Take a hike with Dino Venti

Venti’s Restaurant has been a Salem staple for more than 20 years. The name is synonymous with great food and beer, but there is more to this local restaurateur than keeping us well fed and with brew in hand. Dino Venti has been in Salem for the past 26 years. In 1996, he founded Venti’s Restaurants, Inc., and opened Venti’s Bento in what was then known as the Reed Opera House Mall. Since that time, Venti’s has expanded to its current downtown location across the street from its original one and opened a second shop in South Salem. Dino joined in partnership with his nephew, Conrad Venti, who became a part-owner in the business with him three years ago. Dino is also a one-quarter owner of Basil & Board.

We know Dino the restaurateur, but what about Dino the outdoorsman? With a passion for mountain biking and trails, he is a founding board member and current trail manager for The Black Rock Mountain Bike Association; a founder for the Resilient Headwaters, a group of recreational trail advocates working with multiple groups attempting to enhance recreation through trail proliferation, both dirt and waterways, throughout the Santiam Canyon; and on the Resource Advisory Council for BLM land in western Oregon. Rounding off his support of local recreation, he is an executive board member for Travel Salem. Dino is a busy man!

Yet it doesn’t stop there. Dino is all about taking care of Salem as a whole. Venti’s is community partners with Hazel Patton, Ron Steiner and Emil Graziani, fundraising for micro shelters with Church at the Park for the unsheltered in Salem.

I am exhausted just writing about all that Dino does to help make Salem a better place for all either through food, fun, or serving others. Let’s stop and take a trek through the trails of Dino Venti’s thoughts.

What do you like most about Salem?
The people — they have always been warm and welcoming.

What is your favorite thing to do in Salem?
My favorite thing to do in Salem is walk my dogs at Minto, rain or shine.

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chips.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
I always loved Christmas because I come from a large family (I’m the youngest of 11) and it was always exciting to see the tree all full of decorations and presents. I remember the anticipation that Santa would bring something fun… and not socks.

What is your worst habit?
I have a weakness for chips. I can polish off a bag in one sitting.

Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to play any musical instrument like my dad and a better voice because I love to sing but I don’t think singing loves me.

What topic could you spend hours talking about?
All the topics. I love to talk. I’m a recreation trail advocate. That topic is at the top of my list.

If you could go back in history, which famous person would you most like to hang out with?
Stephen Hawking

What do you do to try to make the world a better place?
I try to live my life with tolerance, compassion and empathy.

Early morning or late night?
Early morning

Mountains or ocean?
Mountains and ocean, in Oregon we can get them both at the same time!

Peanut butter — chunky or creamy?
Chunky

This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 13 (Spring 2022)