Osteria L’Orto dei Mori

I went to this restaurant in the Ghetto district because it was recommended in Toshiyuki Shino's book as the one restaurant to choose if you could only go to Venice. The squid ink pasta was superb. The presentation was also a work of art.

A wonderful menu, thoughtful and creative

Last Sunday we had booked a table for our last evening in Venice. The restaurant was just around the corner from where we were staying, the menu sounded amazing, and the reviews were excellent, so it’s fair to say that my expectations were high. Unfortunately, they were not really met. The service was friendly and the dishes sounded promising, but the first disappointment came with the traditional bread basket. The two sliced varieties of bread had clearly been cut hours earlier and were bone dry on one side. I tried those two different types and found both to be dried out and slightly stale. Still, we weren’t there for the bread, so I was willing to overlook it. The starters were very good, and I have absolutely no complaints about them. Then my primi arrived: fresh taglierini with broccoli pesto, topped with scallops. The scallops were cooked perfectly; unfortunately, that was the only highlight of the dish. The broccoli pesto was disappointingly bland. I had to ask for salt and pepper—not to adjust the seasoning to my taste, but simply to bring some flavour to the dish. The pasta was clearly homemade, so I am willing to be somewhat forgiving of the fact that it was softer than I would have liked and had already started to break apart slightly. What I cannot overlook, however, was what I found in the middle of the dish: a large clump of pasta, stuck together, raw and doughy inside, clearly undercooked and with no sauce incorporated into it. This clump was roughly the size of a child’s fist. For a restaurant in Italy, and especially one that prides itself on homemade pasta, this simply should not happen. When the waiter came to clear the plates and asked, “Tutto bene?”, I answered honestly: not really. I showed him the clump of undercooked pasta. He apologised profusely and said he would inform the chef immediately. That was the end of it. Everyone can decide for themselves what an appropriate response would have been, but no further acknowledgment from the kitchen or management—and charging full price despite a significant preparation error—was not what I expected. To be clear, any one of these issues on its own could be dismissed as an unfortunate exception. Bread can occasionally be stale, a dish can miss the mark, and even a kitchen mistake can happen in an otherwise excellent restaurant. What concerns me is the combination of all these issues during a single meal, coupled with the apparent lack of interest from management once a serious problem had been brought to their attention. Taken together, they suggest that this was not simply an isolated off night, but rather point to a structural problem. For that reason, I cannot really recommend this restaurant. In a city like Venice, and even within Cannaregio alone, there are many outstanding osterias. Compared to those, I can only rate this experience three stars.

I’m in Venice often since a long time and this time l was there with an Italian friend, a local, that brought me there for a nice dinner. The place is extremely cute, charming and relaxing, in particular outside. The Staff if very welcoming and fun, food was good, and it was obvious considering the prices. Plus 10% service (classic sign of a touristic place). “We” were the only Italians at the restaurant, this is the classic place that raises the prices a lot with no reason just because for tourists it’s still ok. Not affordable for a local and I didn’t like the idea to pay a lot just for this. Anyway very nice experience and good food, loved the chocolate dessert in particular

Osteria L’Orto dei Mori, Venice – Neighbourhood Perfection Nestled in a quiet Cannaregio backstreet, L’Orto dei Mori is the kind of place you hope to stumble upon and immediately want to keep secret. The menu celebrates Venetian tradition with real skill – each dish confident, seasonal, and beautifully executed. The dining room feels intimate and unhurried, a world away from the tourist trail. Service was attentive without being intrusive, hitting exactly the right tone throughout. An absolute must for anyone seeking authentic Venice.

Very good place👌

Trattoria in Venice

A perfect bridge between the Lagoon and Mount Etna 🥰 If you thought Venetian and Sicilian cuisine have nothing in common, this restaurant will definitely change your mind. Run by a pair of owners—one a true Venetian and the other a true Sicilian—this place is living proof that opposites not only attract, but spark on the plate.

Great food on the square outside by the canal.

A beautiful place in a very quiet and less touristy area! The traditional Venetian-style liver dish was delicious!