For dates or family dinner, Venezia in Gretna is right at home
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It's no small feat to take over a beloved neighborhood joint, but it's something Venezia managed to make look easy when it moved into the former Tony Mandina's in Gretna.
Why it matters: It's been a few months since the "phone-breaking" initial opening for Venezia's second location, and it's already settled into its role as another comfortable, dependable dinner spot.
Catch up quick: Tony Mandina's was an institution, serving up Italian classics between its 1982 opening and the family's decision to close up shop this summer.
- Then, Nicholas Bologna, the proprietor behind Mid-City restaurant Venezia, took over, The Times-Picayune reports.
- "The response has been overwhelming, really," Bologna told the newspaper. "They broke the phone. There's been such a high call volume, the cellphone started freezing up. Hundreds of calls in a few minutes."
The vibe: On a recent visit, I grabbed a table with an early reservation to have dinner with my husband and our toddler.
- The staff warmly welcomed us, giving my daughter crayons and encouraging her to scribble across the paper-topped, red-and-white checked tablecloth.
- Twinkle lights were laced across the dining room, and what looked like family photos hung on the walls.
- In the front room, couples filled the bar and a pianist settled in for the night.
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What I ordered: Fried mozzarella ($8.95), which arrived with a pot of red sauce for dipping, a strikingly meaty baked ziti ($17.95), and spaghetti with a meatball for my daughter ($8.95).
- The portions were as large as they are at the Mid-City location. The ziti was a full two meals for me, and the spaghetti became several for my kid.
What to skip: We also ordered the flashy tableside Caesar salad ($12.95 for two), but I can't say the spectacle was worth the upcharge (a standard large Caesar costs $8.95).
The bottom line: As a West Banker, I'm loving all the new restaurants in Algiers and Gretna, and a new family-friendly place with comfort food fits right in, just as its predecessor did for decades.