CAFE' VENICE

Cafe Venice is located in downtown Venice, Florida, and has been a favorite for tourists and locals for many years.

Cafe Venice
Darlene Jarvi

The restaurant offers both inside and outside dining, and has a great wine selection and full service bar as well.  It is not your typical casual tourist place.  The white linen tablecloths give a formal touch to the tropical environment.  The outside dining is very popular during the winter months.

This is not the kind of place I would feel comfortable wearing a tee shirt, shorts, and flip flops.  A nice pair of slacks with a polo shirt would be acceptable.

Cafe Venice Interior

Kay Ann Kropac is the owner.  Her career began in Ohio at her family's restaurant, and after moving to Florida and working for Cafe Venice, she finally bought it.  

The menu is extensive.  The focus is on American style food, and Cafe Venice is open both for lunch and dinner.

Their lunches feature many soup and salad combinations including my favorite, Mediterranean Salad.  The variety of soups include tomato basil bisque, spicy Thai seafood soup. 

All lunch and dinner items can also be complemented with a large variety of appetizers such as pork potstickers, spice chicken rolls, and their famous fried spinach.

The dinner menu also includes many varieties of tapas such as escargot, eggplant frites, and crab stuffed shrimp.

Entrees include something for everyone with such items as fresh Atlantic salmon, pan seared grouper, panko crusted chicken, filet mignon, crispy duck, and a special pasta of the day. 

Needless to say, these entrees and be complemented with the appetizers, salads, and desserts that adorn the menu.

Cafe' Venice is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm, and on Sunday from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm.  Reservations are a must in the winter season;  in the summer, not so much.