawn on us a bottle of champange, which he stated was "good for a toast" and was "the cheapest one they had - only 22.50". We werent drinking because we were poor, its because we already started and were going out afterwards. Idiot! 20% will be attached to your bill.... like they deserve it!

1 Stars: Horrible experience! (by kkapur2)

kkapur2 — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I had friends in from out of town so thought this trendy place would impress them. Wrong! We had reservations at 10:30 and they didn't seat us until 11:15. Two of the firve dishes were lukewarm to cold and we sent one back. The waitstaff was obviously overworked and I think assumed we were tourists so didn't pay a bit of attention to us. It took us forever to get a menu! The manager wasn't even super helpful though he did take a lot off of our bill. The mushoom appetizer was BAD! There were no celebrities to be found and no one really to look at. They were tired of the pretentiousness after that and we headed to midtown.

5 Stars: Great Service! Food Excellent! (by travelerlayr)

travelerlayr — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

While the hostess claimed to have lost my reservation, we were there early enough to only have to wait about 10 minutes to seat our party of seven. The waiter was awesome! Very helpful w/the menu and w/advice about where to go out after dinner. The food was excellent and the wait didn't bother our party - gave us more time to visit and have a few drinks. I would go back again.

4 Stars: Not bad! (by nycmel)

nycmel — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I had no clue what to expect when I went there for dinner. I thought I was going to be paying for another expensive meal and leave feeling hungry and cheated. I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised with its food. The pastas and appetizers were very good. I would definitely come back.

3 Stars: what's all the fuss? (by driver213)

driver213 — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

after having read reviews, i wasn't expecting the world -- but still... I don't understand waiting for a table here. food is interesting, and they present it well, but they seem to enjoy making you suffer through a long wait. spend a little more on the food, spend a little less on the drinks, and go somewhere else.

3 Stars: Go with low expectations (by peteypie)

peteypie — Fri, 20 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The small bar is always packed with people, and you have to constantly contend with waiters asking you to move as they navigate through the crowd to make it to their tables. We had an hour wait past our reservation time, so dealing with the bar scene was not helping things. The food is ok, but nothing special. Let's face it, people go there to see and be seen. If you want to experience the shallow MPD scene, enjoy.

3 Stars: Trendy Italian in the Meat Packing district (by mphnyc)

mphnyc — Sun, 17 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Vento is trendy, but don't clammor there for the food - as it is pretty average. Service was very good, attentive waiters who ar friendly but unobtrusive. My steak was overdone, but the halibut special was exquisite and the wine list more than passible. Dessert looked great and I was sad not to try it. Location is tre cool and it garners a good looking corwd, particularly late evenings on the weekends

2 Stars: the service was not good !! (by mariannemi)

mariannemi — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 09:00:00 GMT

wine menu is complicated (only italian names) and wine is very expensive. One of the cheapest wine (recommended by the waitress) is a chianti of $40 that had a bitter taste. however, the pizza is good, tastes like in italy. BUT service is TOO fast !! it's so unfashionable/rude to take away the guests' plates while one person is still eating!! also the ckeck and desert menu came too fast.

4 Stars: Great pizza and veal chops (by DMAN1708)

DMAN1708 — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The veal chop, though expensive ($38), is really fantastic. The pizza with wild mushrooms and truffle oil is also top notch. Rather than butter, they offer a peppery, olive oiled riccota that is really great too. Reasonable wine list and good selection of Italian beers. Service is good enough. I can't see what the complaints are about this place. I really like it. Sit upstairs if possible - its better.

1 Stars: Confusing (by chris regan)

chris regan — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The menu is--what? ersatz Italian, I guess. Servers seem dazed and, yes, also confused. (sometimes angry, as well.) Scores of employees walking around, but no one seems to clear a plate or offer more drinks. Maybe the downstairs club is better...?

3 Stars: didn't live up to the hype (by bethwanj)

bethwanj — Mon, 25 Oct 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We couldn't get reservations until 9:15 on a Friday night b/c they were "booked solid", but when we showed up really early, i.e. 7:30, the place was empty! They sat us right away and the place didn't pick up until 8:45. An obvious ploy to make it seem more popular. The service was average and the food left much to be desired. Drinks were good. If you want to ckeck out the crowd, eat somewhere else and then just go here for drinks.

5 Stars: great service and food (by vanduinenc)

vanduinenc — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I recently had a large birthday party here...and it was great. The service was amazing...even though our waitress was very busy, she made sure we always had exactly what was needed. The owner checked in on our table to wish my friend and I a happy birthday, and also supplied us with free dessert for the entire party.

I would highly recommend Vento...it's one of the best places i've ate in the city.

