If you're staying anywhere near Hotel Al Sotoportego, do yourself a favor and eat at Al Vagon…read more My two daughters and I were staying at Hotel Al Sotoportego, and this restaurant is literally right outside the hotel entrance along the canal. The moment you step out the door, you're practically part of the restaurant. Every time we walked by, it was packed, and every dish that came out looked incredible. It was our last night in Venice, and we made a last-minute decision to cancel our dinner reservations at another well-known restaurant and eat here instead. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during our entire trip. Even though they were extremely busy and we didn't have reservations, the owner, Giovanna, welcomed us with such warmth and kindness. She asked us to wait just a few minutes inside, made sure we were comfortable, and even turned the fan/air conditioning toward us while we waited. That simple gesture said everything about how much she cares about her guests. When we finally sat down, every single bite was outstanding. My daughters and I devoured everything we ordered and literally cleaned our plates. The food was authentic, fresh, and absolutely delicious. But what truly makes Al Vagon special is the hospitality. Since it was our last day in Venice, we were trying to figure out how to avoid dragging three large suitcases through Venice and over the Rialto Bridge to get to Marco Polo Airport for our flight to Santorini. As we were eating, we noticed there was a water taxi dock literally next to our table. Since the restaurant sits right on the canal, we wondered if it would be possible to arrange for a private water taxi to pick us up directly outside our hotel. Our waiter immediately offered to help and asked Giovanna if she had the phone number for a private water taxi. We already thought that was incredibly thoughtful. But then Giovanna went above and beyond. When I thanked her, she didn't just hand me a phone number--she personally called and arranged the entire pickup for us. The next morning, our private water taxi arrived exactly on time right outside our hotel. We stepped aboard with our luggage and enjoyed one of the most beautiful rides of our trip all the way to Marco Polo Airport. It cost €170, and it was worth every single euro for the convenience, the scenery, and the stress-free ending to our Venice stay. Giovanna, thank you for your incredible hospitality, your kindness, and for serving my daughters and me one of the most memorable meals we had in Venice. You turned what could have been a stressful travel day into a perfect ending to our trip. We can't wait to come back. Until next time--grazie mille!

Service was great! 10/10 Our server was friendly, offered suggestions, spoke English, and checked…read moreon us throughout. Food was very fresh. Seriously, the fish came out with the head and tail still in it. The waiter asked if we wanted to filet it or if we wanted him to do it. The waiter did it so quick. My salmon dish was super fresh as well. It came with potatoes. I ordered a tomato ensalad, which was a bowl of tomatoes. I didn't know that lol I ate the tomatoes with my salmon. My favorite dish was the TAGLIOLINI ALL'ASTIC. That was amazingly good! The flavor was there and the noodles were delicious! 10/10 dish right there. My husband had the squid ink pasta and loved that. The food was good all around. Ambiance was a sit down restaurant. A little more upscale, but not too much that you can't wear casual clothes inside. We weren't dressed up and they let us in. Make sure to have a reservation! They get busy, especially since the outdoor dining is by the canal.

2 words- food poisoning. We came here for dinner on our first night in Venice because of the great…read morereviews. The staff was so kind and helpful! We sat indoors which felt so nice with the AC! The food and drinks were okay taste-wise. I would give the taste a 6.5 out of 10. Good yet not tons of flavor. The food was good for filling our tummies in the moment but not good enough to return. The worst part - food poisoning. I had the calamari and boyyyyy was I sick afterwards. It turned our experience from "okay" to "ouchhhhh". Unfortunately, we will not be returning for more. :(

The food was amazing!!!! It came out hot, cooked perfectly and so delicious. We are only in Venice…read morefor 3 days and will come back again. It is NOT a tourist trap! The service was impeccable! They were courteous, very friendly and attentive. Everything came out in a timely manner. It is located on a charming street next to the canal. I wish we had eaten here for dinner because they have lights strung back and forth across the street. The prices are excellent. I promise you will be so happy you ate here!!

