Venda Ravioli

I've been shopping at Venda since I moved here 9 years ago. I've watched them grow over the years, and not all changes have been for the better. Don't misunderstand me, I LOVE Venda, but some of their products have gone down in quality. Their raviolis ARE good, but no longer great. They switched to using a higher amount of whey in their product, and this is NOT good - it affected the quality and they actually charge more now for making a cheaper product. So I quit buying ravioli from them, and instead, I simply buy their pasta sheets and make my own (if you want to do it yourself, all you need is a good-quality ravioli die and some good recipes). The other problem is less tangible - it's the new customer base they've attracted. It seems every tourist or tourist-type in and around RI has overtaken what used to be an intimate and traditional Italian grocery. And Venda - sensing the big bucks coming their way - has accomodated them by offering some rather silly touristic touches that encourage them to come in like a pack of starving dogs and overtake the store while trying to figure out exactly what Reggiano is. And so the staff is more stressed while trying to meet the demands of their new customers, it's no longer the cozy, quiet place it used to be. However, I have found that shopping there on weekday mornings are much more enjoyable, and I can't find a better shop to get my favorite cheeses. more

This is such a great old school Italian grocery. There's such a widespread selection of foods that are hard to find elsewhere. Of course, the home made pasta is excellent! There are so many varieties to choose from, that it's actually hard to make a choice. I can go there an easily buy 5 different types at once! more

Venda is the kind of place that I can't wait to take out of town guests. Without fail, everyone is impressed - foodie or not. Their selection of meats, cheeses, prepared foods, pastas and Italian imports is just awesome! Though often busy, especially around holidays, their service is always quick and efficient. And their prices are often more reasonable than the lower quality offered elsewhere. Need a quick impressive dinner? Compose an antipasto from the great selections on their antipasto counter, add a couple of cheeses and meats and thrown it all together over a bag of pre-prepped greens. Next, get some of their yummy, fresh ravioli, their freshly prepared sauces and a loaf of fresh bread and you've got a wonderful, inexpensive dinner to impress guests in just minutes. One warning - if the bread and the sauce are still warm ( and they often are ), they may not make it home. Dipping in the car is just too tempting! more

Costantino's Venda Ravioli Inc more commonly known as Venda has the absolute best home made ravioli. Any type of pasta you can imagine is sold in this store. They have wide variety of specialty ravioli, including lobster, crab, mushroom, and meat. There is no comparison between freshly made ravioli and store bought. This is definitely a 5 star! more