4 Stars: good service good food (by lashr1999)

lashr1999 — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Do yourself a favor and try the casarecci. It was one of the better dishes I've tasted in awhile. Service was excellent water glasses were full, with lemon slices offered. They gave us a small comp dessert at the end the meal, which we ate even though we were full;) More than I can say for overhyped the Spice market down the street.

1 Stars: Don't waste your Time!! (by shazzabell)

shazzabell — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Upon calling to reserve a table outside for Brunch, the manager requested a cc nbr to secure the table for 6 (I was 8 months pregnant and there was a little baby). I was told if we didn't turn up I would be charged $25 pp. That was fine with me since we were definately going! Our party arrived on time to which we were told there was no table outside for us! Even a cc could not even hold the table???? There were free tables outside to which he said that he was understaffed and we couldn't sit there. The manager was USELESS!!! We went to Pastis instead! After our meal at Pastis we noticed the outside area was packed! I've never experienced this attitude before - DON'T GO!!

4 Stars: Surprisingly decent (by gotham_denizen)

gotham_denizen — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Went there with mixed expectations. Owners' other restauratns are either barely OK or hellish/B&T-ish/touristy. This is a bit of everything. Food is good and even rather adventuresome for a blatantly "commercial" enterprise such as this. All the dishes that we had at our table were consistently good, although not great (nor poor, either). If you are mostly interested in the food, you'll be disappointed. If you want to go for the scene/atmosphere, you might as well go to Jersey. On the other hand, good place to go with a group of friends to chat and relax.

1 Stars: Still can't fix the service! (by rgesch)

rgesch — Mon, 30 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Service was attrocious. We sat outside I had to yell at the busboy to stop bumping our table every time he walked by. I know the tables are tight, but they need to fix that too! This is of course after waiting forever for menus and eventually having to ask for them. I should also mention they seated 5 of us at a table clearly meant for 4 people. We would have sat inside if someone had just told us there aren't any large tables outside. Food was mediocre, certainly not enough to compensate for the service. I can't imagine anyone going there more than once. Especially with One, Spice Market, and 10 other places just outside.

1 Stars: Worst place in NYC! (by nachocha)

nachocha — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Went here right after opening.. Waited for a table, got disgusting martinis at the bar, and sat down. We ordered a ton of stuff, all of which was pretty nasty and flavorless, had a few bottles of expensive wine, but that tasted terrible too.. The bill came out to like $100pp, and noone touched their food, and drinks were left untouched because after the first bite/sip you want to never touch it again. I hope this place shuts down and am waiting for something great to open up in this great building...

2 Stars: Not a chance... (by afgreen)

afgreen — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Do not go here if you are over 30. Neighbors, don't be bothered. They hate us. They're rude. They'll be out of biz soon. See the owner, on his cel phone, pace and scream at his backers. He's the best sidewalk entertainment in the far West Village.

4 Stars: Very enjoyable (by wny421)

wny421 — Sun, 18 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We came to celebrate a friend's birthday, and all of our expectations were met. The staff was delightful - our waitress, although a bit flighty, was a total sweetheart. We were seated promptly (we had a reservation).
The food was fantastic. We split the insalata and the orange marinated prawns - the salad was ok, but the prawns were especially wonderful. (They do come w/ the shells, so take note!)
The pasta was wonderful - truly al dente.
We had the gelatti for desert in a variety of flavors - pistachio, cheesecake, coconut, tiramisu, each flavor was amazing!
The space is amazing - everything from the paper wrapped candles to the exposed brick to the lighting, to the shape of the room itself was exquisite. And the people watching can't be beat.
All in all, a great time.

5 Stars: Great experience (by luckwillhaveit)

luckwillhaveit — Fri, 09 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We had prompt and friendly service, plus the food was dynamite. I had the baby octopus appetizer and the Tagliolina pasta with shrimp and brocolli rabe (very tasty). The lemon tart for dessert was amazing--even for someone who typically would never order a lemon dessert. the wine list has some great big Italian reds. pretty cool ambience too.

1 Stars: Disappointment (by centralpark)

centralpark — Tue, 15 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

You'd think that after opening several successful restaurants around NYC, you'd have the formula down. Logical things like not taking reservations for every table in the restaurant and bringing bread to the table without having to ask have escaped the management. The space is a curiousity because of the history of the building. It is too noisy to order and you have to yell to carry on any type of conversation at the restaurant. Beware of the prawns, they have the shells on and don't give you any tools to help you eat them. The ribs smell good, but have little taste. The semifreddo is acceptable, but is very very small. The tiramisu gelato is overpowering and the cheesecake gelato has a bad aftertaste. The only think I liked was the banana caramel gelato.

