L’Osteria di Santa Marina — Restaurant in Venice

My husband and I totally overate at lunch so we skipped the tasting menu and opted to just choose the dishes we thought sounded the nicest. We started with complimentary bread, butter, muffin like bread (DELICIOUS) and an amuse bouche chilled soup which was interesting. I can't say we disliked it we just weren't expecting the taste. I ordered the Beetroot tartar, low temperature egg and black truffle. Be warned: if you are not a beet fanatic like myself then it might not be for you but it was SCRUMPTIOUS. My husband ordered the Scallop carpaccio, goose liver fat flakes and sweet wine jelly. We both were kind of turned off by this. We are not fans of foie gras and the liver fat flakes just didn't mesh with the plate. We removed them from the dish which made it a bit better but just felt it was all an odd combination. Too much going on. For my pasta dish I ordered the Home made tortelli, stuffed with burrata, red shrimp and pistachio. These are some of my favourite items and while the dish was delicious I felt I could've been given more as we were ordering a la carte instead of the larger tasting menu option. My husband then ordered the Linguine with cacio pepe, prawns and lime. We found it didn't really have flavour to it which is odd as cacao Pepe dishes are normally swarming with cheesey, buttery goodness. The dish wasn't bad but it again, just wasn't what we expected. My pasta was much nicer than his. We then split the Turbot fillet, turnip greens, red cabbage and soft carrots. We enjoyed this dish but preferred our seabass more from lunch time. Lastly, we were given complimentary cookies - all three were delicious but the S shape ones really took the cake! Overall, not a bad meal but for the price point we felt it could have been better. We did really enjoy the location. It was in a large open square away from the hustle and bustle so we were able to have a nice, quiet and romantic dinner. Maybe you will have better luck with the tasting menu but this spot wasn't one of our top picks of our two week...

The food was not bad, but the service we received ruined everything. All of the waiters (3-4 men) were passive aggressive, and rude. I hope the owner reads this review as I’m always feeling sorry for the owner of a restaurant that tries hard, puts effort into their business then their employees ruin the customer experience. We spent quite a lot (every customer is required to order at least two dishes), including a nice bottle of wine, which was served for the first glass, but then we were left on our own to pour the rest. The dessert menus were thrown onto the side table, instead of handed to each of us. When I asked to tell us about the dishes (even the menu stated that “we’re happy to recommend dishes”), the answer was almost like “this is an English menu, you can read it.” Then when I asked for the server, he was addressing me from across the table by the door, perhaps too lazy to come next to me. I was the only man at our table and when I asked for the check, the server threw it in between my mother and young child across the table - which was closer to the server. When you pay 100+ Euros per guest, and when they display Michelin recommendation logos (mind you, almost twenty years old), you expect better, much better service. The server was also making fun of a Japanese couple next to us at another table, as only the lady ordered a drink, but not the man. The server was joking about it but her husband clearly didn’t enjoy the joke. Rude service. Yes, Venice is chock Full if tourists and I’m one of them, but in an upscale restaurant, they should take better care of their customers. Or, maybe put up a sign, No Tourists if they don’t want to handle them. When we dined, the place was full of other tourists, alll dressed up nicely and behaving well. Not sure why these employees are ruining the owner’s business. And if the owner is one of them, then hell,...

We had dinner at Osteria de Santa Marina on a Friday night, our first day in Venice in mid-November. The restaurant was recommended by our Airbnb host, and we booked online. Although there was some confusion with the dates, everything worked out in the end, and we had a wonderful evening at this charming osteria. We opted for the tasting menus: I chose the seafood menu, while my friend went for the "earth" version. The service was impeccable—attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Each plate was carefully described to us, creating a relaxed atmosphere that made us feel at ease and allowed us to fully enjoy the delicious food.

The wine was an excellent companion to our meal. A recommendation from the restaurant’s extensive wine list, it was brought directly from their open cellar, adding a unique touch to the experience.

As for the food, every dish was a delightful surprise. My highlights were the cuttlefish and turbot fillet, both cooked to perfection with a beautiful balance of flavours. From the earth menu, the standout dishes were the guinea fowl and the risotto; its subtle saffron notes providing the perfect balance to the richness of the tender duck breast. To top it all off, the tiramisu was the perfect ending to the meal. It gave me such pleasure to crack through the delicate top layer and discover the creamy filling beneath, with its rich texture and a slight coffee aftertaste. I definitely recommend Osteria de Santa Marina if you’re looking for a high-end dining experience with a warm,...