Best Fun Restaurants in Venice Gardens

To start with, the food is largely amazing. The lettuce wedge salad is a triumph. The linguini with lobster and truffle cream was magnificent: al dente but not undercooked, and a lobster tail the size of my forearm. So, too, the double cut lamb chops — done Moroccan style, with sumptuously subtle spices and roasted marble potatoes, carrots and Brussels sprouts with cold yogurt, it was sublime to the point of saying it’s the best I’ve had. However: The ribeye, admittedly a fatty cut of meat best cooked medium well to ensure it melts into the sinew, was a little too — easily a third of the cut was blubber. The mac and cheese that comes with it is too rich by half, although the broccolini was perfect tender crisp and charred just right. Overall, 4 and a half stars. The only issue here is ambiance. Dining outside is heaven: Shockingly picturesque view of the bay, gorgeous sunset. The inside is modern and sleek, but it really suffers from being a slave to the the name of the place: It has an actual banyan tree inside which, sure, is striking. But the resulting architecture means super high ceilings and lots more surface areas on which sound will endlessly bounce. Inside it is loud. Very loud to the point where it’s a bit hard to hold conversation if you’re middle aged and certainly impossible for older folks to discern what’s being said. All of which is to say: Go, but try and get an outdoor patio table. Oh, and the prices are beyond reasonable. A meal of this quality and this waterfront location in Venice or Sarasota will set you back 2 or three times as much. Dinner for three was $150 before tip, excluding gratuity and without cocktails or wine. Overall, 4.5 stars owing to the challenging interior acoustics and the botched ribeye steak, & a slow kitchen. But forgive that, & it’s a 6 star gem a mere 19 minutes from the oversubscribed town of Venice. My advice is: Make the trip. You can always go to the Crow’s Nest to be mistreated & taken for granted some other day!

Went for Valentine's Day. We've been a couple of times before this and the food and service have been great. We both got pasta this time. Wife got the mushroom ragu and it was pheno,inal. I had the thai pasta and it was also very goo. We ended with the chocolate pecan pue which was excellent. Service from Alexa was 5 star.

Look forward to dining at Cassariano’s each year we return to Venice. Our initial visit this year was consistent with previous years. Great food,super service and pleasant atmosphere with an appropriate level on ambient noise. They have been consistent for many years .

Acqua Pazza is the Gem of the Wellen Park restaurant scene. All the staff are so friendly and accommodating. Place is beautiful inside. Even on Valentine’s night, the service and food was amazing. Manager Angela is the best. She makes you feel like family. She recently purchased a warm chocolate machine and has mastered the chocolate mix and can serve it in an espresso cup. It is amazing. We are hoping it is added to the menu soon as a dessert. It is rich and creamy and the perfect blend of dark and milk chocolate. I used to go to Brussels a lot and her presentation is better than the best in Brussels. The swordfish piccata, grilled octopus are amazing. The menu is very thought out and each dish is very special. Haley and all the bar crew are the best. Attentive, friendly, and just a pleasure to be with Restaurant is super clean and very modern. Bathrooms are beautiful with colorful tile walls. Yes, I highly recommend Acqua Pazza.

My husband and I love this restaurant. The food has been fantastic. The menu is not overwhelming and has a variety of wonderful dishes. The staff is fantastic as well as very knowledgeable about the dishes. They do offer special dishes not on the menu and the specials are tops.