The Arkansas Restaurant With Italian Roots That Dates Back To The 1940s
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published December 20, 2021
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Italy is much closer than you think. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the state to get a taste of Italy. Instead, all you have to do is pay a visit to The Venesian Inn. One of the state’s most iconic restaurants, it’s been doling out Italian classics since the 1940s.
The Venesian Inn is located in Tontitown, which is where it’s been since 1947.
Authentically Italian, it was opened by Germano Gasparotto, a transplant from Italy. After a few years, he sold the business to John and Mary Granata, also native Italians.
The Granata family still owns The Venesian Inn. And just like in those early years, the menu still reflects the rich heritage of the Italians who founded Tontitown in 1898.
The most famous dish is the spaghetti and fried chicken. The pairing might sound strange, but the crispy chicken, hearty meat sauce, and home-made pasta complement each other perfectly.
There’s also its nostalgic charm. Though well-kept, the restaurant hasn’t lost any of its vintage appeal. Generation after generation return to The Venesian Inn to find that nothing has changed.
