Oventi

It took some convincing, but my friend was able to drag me to Oventi for lunch last month. The old location of Marie Calendars is enough to put me off. The look and feel of the restaurant is still Marie Calendars. I almost turned around and left when I saw pie counter at the entrance was still there. This is a big space but it is closed off by the tall, archaic wooden booths of the past. The menu sleeves scream cheep/low end, budget. It is not surprising that customers still ask for the salad bar.

A couple of friends gave it a try as well. They sat for 10 minutes without anyone greeting them. They found the menu confusing and was turned off by the Marie Calendars vibe so they left.

The menu is confusing. There is a bit of an identity crisis.  I think it is supposed to be an Italian joint with wood burning ovens and pasta dishes. But then there are these middle America and Spanish additions. If you are a Spanish chef, make it a Spanish restaurant.

All that being said, this place has potential. The service I had was charming and the menu options were surprisingly fun. Confusing, but fun,

My recommendations to all new restaurants is do your research. Know who you are. Know who your customer is. What type of atmosphere do they enjoy?  How much will they pay for what type of food? How large should the dishes be?

I wish Oventi the best of luck.