Ristorante Santa Maria Formosa — Restaurant in Venice

AMERICANS BEWARE!!! This is the first restaurant of like 20 in the country of Italy that asked us directly for a TIP. VERY EXPENSIVE!!! I’ve had spaghetti and clams for as low as 13 Euros it was a 20 here. I would not recommend this place as the food wasn’t great for the price they are charging and the fact that the server had the nerve to say “this total doesn’t include a tip, would you like to add to your total credit card charge?” I said, no we’ll leave cash, and my husband let 25 Euros which I felt was too much! We were in Florence for 6 days not one cafe or sit down nice restaurant asked for a tip in fact they usually didn’t want to accept a tip when we offered & we still insisted. The same with taxi cabs as well. We have been in Venice for 2 days and eaten at 4-5 different places and no one asked for a tip and when we gave a tip they were super grateful. This restaurant had the highest cover, a per person charge for sitting at the restaurant 4 Euro per person for dinner (now they brought us Prosecco wine with our menus and ended our meal with a lemonchello shot) I only gave 3 stars as the food was ok not even close to excellent just ok The service was also ok, but they forgot the oil & vinegar with our bread basket, the staff for the most part did check on us. The bread wasn’t great probably my least favorite from all of the restaurants I’ve eaten at in Venice and Florence. The chairs outside were very uncomfortable as well. Also, my daughter requested the gluten free as she has a sensitivity and the portion was just inadequate, she was still hungry and they didn’t have any gluten free bread either. Also, when we order the special, the lobster with spaghetti (I asked for egg free penne) I never imagined I would be digging out the lobster meat, it was so messy and super inconvenient while eating pasta (I expect it when I order did & turf but not pasta) . For 35 Euros I wanted a nice wine sauce with the lobster sautéed in it...

The quality of the food was comparable to many similar restaurants slightly off the beaten path in Venice, a city not necessarily known as a Foodie destination, and one with menus that are very challenging to those who aren’t fans of seafood. The presentation of the food was above average. I had a burrata salad and lasagna bolognaise, as pictured. The tomatoes looked promising but were mealy and not particularly flavourful (but hey, it’s March, right?), and the lasagna had the same peculiarly mushy texture as in many other restaurants, so no surprise there. I have found the standard-issue bread rolls to be uniformly dry and tasteless everywhere they’re served, so no lost points for any one restaurant on that account either. The main reason I only gave this restaurant three stars and will not revisit is that the waiter made a point of asking for a tip, circling and pointing to a pre-printed line on the bill that read “tip not included”. When I explained that I carried no cash with me (the normal method of adding a discretionary tip if merited), he prompted me to put the tip on my card and stood by while I keyed one in to the payment machine he held. I am accustomed to the increasingly relentless solicitation for tips in the US, but this felt like very poor form on the part of a restaurant in a non-tipping culture where, unlike in the US, waitstaff are supposedly paid...

Ristorante Santa Maria Formosa is the kind of place that effortlessly draws you back for a second visit—especially when you're with family. Tucked away from the main tourist drag in Venice, it offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that feels like a home away from home. The service here is warm and attentive, with the staff treating you more like cherished guests than just another table. They make sure the kids are happy, the wine glasses stay full, and the pace of the meal is just right.

As for the food, it strikes that perfect balance between hearty and refined. On our first visit, we dove into the seafood risotto—a local specialty that was bursting with fresh flavors of the sea. The rice was cooked perfectly, with each grain absorbing just the right amount of rich, savory broth. On our return, the pasta dishes didn't disappoint either. The spaghetti alle vongole was a standout, with tender clams and a garlic-infused sauce that clung to the al dente pasta in all the right ways.

The fact that we came twice speaks volumes. Ristorante Santa Maria Formosa is a place where good food and good service come together effortlessly, making it an easy choice for a family-friendly meal in Venice. Reliable, delicious, and with a warmth that makes you feel like you’re in the heart of a real Italian home—this place will have you coming...