Written by Venice locals who have lived and dined here for 13 years. AVOID if you want a romantic date night, an elevated dining experience, unique dishes, popping flavor, and an atmosphere where you don't feel like you're in a meat market on display.
In summary, only go on a Friday or Saturday night if you're a single, young girl dare I say self absorbed "influencer type" looking for attention seeking, cheesy Venice guys- you know the type... they just finished an ayuahsca retreat in the Peruvian jungle and are heading to Tulumn for a DJ next week and spent their morning hanging at Erewhon detoxing from the ketamine and mushies from the night before. Age range is typically late 20s to late 40s.
Food, not that great. Surprisingly underwhelmed after all the hype. Same Japanese sweet potatoes at Erewhon, for example. Nothing unique. Most dishes were just "ok".
Cocktails: good but lacking a variety of spirits in the cocktails.
Atmosphere: tables and bar seats are literally JAMMED, No space between tables, zero privacy or opportunity to have an intimate experience.
Staff: our first experience with the young hostess at the door was absolutely abysmal. The hostess was rude and almost offended we had arrived for dinner. Lol! Our waitress was WONDERFUL! She was the highlight of the night! I felt bad for her bc she had to squeeze herself in between us just to take our order less than a foot in front of our faces bc the place was so packed like a college bar.
Details: we ordered at least 6 dishes and 3 different drinks. Literally NOTHING made us say wow. The only "wow" we spoke was, "wow I can't believe this place gets good reviews for food."
The set up is AWFUL!!!! We were seated at the seats along the open air wall that face AK. At first we thought it was great bc we had a beautiful evening to look at AK, but around 8 PM, the local Venice cheesy guys and influencer girls arrived. You know the ones... Obnoxious girls, underdressed for the temps, who haven't looked up from their phone except to run in the middle of the street on AK and pose for photos, consciously obstructing traffic, but of course entitled to do so.
When you sit at the counter facing AK, be prepared to share your dining space with people like that who are lingering outside the restaurant just having a drink. When you sit there you have about a 8 inch by 8 inch space in front of you, enough for a drink and a small plate, if you order different items you have to place them on the counter top just above the lower counter in front of you. This counter top, is apparently shared with those who linger outside the restaurant on AK! RVR allows these guys to get drinks from the bar inside and move outside and hang out joining our meal, facing us, a foot from our face, while my husband and I are trying to eat. They ended up talking to us, asking us about our food and when my husband got up to go to the bathroom they attempted to hit on me. Quite comical. DO NOT GO HERE ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY FOR A DATE unless you want to share your date with everyone else.
My legs and feet were touching the girl next to me if I crossed my legs bc there is literally no space between bar stools. The waitress at one point had to squeeze herself between our barstools to take our order bc of the crowd behind her. RVR does nothing to control the outside folks from ruining the "inside diners" experience. Wow! I didn't know this place was so COMMUNAL, but then again, based on the crowd, "everything in life should be communal, including your spouses" lol.
2 top tables are jammed side by side so there is zero intimacy or privacy if dining at the tables. People were walking to the bathroom and stepping on the backs of coats hanging from the chairs at the tables. Honestly, do better RVR. This feels SO cheap, like you've packed us in here to make your margin so you can pay rent. It feels like a college bar.
And the food. Seriously. No standouts, not worth it.
Will not return, but glad to see this place is attracting those people so we can continue to dine at our other favorite spots! read more