Ristorante Mondo Novo — Restaurant in Venice

Warning: Avoid or read with caution at Ristorante Mondo Novo

Unfortunately, we fell for a tourist trap. After learning that Osteria Alle Testiere was fully booked, we stood outside Ristorante Mondo Novo, searching for an alternative. An Italian man approached, claiming they had “good food,” and lured us in. With no signal inside to check reviews, we decided to take the risk—big mistake.

First, they brought a bottle of wine, though my husband had only asked for a glass. When we corrected them, they brought a foul-tasting glass of wine. Then, they served us bread that we hadn’t ordered, and later charged us for it (red flag!). Once we got a phone signal, I quickly discovered a stream of negative reviews.

Reflecting back, there were clear warning signs: Menu translated into multiple languages. A worker stationed outside, coaxing tourists in. High, unexpected costs and charges added without transparency.

The restaurant was nearly empty, and the food took so long that we eventually nibbled on the bread, assuming it was complimentary. The food itself was just okay, nothing remarkable, and certainly not worth the price. They also added automatic gratuity and hidden charges without any prior mention.

As we dined, we noticed that the Italian man’s sole job seemed to be to lure in customers; he’d even sit by the window alone, likely to create the illusion that locals eat there. He was frequently instructed by the Southeast Asian owner, further revealing the staged nature of the setup.

Bottom line: Review before you dine, and proceed with caution. This place feels designed to cheat unsuspecting customers. Honesty about charges would go a long way, as nothing spoils a meal like...

Our experience at this so-called “restaurant” was nothing short of disgraceful. The tall, fair-haired waiter (whose demeanor was as unprofessional as it was inappropriate) chose to treat our visit not as an opportunity for service but as a performance of arrogance.

The waiter’s behavior extends beyond the tables: when calling to people in the street, he makes crude, disrespectful comments, particularly toward women who likely do not understand Italian. On our way out, we even overheard remarks of a racist nature, which is indefensible in any context, let alone in a city that thrives on cultural exchange. Let me be clear: if a man has unresolved sexual or mental frustrations, he should consult a doctor or a specialist. He has no business working with the public, let alone in hospitality. If I were a local authority, I would consider this establishment in urgent need of scrutiny.

The menu itself was pathetic, bearing no connection whatsoever to Venetian cuisine. It is a textbook tourist trap: soulless, derivative, and exploitative. Adding insult to injury, the staff barely spoke Italian, which raises the question of where exactly they were imported from, because it certainly was not from a tradition of hospitality or culture.

The owner, unsurprisingly, reflects the same deficiencies as his staff: rude, uneducated, and devoid of professionalism. It is no mystery why such behavior is tolerated; it comes from the top.

In short: no respect, no knowledge, no quality. Unprofessional. Racist. Sexist. Venice deserves far better than this low-level eatery, a shameful stain on a city of...

If you're thinking about eating here, take 3 minutes to read this. One of the waiters is standing outside, waiting for people to look at the restaurant, than he shows many pictures of the food they serve and thats how he makes people get in and order their food. We ordered gnocchi, tortellini, pizza, lasagne, fries and chicken salad. Because we read the reviews that they scam people and make them pay more than they should've, we calculated our total, which was 85€. During our stay there, they were opening the door all the time (trying to bribe people to get inside), which made us all cold and uncomfortable. They brought us the food-the portions were ridiculously small and it tasted weird, the pizza is premade and frozen which was all really disappointing considering we're in Italy. Along the food that we ordered, they've brought us some bread which we did not order or even asked for! Because this is normal in every restaurant we've ever been to, we didn't think anything of it. We actually ate 5 of the 8 slices of bread (I should mention that the slices were cut in half, so logically there were 4 whole slices) because the portions were so little. When we recieved the bill, the total was 101€. Wonder why? Because one half a slice of the bread that we did not order is 2,50€! A half a slice of bread, 8x5 cm and half a cm thick is 2,50€ and they put it on your table without saying anything and without you even ordering it. So to sum up, they are hardcore scammers and I suggest you leave the restaurant before you pay for...