Osteria L’Orto dei Mori — Restaurant in Venice

Don’t be fooled: This restaurant is absolutely terrible. The food was overpriced and mediocre, and I actually got sick from it, experiencing the worst stomach cramps I’ve had in my life. I have a gluten allergy (Celiac disease), and they made every promise that my food would be safe, but that obviously didn’t happen.

Unfortunately, it gets worse than just me having an allergic reaction.

I returned to the restaurant the next day to explain my situation, and they were incredibly rude to me and my wife. They kept saying I must have gotten sick from a different restaurant, which is actually impossible. They told me no customer had ever gotten sick from their restaurant (yeah right!), even though only a couple of the dishes are gluten free - most of the menu was off limits for me anyway!

The restaurant put me on the phone with the manager, who served us dinner the night before, and he was super defensive and rude, telling me I would not get my money back and that I should call the police instead. One of the owners approached me aggressively and told me I shouldn’t travel outside the country if I could get sick - so rude! I kept calm and explained that while the staff had the best intentions, the restaurant has a small kitchen, and nothing is impossible, including cross contamination. But they were so offended by the idea that I got sick from them - which is a 100% certainty, I hadn’t eaten elsewhere for hours and I know what a gluten reaction feels like - that they basically told me to get lost, or call the police. (Why would I call the police for getting sick at a restaurant?)

I would NOT recommend this place to anyone, but especially if you’re traveling with someone that has an allergy. They will tell you anything you want to hear - that they can accommodate dishes for you, that they’ll use separate pans and prep areas, and that no one has ever gotten sick there - but you know better. I wouldn’t wish this sick feeling on anyone, but it was made 100% worse by the attitude of the staff in that restaurant. This is not how you treat customers, especially if they get sick. Avoid...

Great place. We were lucky to get a table without any bookings and it was the last table for 2 available. The others were all reserved. (15th July 2018, late 9pm).

There was 2 waiters/waitress to man the area and we can say the waiter outshined the waitress BY FAR. Her attitude gave my bf and I that she didn't want to be there. We saw her playing on her phone when she wasn't 'serving'. The waiter took note of my allergies and provided with alternatives whereas the waitress just said, you can't have this and walked away. We were actually in mid conversation when she just walked over after our order and announced "no bread for you" pointing at me then walked away. When she served us our cream-cod (with toasted bread) starter, she just left us. Luckily, the waiter was observing and saw the disappointment on my face as I was left to eat the cream cod on its own. He actually came over and said, 'wait a moment.' And came back with plain crackers for me to eat with my starter which I was very glad he was there provide a much better dining experience. If not, I would have wondered why should I pay the included 10% service if I was just 'passed' dishes from A to B. I may as well got it myself from the hole in the wall. I'm not sure what the waiter said to the waitress after he gave me my crackers but I saw her glancing over to our direction and then turned to the waiter with her shrugged shoulders. At the end of dinner, we were offered to see the dessert menu, the waitress simply told me I can only have particular dish but my boyfriend and I were a bit confused as to why I can't have the cheese board or sorbet which are made no eggs ... At the point, we were like, nvm, and jokingly concluded we are not having the best of luck with waitresses, and waiters are more exceptional in Venice except for 1 particular local diner which we visited spontaneously. Overall, I would visit the place again for food only and the service...

Yesterday, we were heading for the Rio della Misericordia where I knew there were a load of restaurants, for lunch. But it was Sunday just after All Saints' Day and everywhere was very busy. So we went over to the Rio della Sensa and found the Campo dei Mori with a load of plastic tables: empty bar one other occupied table, it did not look like much. (These were for the Osteria L'Orto dei Mori.) But it was warm in the November sun, and we were hungry, so I asked if they were still serving. Well, the food was fantastic. I had this wide pasta with a white veal sauce, which was delicious. My friends had a traditional liver with onions and polenta which was very much to my taste, and a gnocchi dish with tomato and spinach which also was remarkable. My friends commented I never finish my plate: but not this time. Deserts were a Vin Santos and small biscuits: nice. A beautiful chocolate mouse with passion fruit and a stunning orange ice cream.

The point is I guess all of these were quite simple, but they were not, they were very beautifully and carefully prepared and seasoned correctly. This was hotel restaurant food. (I wonder how long they can keep their chef?). The Osteria, which we did not see until we went inside to pay, was also very well appointed. I should point out that the main courses were priced no more than so many of the legion of indifferent restaurants you encounter in Venice, and the desserts are inexpensive. I think this was...