Al Mariner — Restaurant in Venice

Bad service. Food is OK. It's one of those times that service quality makes all the difference... After not being helpful with recommendations, and generally being unpleasant, the waitress brought us white wine instead of red. Not a big deal... When we told her we asked for red wine, she argued and gave us this angry bitchy look, we knew there's something wrong... She came back after a few moments with red wine. Well, at least the color was red - every wine drinker would notice it was actually white wine MIXED with red wine for the color! Unbelievable! Well, no tip for her then... Wrong again! They actually add the service fee to the bill. Makes sense though - as probably no one will ever tip this waitress...

We also noticed they charged us for another glass of wine. I guess they charged us for the wine they added for the color...

I argued with the bartender/manager or whoever he was (bold guy in the photos), who wasn't too friendly either, and he dropped the service fee + the extra charge for the wine.

Too bad. We had such a lovely day, and this wasn't a good experience.

I don't recommend this place. There are a lot of other nice looking places on the...

Lunch at Osteria al Mariner was such a pleasant experience. It's one of our most memorable meals in Venice!

Since seafood is a Venetian specialty, we ordered the spaghetti in black squid ink and the baked sea bass with potatoes, olives, and tomatoes. The spaghetti had a deep, savory flavor with a hint of brininess, and the sauce was smooth and rich without being heavy. There was a generous amount of squid, too! The sea bass was fresh and moist, and the mix of potatoes, olives, and tomatoes gave it a nice balance of salty and sweet flavors.

The restaurant is in Cannaregio, away from the busiest parts of Venice, so it wasn’t crowded. We didn’t wait long to be seated. The canal-side tables were already full, so it’s worth making a reservation if you want that spot. Still, the wooden, rustic interior with the lively kitchen and bar created a warm, cozy ambience. The server who attended to us was a such a nice lady. When we complimented the food, she was proud and smiled so brightly!

If you're in Cannaregio, make sure to dine here. It's among the restaurant recommendations of...

Absolutely delighted to share my experience at Al Mariner in Venice! From the moment we stepped in, the warm-hearted atmosphere enveloped us, making the entire dining experience feel like a cozy gathering among friends. The service was nothing short of stellar; attentive, yet unobtrusive, they truly know how to make guests feel special.

The culinary journey was a highlight, with each dish beautifully presented and bursting with flavors that pay homage to the sea. It’s clear that Al Mariner prides itself on quality and freshness, something that shines through in their exquisite seafood offerings.

Ending the evening on their charming patio, under the Venetian sky, was simply perfect. It’s rare to find a place that combines such high standards of service with a genuinely welcoming vibe. Hats off to the team at Al Mariner especially Stephania– you’ve earned a loyal fan in me. Can’t wait to return on my next trip...