As a family-owned and -operated business, the Krasniqi family places high priority on providing a family-friendly environment at Venezia’s Pizza Cafe.
“My mom [Mandy Krasniqi] is a wonderful lady. Whenever we train [new hires], she’ll train them and show how hospitality should be run,” said Tony Krasniqi, manager of Venezia Trattoria in McKinney. “The main thing is making sure everyone feels like part of the family.”
Benny and Mandy Krasniqi opened Venezia’s Italian Cafe in Dallas in 1997. The married business owners sold that restaurant then opened Venezia’s Pizza Cafe in Richardson in 2011 followed by Venezia Trattoria in McKinney in 2024.
On the menu
Mandy Krasniqi said their Chilean seabass, which is one of her favorite dishes, takes top ranking on the popularity chart at their Richardson restaurant.
“Whenever we describe the sea bass—it melts in your mouth and has a lemon wine sauce—that one is very easy to sell,” Tony Krasniqi said. “We have a lot of people who only get that.”
Other top-selling items include shrimp scallop diablo and Mandy’s Special featuring breaded chicken cooked in brandy cream sauce with basil, red peppers, tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, topped with feta and mozzarella cheese and served with fettucini pasta.
One of Mandy Krasniqi’s responsibilities is making desserts for both restaurants. She said her personal favorite is her amaretto cheesecake, but the most frequently ordered dessert is her Key lime pie.
Key lime pie ($11) is a top-selling dessert at Venezia’s Pizza Cafe. (Karen Chaney/Community Impact)She credits customer appreciation as one of her favorite things about being a restaurateur.
“The number one reason I enjoy working here is when I hear customers say how much they love my desserts,” Mandy Krasniqi said. “My husband and everyone says, ‘Mommy doesn’t have to cook anymore.’ But I see people enjoying it so much, and I just want to make more.”
The backstory
Prior to opening Venezia’s over two decades ago, Benny and Mandy Krasniqi worked in a variety of restaurant kitchens in New York. They chose to move to Texas to start their business because although North Texas was growing, it wasn’t nearly as busy as New York, and they had relatives living in the area. As their three children, Tony, Albiona and Albion Krasniqi, grew up, they worked in the family restaurant in Richardson.