A local recommended this to us. This place was packed, so we were unable to eat here for dinner the first day. Then we went online to make reservations (yes, you can make them online instead of calling) and got in for the next day. Funny - the outside is packed with ppl eating, etc. but inside was dead the second night. We ordered some fried foods from the front - the best was the fried squid on a stick. The rest tasted like they had been fried and sitting there for a while. Tried the fried bacalao (cod) and squash blossoms - eh. I ordered the squid ink pasta (beware - this type of pasta makes your mouth turn black! haha), which was just average. I didn't have anything to compare it to in Italy, though, so I'm not sure how it compared. I was just told that it is a must eat when in Venice. Also got mussels and a side of meatballs, which were good. House wine is cheap - I think 2.5-3 euros for a small pitcher, which came to about 2-3 glasses. Place doesn't seem air conditioned as it was a little warm inside, but service was good and they don't charge that service tax that some places charge. I didn't find the food in Venice to be that great compared to other cities, so this may be as good as it gets in Venice! read more

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Unfortunately came early at 10am so the kitchen for pastas not available until 12pm. Again we ordered Tre, tre and tre of almost everything on the counter display for their cicchetti and they were all excellent. read more

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For anyone that doubts my review, please see that most of the reviews I write on Yelp are 4 or 5 star reviews. I am not snooty, or a picky eater- I am merely an observant diner. I had delightful meals and service while dining in Paris and Florence on this trip, but the service and food at Cantina Do Spade was so bad that it prompted me to write a review directly after our experience. We arrived around 7:30pm and were only allowed to sit inside for 20 minutes before we were kicked out for reservations. Sure, maybe it would have been good if we had known about the reservation thing, but we did not, and didn't like being kicked to the curb (literally) while still eating. But all of that aside, the food was LUKE WARM or COLD. It lacked flavor, and all of the seafood was overcooked. They ran out of most of their ready made food (ciccheti) that they serve in the front of the restaurant. I was told before my trip that the food in Venice wasn't good and that it catered to Americans who were willing to pay a lot of money for terrible food. Apparently this is true. I had better food on my airplane ride home. Read my previous review for more details, but I will repeat: If you want good food, go to Florence. read more

My airbnb host recommended this place when I asked for a local eatery. We had an appt for dinner and ordered a plate of cicchetti, a spritzer, sparkling water and the spaghetti with spicy shrimp. I thoroughly enjoyed the Sarde de saor, calamari and the baccala de Mantecato. The pasta was good and I appreciate that their won't add an automatic copeto or servicio. On the way out, the waiter offered my a complimentary shot of prune liquor. Score! read more

Really relaxed atmosphere. Friendly staff. Tapas (ciccheti) is simple but delicious . Sit back, relax and enjoy a Campari spiritz with background big band jazz. read more

Cantina Do Spade - Busy night. Friendly atmosphere. - Wine Bars Near Me - Venezia, VE

some of the best food my hubby and I had when we visited Italy. A local recommended it to us. It's a small hole in the wall slightly off the beaten track that you could easily pass by, but so worth the effort to find it! every dish from beginning to end was spot on :) read more

This was the worst experience of my trip in Venice. Made a reservation 2 weeks prior to my stay for 7:30pm. Showed up at 7: 20 and was told my reservations were for 9pm. ( after returning to the hotel room I double checked my e mails. I was correct they just lied) showed up around 8:50 after having a beer at a nearby bar. Was sat down in a corner for half an hour without any attention. Don't make a reservation because they don't care. Wish I could review the food as I was told how great it is. But unfortunately I can't. Would love to give this a zero because this place is a joke. read more

My friend who is originally from Venezia took me to this restaurant. He said you will have "The true Venezia experience" and he wasn't lying. I enjoyed every bit of this restaurant. I absolutely fell in love with 'Spaghetti al nero' which is quite messy when eating but Amazing flavor!! I also tried the 'Seppie in nero con polenta' which is a very typical Venezia dish. It was a bit too salty for me but I really loved the taste. For dessert we ordered the 'Bis di panna cotta' which was one of the best panna cotta I've ever had. It is quite a small restaurant so it's loud and cramped. But the food is great!! What is there to complain? read more

I highly recommend this restaurant! Took some time to find this off the beaten path place but well worth the time to find them! Food was incredible, the gnocchi was the best I've ever had. Service was good, server was friendly and helpful in menu decisions. Ambiance was great, be sure to make reservations, they get very busy. Make sure to try them out when in Venice! read more

Cantina Do Spade - Amazing gnocchi! - Wine Bars Near Me - Venezia, VE

This place is a perfect way to enjoy a true Venetian dining experience. The food was fantastic and reasonably priced. We ordered from the bar which included small bites such as calamari on a stick. Prawns and grits and fried balls of spicy sausage and polenta. I also had a spritz (which was delicious) and all together we spent 20 euros. We left still a little bit hungry which was perfect so that we had room for gelato later on. The best part though was the staff. The bouncer at the door was extremely friendly, showed us a table after we got our food and were standing around awkwardly and even shared some fried bites he was enjoying himself! If we had more time in this beautiful city we would definitely go back again read more

There was a variety of tasty cicchetti to choose from and the wine was very good. It gets really packed with people and lacks the atmosphere of some other bars in the area, but overall it is a worthwhile experience and a good place to stop for a bite to eat and drink read more

