It was great to return to Buon Venuti, and just as great to find things hadn’t changed.
Still the “real deal” – true Italian food with a southern Italian influence, friendly prompt service, very reasonable prices.
We enjoyed a good Chianti, gorgeous scallop entrees, very nice spaghetti marinara in a Neapolitan sauce and a to-die-for smoked salmon fettuccine. NO room for dessert!
We’ll be back!

Good and hearty Italian dishes, all true to Italian style, just like the true blue Italian proprietor of this fine restaurant.

If you are after Kiwi style Italian food (unseasoned half raw veges, pasta drowning in cream, cheap cheese, etc) the I suggest not to go here since veges are cooked in the traditional al forno way, seasoning is used throughout, the sauces are all well made with proper cheeses in the traditional Italian style.

And to top it, the food is very affordable. Granted, the servings aren’t overly big, but it’s quality rather than quantity.

The wine list also contains as selection of real Italian wines, but it caters for all tastes and styles, so even for the uneducated palates local Chardonnay plonk is on offer. BYO is allowed at a very reasonable corkage fee.

We ordered pizza’s, which were great. The service was horrible! We wouldn’t return on account of the service. We were there for 20-30 minutes before we received any drinks. We were there 45 minutes before we got our starter (pizza bread). We got there early and it was not busy, so we were not sure why everything took so long. To end off the night we had to wait to pay because he was out on his 3rd or 4th cigarette break since we arrived. Unfortunately the service will be the reason we don’t return.

Buon Venuti is a great little restaurant. It’s a high quality suburban Italian family business which maintains consistent food quality, a great menu, and a lovely ambiance, including Italian music and candles. If anything lets it down it’s variables in staff and service which has been different each time we visited. On our experience a little more attention would be appreciated on arrival. Most people would like a drink (or at least a chance to look at the wine list) shortly after being seated, and fresh filtered water on the table. Once you have a drink in your hand cooking delays are no problem in an atmosphere like this, particularly if they are quick with the yummy garlic pizza snacks. A recommended outing.

Amazing soul good at really reasonable prices! Best pasta we have ever had, definitely favourite restaurant ever.

The pizza bread and chicken crepe are incredible and the effect is better than chocolate when you have had a hard day.

Go in and meet the lovely family that owns it as the are always smiling and always make you feel very welcome.

Best BYO restaurant in the whole of Auckland.