TL;DR: Outstanding, dependable choice with great service…read more Skip the paralysis of trying to decide between all those restaurant choices and stop here one night. Get what's unique and native to Venice. Conveniently located a mere 5 minutes on foot, east-northeast of the San Marco Basilica and Doge's Palace. I believe the dress is smart-casual (A golf shirt or better, gents). There was no Yelp option to note this. Owner can correct me if I'm wrong. :-) -------------- Longer version: -------------- Stopped by for a quiet meal and sat outside. Was greeted, immediately seated, and provided a cover of focaccia and a flat bread of only 1-2mm thick with a tomato/basil consistency. Delightful. Waiter smiled at my attempt at Italian and helped me through the evening with both Italian and English switching. I'm a barbarian and appreciated their patience. Ordered (1) "Sardines in Saor" for my antipasti/appetizer and their take on (2) Duck cutlets for the primi/main course. ***Dessert is unpublished online, but they have Tiramisu, a cheesecake, biscotti con crema, and a (3) chocolate mousse with Limoncello crema on top (I had this). They also have a solid selection of coffees and dessert drinks. (1) If you're adventurous and like a hint of sweet and sour, definitely go for the Sardines in Saor. If you're typically not a big sardine fan, know that they aren't nearly as briney or fishy as they are in oil or salted. Because they were fried in a light flour batter and wrapped up with pine nuts & raisins within a sautéed onion (and refrigerated overnight) it was more mellow and sweet with that slight hint of sardine. Imagine a taste similar to a fried oyster with onion + fig jam. It's served chilled and it's good. Do it. (2) They adjusted the duck's ingredients to go with a creamy cheese/watermelon accompaniment instead of the menu's coffee puree. The sweet & savory combo was perfect for a summer night. It was unique and very good. (3) The milk chocolate mousse with limoncello cream was a nice dish. Small, ideal portion that gives you a taste of the sweet decadence without loading you up with sugar. You'll walk away without feeling stuffed, and you'll know the price was worth it. Enjoy!

What a cute find in Venice! Wandered the neighborhood and passed a few touristy places to find Al…read moreTre Leoni. Oh my goodness, you should not pass this gem of family owned and operated restaurant. I cannot begin to tell you how many times my companions said "Wow" after taking a bite. Not to be missed items: - bakes lasagna with pork and beef. The creaminess and texture, yum. Every bite was delicious - mixed seafood fried was excellent. We had this at many places throughout Italy, and this was the best execution of it - Duck breast & leg, with coffee puree, cooked perfectly medium rare. Lovely bite - spaghetti vongole (clams), well done. A bit salty for me but I still enjoyed it very much - Creme Brulee, best you've ever had or will enjoy Overall, the best is the personal touch the owner brings to our experience. Before I eat anywhere, I always look in the kitchen and it was clean, organized, and they use an industrial dish washer. The wine glasses are polished. Excellent and curated selection of spirits. The dry aged meats looked tempting as well. The atmosphere is charming and romantic. We saw young couples on dates, intermixed with locals, as well as groups of tourists. You would not be disappointed to take a detour and visit this lovely restaurant. We are so happy this was one of our last meals in Italy, having visted Rome, Amalfi, Serrento, Positano, and finally Venice. P.S. Get thr creme brulee

One of the most memorable dinners I've had in Venice! The friendly multi-lingual staff were…read moreaccommodating and welcoming. Reasonably priced, I had a seafood and mushroom pasta for roughly 17€. Service charge of 2€ per person gets your crusty bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Daughter had a penne Arabiatta for 10€. I love fresh pasta and was in heaven. Seafood was cooked perfectly and consisted of a lobster-like crustacean, mussels and clams. Forgot the name of the pasta as I had never heard of it before, but it was like a thin stracciatella. Wine is only by the bottle however I had a glass of house white (tasted like a Chardonnay) for 6€. Can't wait to return! PS. If you are here during the warmer months, be sure to wear mosquito repellant. They were buzzing around here like flies!

Amazing food! Amazing service! The hospitality is second to none. We felt like we were at home. The…read morewaiters also helped to recommend customized drinks. We highly recommend. Marco es el mejor!!