1 Stars: Nice try but no cigar... (by dave8nyc)

dave8nyc — Tue, 15 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The best thing about Vento is the location, everything else leaves a lot to be desired.
1) Service is very slow and unattentive (10 minutes for our server to come by with our menus and to take our drink order, another 10 to bring the drinks/take our dinner order, you get the idea...)
2) Food is sub par and way over priced ($15 for a burned 1-person pizza, $20+ for a seafood entree that looked like it was defrosted in a microwave)
3) The space is aesthetically pleasing but the acoustics are terrible. Outdoor seating is a nice feature but I'm sure they will figure out a way to mess that up too.
My general impression was that I felt like I was at an Applebees with poor service and a terribly overpriced menu. I expected a lot more but was left annoyed and disappointed by the whole experience.

5 Stars: Highly Recommended (by 8334)

8334 — Mon, 14 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I went this past Saturday Night for my birthday. The food, service and ambience were incredible. We arrived 15 minutes late and the hostesses were so accommodating. The lounge downstairs was awesome and the music was great. They played everything from newer music to older music. I would highly recommend this place.

1 Stars: Worst service of my life (by ralphgeorge)

ralphgeorge — Mon, 14 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I had experienced the worst service of my life! The irritable, rude waiter greeted us and while we were giving him his order he just walked away. He didn't come back to the table for 10 minutes so I went to speak to the manager Jeffery. I requested a new server and he agreed to that. After I sat down the same waiter came back and apologized for walking away and asked us for our order. Everyone at the table felt awkward at that moment because we were content with having another server. We received our drinks and there were chips in the martini glass. We asked for bread 2 times and never recieved it. After having enough we explained the situation to another manager and walked out. I would have had better service at mcdonalds. The experience was horrible.

1 Stars: 15 minut pizza (by sumthinfishyhere)

sumthinfishyhere — Thu, 27 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

went to take a pizza to go.heard that it was a wood burning oven. real pizza in a wood burning stove takes 3 minutes. 1 minute to prepare it. i waited for 15 minutes with only 7 people in the restaurant (i counted with all that spare time i had.) i have had pizza all over this city this is bad pizza at its finest. its ragu on a ritz cracker.yes the space is gorgeous,the people good looking (including me) the hosts (get real) put me on a waiting list to eat.you are so kidding us all. any critic who has put this restaurant in a favorable spotlight deserves criticism. being in this business for most ofr my life i think my understanding of italian food is quite clear.does Steve Hanson taste this stuff.?there are many great italian trattorias in the city to eat .leave this far off your list.

3 Stars: What? (by mzmish)

mzmish — Mon, 24 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

If this is what dinning in New York has turned into say WHAT? The food was average; I could have had a better meal at the local pizza place. Although it is new and needs some tweaking, this should be your last choice in the meatpacking district. After dinner we had a table in the lounge, but to our surprise they did not let our entire party in, and we had a list. The location is the most impressive characteristic of this average joint.

3 Stars: b.r guest at another restaurant (by dfried2881)

dfried2881 — Tue, 18 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

i must say that b.r. guest let me down on this one...the upstairs dining room resembles a camp mess hall, the acoustics are terrible and the service is slow and unaware of the customers needs. asides from the great location and the lounge downstairs, this restaurant does not have much going for it. if your in the meatpacking district make this your last resort for a meal, go across the street to markt.

4 Stars: Hot new spot in the M-Packing (by mglik)

mglik — Mon, 17 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

After visiting Vento twice for dinner I was very impressed with the food, special cocktails as well as the atmosphere...I even had a major star-sighting- Jesse Palmer from the Bachelor and the Giants ofcourse! Vento can make for a great date place as well as a gathering for friends and family (only if they are worth this hip establishment). Thank you Steve Hanson for finally bringng real, quality Italian cooking to the Meatpacking. I strongly recommend the pastas esp the gemelli, wood-oven pizzas and the fish entrees were especially fresh as well. I had my favorite cockatil at Vento- The Paradiso. Just writing about it is giving me a craving for it. You can not walk out without sampling the Zeppoles, the authentic Italian dessert well-known at street fairs and Little Italy which tatse superior at Vento.

5 Stars: Fun dining (by gwfisk)

gwfisk — Mon, 17 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I really can't think of a bad thing to say about Vento. The food was awesome (especially the buffalo mozzerella and pork rack), the drinks were tasty (go with Paradiso), the service was friendly and with it, and the ambience was very cool. It's amazing the transformation the Meatpacking District is going through. I will definitely be back.