My friends and I were really excited to come here, especially since the first time we went, so many people were ordering the appetizers at the bar and eating them so happily. Because it was still early and so busy, we made reservations for the following (Friday) night. We were seated promptly and our waiter was very nice and informative on the menu options, though definitely inattentive. We chucked it up to the restaurant being very busy at first, but after waiting close to half an hour just to get our drinks (not even alcoholic ones), it was apparent that we weren't a priority to any of the staff. We shared a calamari dish, which was great but then had to wait another twenty minutes for anyone to notice that we'd finished and set the dish aside completely. In that timeframe, the woman next to us got two courses and wine while the table behind us not only got their drinks but their bread baskets too (we never saw ours). My friends got the gnocchi, which was "Okay" and I got the lasagna with zucchini and fish, which was actually really really good... until I found a shrimp in it. I'm ALLERGIC to shellfish btw, which no one asked about and I didn't supply because I.didn't.order.any.shellfish in my dinner. Mercifully, my throat didn't start itching but I did stop eating, which was a shame because, again, it was delicious minus potentially closing off my airway. Since I avoided an anaphylatic reaction and it took forever just to get to clear the calamari (yes, they were still on the table), we just got the check and ran away. I'm sure they have good nights, but tonight was not one of them. Lovely atmosphere, full of history and personality, but they seriously need to work on their staffing so don't go there feeling too hungry, be prepared to wait, and let them know your allergies before you find a surprise in your entrée. read more

The food amount is very few. Service is bad, have to pick salt by ourselves. Need wait long time for dish.

Most fun in Venice. Young, noisy crowd = fun. This is a "bacari" where you order the food by simply pointing to what you want amidst the array of prepared dishes called "cicchetti." Hardest thing was securing a table. read more

I've been to Venice three different times and this is by far the best restaurant I've eaten that. The food was excellent and the service was fabulous. it is small quaint and off the beaten path but not far to get to. read more

Do Spade doesn't have much atmosphere, though their variety of ciccheti is impressive. They have many fish offerings. If you'd like the house wine instead of the listed wine, just as for an ombra bianco or rosso! If you'd like to sample Venetian seafood this would probably be a place to do so before ordering a whole entree of something. read more

My wife and I finally found it after hearing from our local friend that it's one of the best spots in Rialto for cicchetti. Do Spade does not disappoint with it's classic, yet lively atmosphere and great prices. After a few spritz's, wine and beer, and a some rounds of meatballs, eggplant, calamari, etc, we only spent about €20. Can't beat it and we are definitely going back. read more

Come for traditional cicchetti, but be prepared to wait. Service was awful (only one overworked young woman for the entire place), space was grimy and hot, but the food was very good. We had meatballs (which were fine), grilled cuttlefish (which was 'naked' and arguably the best thing we ate), stuffed and grilled squid (the stuffing being an indeterminate mush that was likely bread crumbs, maybe chopped squid, maybe chopped shrimp, tomato), grilled shrimp (again, simply dressed in olive oil and an excellent product), a stuffed tomato (just a bread crumb stuffing, but good), and deep fried calamari (which was crisp-hot and floured not breaded and thus excellent). Would I go back? Probably. But I might keep walking if it's too crowded. read more

This is a must try in Venice. Small plates. Service was great. Sat at communal table in front of bar. Staff explained different options.

One of the best places I experienced in Venice. Every part of my meal was fantastic. It was so good I didn't even take a picture before I finished read more

Loved this place. Service was super friendly and fast and the food was amazing. Not a tourist trap at all, and prices very reasonable. The house wine was inexpensive (about 3 Euro for 1/4 liter) and delicious. I had the liver and polenta, a typical Venetian dish, and it was cooked just right and seasoned to perfection. Wife had the spaghetti with ink and cuddlefish which was also fantastic. I'd absolutely come back. read more

Omg! Yum yum yum! Had a little bit of a hard time finding this place but a very sweet Italian woman helped us. We got here early as it was our first night and recovering from jet lag. The service was great. The food so yummy. We had swordfish, sea bass, calamari (no sauce needed...so fresh!) and tagliatelle with pesto and prawns. Vino perfecto as well. Love this place! Great first dinner in Venice!! read more

I love the Venetian Cicchetti experience. There was a line up at this place 20 min before it opened ... then a mad rush for tables / the bar. It is an experience! There was no room at the inn... but I grabbed my wine and Cicchetti and enjoyed them in the alley with many others while the locals walked by wishing me Bon Appetite! Note on location ( tough to find): it is on Calle de le Do Spade before crossing canal heading west. read more

We were very dissapointed with our visit. I was looking forward to this restaurant since I saw it featured on a tv show. We showed up at 6PM sharp and tried pushing the door open tonfind out it was closed. That point was driven home 5 seconds later when a waiter hit (read banged) the glass on the door to indicate they were closed until 6PM. When they finally opened at 6:10ish I was the first one through the door and was told that we could not sit to order dinner because the tables were reserved and the first open table was at 9PM, instead we could order tapas. All of this was told to me in a tone of voice that told me that I should have already known this to begin with. I decided to order tapas anyways. Got some sardines, stuffed squid, octopus salad, potatoes, and meatballs. On a 10 point scale, the tapas were a solid 4. Nothing to write home about. The rudeness of the employees made it unpleasant. read more