Venus Szechuan & Mandarin

excellent restaurant!!! more

I have dined here a few times. It is a somewhat classy place and a tiny bit on the upscale side especially for a Chinese rest. I think the service is way better than the food however. The food is good, not great, the prices are fair. Make sure you pay attention when ordering which dishes are spicey. I'm glad the food is fresh and not the waitstaff:) The atmosphere and service is what stands out in my mind. It is just down the street from the Pickwick theater which is a good place to see a film. more

Venus is a delivery staple for us; we've ordered from them for over two years and have never once been disappointed. The drivers have been courteous to a man and rarely does an order for four take more than 45 minutes to arrive at our door. They have a light touch with the oil and their chicken and beef entreés arrive piping hot and flavorful. Their Szechuan meals have a good fire to them as long as you ask for them to be spicy, and my wife loves their mu shu chicken -- always flavorful, and somehow they keep the green onions crisp! I've only been disappointed by the Hot + Sour soup; sometimes it's tart and textured, other times a bit gummy and bland. I also don't care for zucchini as a stir fry vegetable, and I think that's found in the Hunan chx/beef/shrimp. Their menu features most of the favorites you'd expect, so try your best "barometer" dish and see what you think. Although we haven't dined in at Venus yet, I've walked past a few times and the décor appears to be simple, modern, and inviting, with a halogen-lit, black wood bar and some exposed brick columns. Good food that's delivered is usually +1 or +2 when it comes right from the kitchen to your table, so I can't imagine you'd be disappointed dropping in. more

Venus has been in Park Ridge for a few years now, and it is one of our favorite places to eat. It has Szechuan and Mandarin dishes, but it also has the traditional Chinese dishes as well. We really like the Chicken with Pecans dish (which is on the mild side), but if you like the more fiery dishes they have some that will bring tears to your eyes as well. We like the egg rolls, which are not soggy, and they are served with either the sweet and sour sauce or the hot mustard sauce (one time the hot mustard was on the extra hot side, as I had to drink a half a glass of water and couldn't speak for a minute.....) You can eat in or take out, and it's a good place to go if you're going to the Pickwick Theater, which is around the corner. Venus does not have its own parking lot, but there is parking on the street. (and yes, you will get a fortune cookie, too!) more