Villa Verone, Geneva IL - September 12

Rating - 9.4

We headed over after the "Festival of the Vine" (wine and chocolate tasting - although I had beers and wings with my buddy Andy at Stockholm's, and wanted to stay there) at around 8:30 pm on Friday night. We had a reservation for 14, and were told they were setting the table so we headed upstairs for a drink.........and had a BLAST!!!!

It was really funny because they were having a wedding rehearsal dinner, and the wedding party was still there, but they seated at us a few tables on the dance floor (the server saw the potential for a BIG tip and headed downstairs to cancel our reservation). There was a great band that was playing primarily "oldies", but songs that the girls really enjoyed dancing to (a lot of wine also helped).

Service was good and drinks were flowing. Food was served pretty fast and it was mediocre at best. In fact, Katie said tonight that Capri was much better.

However, you can not beat the atmosphere upstairs when the place is hopping. This is the second year in a row we came after the Festival. We have been here some other times when it was pretty dead.

Food is usually decent, although I feel there are much better restaurants in the area. But Villa Verone RULES on this night.

Cocktails (before we were seated)-

1 red wine
1 5 River Pinot noir 10.00
2 Heiniken 8.00

Total - $25.00

Dinner - Its kind of hard to say

2 apps
6 dinners
lots of drinks

Total - $75.66 (split between 3 couples)

PS. Solid move that night Pietro (the owner)!!