When Guy Fieri wants pizza in Palm Beach County, he apparently knows where he's going.
But this time, he skipped it.
The celebrity chef, Food Network television host and restaurateur returned Thursday to Venezia Pizza & Ristorante in North Palm Beach for what owner Elida Vogli said was his fourth visit to the family-owned Italian restaurant and his first for a full sit-down dinner.
While previous stops focused largely on pizza, this visit was different.
Fieri arrived with his wife and another couple for dinner, giving him a chance to explore more of a menu that has kept Venezia a local dining fixture since 1987.
More than a celebrity drop-in
For independent restaurants, repeat visits often carry more weight than a single appearance.
Fieri first attracted attention at Venezia in
2023, stopping in with his son, Hunter. He returned in February 2024 for a second visit, and a third visit followed in 2025.
Thursday's dinner marks four, but this time, his visit centered on the meal rather than a quick slice.
Instead of stopping in primarily for pizza, Fieri and his guests settled in for a dinner that let chef Albert Vogli's kitchen showcase homemade dishes that have built the restaurant's loyal following for nearly four decades.
Looking beyond pizza
According to Vogli, the centerpiece of the meal was Venezia's veal piccata with artichoke hearts, served over angel hair pasta in a lemon-caper piccata sauce.
The table also worked through homemade meatballs, mozzarella sticks and the restaurant's popular garlic knots.
Vogli said Fieri told staff he typically sticks to pizza when he eats at pizzerias and rarely orders pasta in the same meal.
That changed Thursday night.
Fieri praised the $30 veal dish and remarked on how tender it was. Vogli said it's a favorite among New York transplants who visit during the winter season.
Garlic knots earned their own praise. Vogli said Fieri liked them so much he ate several and asked about taking some home.
A memorable night for staff
What stood out most to employees wasn't necessarily what Fieri ordered.
According to Vogli, he walked over to thank the cooks and staff members personally after dinner, complimenting both the food and the service.
Vogli said, "For him to be so nice and appreciate us made our workers feel so good."
She said Fieri's wife Lori encouraged employees to take photos with him, creating a memorable moment for staff who rarely encounter television personalities in the dining room.
The compliments left workers beaming, Vogli said, because they came from someone known for celebrating local restaurants and the people behind them.
Venezia: 513 Northlake Blvd., North Palm Beach; 561-881-8600; veneziadining.com
A busy season on the Guy Fieri beat
Venezia's fourth visit is just the latest entry in a season that has kept Fieri's Palm Beach County footprint firmly in the spotlight.
This year's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" season featured six local restaurants filmed with Fieri and his son, Hunter, including:
- Alaina's Cafe and Bake Shoppe, Palm Beach Gardens
- Nevs Barbecue, Palm Beach Gardens
- Driftwood, Boynton Beach
- Tropical Smokehouse, West Palm Beach
- Don Ramon Restaurante Cubano, West Palm Beach
- Wok by the Beach, Riviera Beach
When it comes to our neck of the woods, the Mayor of Flavortown isn't just passing through.
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's food & restaurant writer. Have you spotted Guy Fieri at your favorite restaurant? Please share details of your sighting with dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Italian restaurant so good Guy Fieri came for 4th visit | Exclusive