Metto una stella solo perché non è possibile metterne zero. Io e le mie amiche siamo state trattate…read morein modo assurdo e senza alcun motivo valido, esclusivamente perché stavamo festeggiando l'addio al nubilato di una nostra amica, che indossava un semplice velo. Non abbiamo creato disagi, non eravamo rumorose e non ci è stato nemmeno dato il tempo di ordinare qualcosa. Siamo state fermate immediatamente e liquidate con la frase che nel locale non vengono serviti addii al nubilato/celibato. Un atteggiamento inspiegabile e profondamente scortese. La situazione è stata ancora più paradossale considerando che nei dintorni c'erano altri gruppi decisamente più rumorosi e molesti che continuavano tranquillamente a bere e festeggiare. Essere giudicate e mandate via per un dettaglio così innocuo è stato davvero spiacevole. Un comportamento poco professionale e poco rispettoso verso dei clienti educati. Esperienza pessima, locale che non mi sento assolutamente di consigliare.

We made a reservation for our last night in Venice. Service was alright. Nothing amazing, just…read moretypical service. Food was not that memorable. I had the cold pesto spaghetti, which was decent. We also had the seared octopus. The octopus itself was ok, but my party actually really liked the red cabbage that came with it. I also had the tiramisu, but it ended up being too sweet for me by the time I was almost done. Seating is on the canal, but not exactly on it. You still have a view, but it's maybe 39 yards away.

Came here after traveling by bus from Slovenia and it was a 5 minute walk from the Mestre Station…read more I had read some reviews that seemed promising and thought I'd have Italian food for my first meal. I'll start here - the manager approached me while I was sitting alone and asked me where I'm from. I said California to which he replied "no, originally. Are you Chinese because you have..." and he pulls his eyes back like a fucking racist then proceeds to compliment me on my beauty? It was a confusing and shitty experience. Then they bring out the most hard and dry bread basket along with a half ass Spritz. I ordered the Carbonara, which I expect to be excellent since I've had it many times in Rome and have made it from scratch myself... it was trash. I ate four bites and had to stop. I think they use cream instead of egg yolks. Also, they've decided to omit the prices from the "tourist" menu. Shady, boring and inedible. Do better.

We went here for our first meal back in Italy and couldn't be happier with our decision. The food…read morewas fantastic, everyone who worked there was super nice and service was great! I'd give it 10 stars if I could!!

The cichetti here are insane !! Omg .. Of all the zillions of these little elaborate appetizer…read moresnacks I've had in Venice ( and I e been to Venice 8 times so far) I have never tasted anything so wonderful and with such a variety of flavors and types ! Unlike the other places where everything is a topping on a slice of bread , the cichetti here are on top Of a variety of sumptousky creative bases like polenta , and little egg bite things that look Like tiny muffins . I got the Salmon & ricotta ( loved that one !!), thin sliced egg! I will definitely be back !!

I went to this location today. The staff wasn't friendly at all. But what got me was when I ordered…read moremy bill it was 24.60 euro. I told the lady at the counter I was going to pay with cash and I gave her 50 euro. She asked if I had change and I told no and and apologized. She gave me 25 euro back and said nothing. I guess she thought I didn't speak Italian since I was American and she had told me the price in Italian. I asked her where was the rest of my change and she told me well she didn't have change so that was it. Now she could have given me an extra cicchetti but she didn't. I looked at her and said well if you need that 2 euro so bad keep it. I wonder how many tourist have they stolen from. But yeah they don't care because people will still flock to them but not me. That was my first and last time going there. LADRI!!

We had a wonderful experience here. Great little trattoria on Strada Nova. Flavorful dishes,…read morecourteous service. Great ambiance, dining outside on this pedestrian street of food and shops.

First visit was great, Calamari was great .. it has this…read morecertain fragrant smell which we liked a lot. 5/5 Squid ink spaghetti .. good., but could use more Squid 4/5 Second visit Consistent taste... spaghetti carbonara really yummy .. but this time were charged 10 euro service charge ?? 2,5 euro / person for 4 Not sure why we didn't get charged service charge first visit but got charged 2nd visit . This dropping one star