5 Stars: Floating on Wind (by ck74)

ck74 — Mon, 17 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Vento lives up to it's name, and to it's association with Hanson's empire. The decor is inviting, lively and unique - set in a exposed brick tri-level building. A bustling downstairs gave way to a relaxed upper floor with plenty of windows. The food was terrific - highlights (sharing with my table) were the fresh mozzarella with fantastic pesto, the decadent yet light mushroom and white truffle pizza, the suprisingly refreshing lamb sausage, and the flavorful pistachio gelati. I'd buy it by the quart, if I could!! On the downside, service was rushed at times, but gracious and knowledgeable. All in all - a relaxed place with fun, unpretentious cuisine, and a price that begs for return visits! Bravo!

5 Stars: Yummy 2 My Tummy (by hickorychip)

hickorychip — Mon, 17 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Well, I have been there twice and I must say that my title says it all. I don't understand the complaints I have been reading, of course there is going to be a time period where kinks are worked out. Give Vento that time. My experiences have consisted of an aesthetically stimulating atmosphere, a friendly staff, YUMMY FOOD (the octopus, pizza, gelato... mmmm), and great original drinks. The location is primo and the fellow patrons all seemed to fall into beat the restaurant innately has. There are very few places you can go where energy flows steadily keeping every patron wide eyed and eager for what's to come. It will be a staple in the meatpacking for years to come. Cheers.

4 Stars: Try it all! (by sixshootaunc)

sixshootaunc — Fri, 14 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The menu is chock full of quality options. I'd recommend ordering about 4 of the appetizers and a couple of the pastas and sharing. There's just too much good stuff on the menu not to sample a lot.

If you have reservations you'll be seated promptly, otherwise prepare to wait a while or find a spot at the bar.

Level V downstairs is even better than the restaurant.

3 Stars: Waiting Out Loud (by wifflegirl)

wifflegirl — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

My dining experience with friends started off very badly - 40 minute wait WITH a reservation and having to repeatedly ask for bread and water - but ended on a better note. The hostess did offer free drinks to my party due to the wait, but we were more interested in eating after said long wait. As far as the food is concerned, the appetizers were more creative and more enjoyable than the entrees and there seemed to be a decent variety of desserts. The restaurant itself is in an interesting space, but it was too loud and dark to really enjoy the atmosphere. I would recommend either waiting a few months for all the kinks to be worked out or dining at a more established place in this family of restaurants.

3 Stars: Vento Bar and Lounge? (by stewlee22)

stewlee22 — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Vento is better as a lounge/bar than a restaurant because the place was very loud and happening place. It was very difficult to hear people at your table.The wait (on a Wed pm) for a table, even with a reservation was like waiting behind a velvet rope at a NYC club on a Saturday night.Once seated, it took awhile for the waitstaff to bring the bread and even the menu.The food was fortunately better. I recommend the Octopus as an appetizer and some of the gelati (banana and pistachio). The cod I had was a bit too seasoned on certain parts and not some much in others.

4 Stars: Service and Ambiance is First Rate! (by danmor)

danmor — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The appetizers were exquisite. Everyone at my table agreed that the appetizers were the strongest on the menu. Try the bruschette especially the chicken liver pate.....try it and i am sure you'll love it! The service was wonderful...there was no pretentious vibe and the staff was very helpful. The desserts were amazing as well. For entrees, definitely try the pizza!
A perfect place to go before a big night out in the Meatpacking!

5 Stars: GREAT PLACE GREAT FOOD (by jad0361)

jad0361 — Mon, 26 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I absolutely LOVED Vento! The space is amazing - such a cool vibe and great crowd. And the food is incredible!! I highly recommend the pizzas and all of the pastas - you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Overall, such a fabulous place. I know I will be there often.

3 Stars: Too loud, average food... (by janefiona)

janefiona — Sat, 24 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Vento has a cool space and decor. but the food was really average. tuna appetizer was delicious but the prosciotto meat plate was pathetic. the pasta was incredibly average, i think i have made better at home. the service was good. this place is also very loud. i couldn't hear the person i was with because music was blasting. this is just seemed like a big, slick downtown space. eat somewhere else and go to vento for a drink, the downstairs lounge looked cool.

3 Stars: Beautiful place in a great area (by jenyackus)

jenyackus — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

What can one say but it is unfortunate that such a beautiful place in such a great location could disappoint. The wait staff is kind and helpful but they still has a lot of kinks to work out in terms of timely service and attention to their "starving" and thirsty clients. The food is average at best and still priced a tad higher than your average pizza or pasta dish will at places I believe are even better. I felt the same about Fiamma, great location, beautiful place but the food misses again.