We decided to give this restaurant a try after finishing up the Venice Free Walking Tour (VFWT), which we really enjoyed. At the end of the tour, our guide handed out a detailed map with local restaurant recommendations. We already had this restaurant in mind from doing some preliminary research, but we were sold after seeing this on their list. We recieved 2 complimentary aperol spritz just by showing the VFWT map, and I believe pretty much everyone gets a free shot of Limoncello at the end of the meal. As a tip, we noticed that a discount was offered to those making a reservation through Tripadvisor, so you can decide if you want a discount or a free drink! Note that a 10% service charge will be added to your bill.
We arrived at the restaurant at about 6:45pm without a reservation and took one of the last few available tables, which was conveniently right by the window.
We ordered the following:
- Beef carpaccio (15 EUR) - The slices of beef itself were not too flavourful, as it was marinated in red wine without much seasoning. Adding lemon juice, salt and pepper really brought out the meat flavours, and our server suggested eating the thin slices with the poppyseed pumpkin cubes. We threw in the greens and parmesan flakes as well, and there, we had a flavourful and juicy bite.
- Squid ink polenta (16 EUR) - After our experiences in Cinque Terre, we thought we would say good-bye to squid ink forever, but then our tour guide noted that it is a must try in Venice. We gave it another chance and boy, we were not disappointed. The squid was fresh and meaty, and we finally found the ocean flavours we were looking for. I am not usually a fan of polenta, but I enjoyed this combination since the polenta soaked up the delicious sauce well.
- Spaghetti with tomatoe sauce and langoustine (18 EUR) - Overall, this was a very decent pasta. The langoustine had a subtle sweetness to it, but it was slightly overcooked. I think we were spoiled in other Italian cities. Although the pasta was good, we had to knock off a star because we didn't find anything exciting about the flavour profile.
Unfortunately, we snacked a bit before the meal, so sadly, we had to skip desserts. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant, especially in Venice where it is harder to find authentic and local places to eat. read more