Osteria Al Squero — Restaurant in Venice

I recently had the opportunity to try the calamari at a local restaurant, and unfortunately, I was left quite disappointed. The calamari itself lacked any discernible seasoning, leaving it tasting rather bland. The lack of flavor was quite surprising, as calamari is typically known for its ability to be a flavorful and delightful appetizer.

Another issue I encountered with the calamari was its texture. Despite the server's assurance that it was fresh, it had a distinct frozen quality to it. The chewiness and lack of tenderness further reinforced the suspicion that it might not have been as fresh as claimed.

While I understand that taste can be subjective, I believe that a well-seasoned calamari dish can greatly enhance the overall experience. Unfortunately, this particular dish failed to meet those expectations, resulting in a rather lackluster culinary encounter.

On a positive note, the service provided by the server was friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself had a pleasant ambiance and a welcoming atmosphere. However, the underwhelming calamari was a significant letdown and overshadowed the positives of the dining experience.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of calamari and appreciate dishes with robust flavors, I would recommend exploring other dining options before settling on this particular establishment. While the service and atmosphere were commendable, the lack of seasoning and questionable freshness of the calamari hindered the overall enjoyment...

There are so many amazing, hidden gems in Venice with such nice, authentic people who work hard to help you choose wine and food. This place is not one of them. The girl behind the counter with the dirty, blonde pony tail first, rudely, told me to line up at the counter when I went to look at the wine list. When it was my turn to order, I asked for a wine recommendation and she just read the list that’s on the chalk board. When I asked her, again, for a recommendation she read the list again. I said, not Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio and she rudely said, “Pinot Grigio!” and pulled it out of the fridge and opened it. I repeated, not Pinot and she said in a loud voice, “that’s why I said, there’s the list!” Pointing at the wine list and making a rude gesture. I chose a wine. When I went to pay, I put my bill on the counter and it blew towards her with the breeze and she said, be patient ma’am! In a rude voice as though I threw it at her. Then she said something about me in Italian to her colleagues. I do NOT recommend this place and as I said, there are so many cute spots with great wine and great service that this place should be overlooked. Grab a drink down the road and look at the people making gondolas from there. Enjoy your holiday,...

This place was recommended in a blog and it was the second one I visited during my visit to Venice. I guess if I didn’t have a comparison, I would have written a different review.

The place seems like a student pub attracting a young crowd mixed with tourists. There were many people eating outside on the quay, take away style - no seating. I was lucky to get a small table inside.

The red wine I had wasn’t as good as the one I‘d had the day before elsewhere (I know it’s different!) and the cicchetti didn’t look as good. If you‘ve had pintxos in the Basque region of Spain, these are less spectacular and the ingredients used are simple. Variations of tuna spread, ham, cheese and baccalà.

Nevertheless, you can have an inexpensive meal here if you‘re on a budget.

PS. I‘ve just seen the photos of the place and choice of cicchetti posted by others. They look at lot better than the selection on the night I was there. Those that were on display looked haphazardly prepared. Also, the locale didn’t look as inviting as in the photos. Perhaps my time of visit was bad. 7pm...