Osteria Al Bacareto in Metropolitan City of Venice

"I was in Venice alone for two days before meeting my family in Verona, and I chose this restaurant because it was close to my hotel. I had a really pleasant experience. I ordered the spaghetti with calamari ink, and it was excellent — the calamari were fresh and full of flavour. The staff were very polite and friendly. What I particularly appreciated was a thoughtful gesture at the end of the meal: usually, they serve a complimentary shot of liqueur with the bill, but since I had mentioned to the waiter earlier that I don’t drink alcohol, he brought me a biscuit instead. I found that really considerate. The prices were reasonable too. I’d happily return the next time I’m in Venice."

"This place is a hidden gem within the touristy restaurants of Venice. My husband and I always ask the hotels we go to about restaurants. They gave us 4 and this one was the 3rd one we looked out for because the first 2 were closed, and we are both glad that we had ended up at this restaurant. It is on a much smaller street away from the busy plazas so it is more of a quiet atmosphere. We were lucky to sit outside as our hotel had made a reservation for us and many people coming by we’re either given the option of inside only or turned away. The servers were friendly and attentive. The house white is also definitely worth it. In terms of food, we started with a caprese salad which we split and all of the ingredients tasted so fresh. Also the balsamic was amazing, I could have drank it, but used the bread to soak up all of the extra on my plate. I got the spaghetti alle seppie (squid ink pasta with calamari) and my husband got the sea bass (branzini). I could not finish my portion after the caprese and bread and passed it over to my husband. For dessert, we decided to mix it up from all of the tiramisu we have had on this trip and tried the amaretto mousse. It was definitely worth it (sorry there is a cookie missing from the picture because I got ahead of myself). They also gave us complementary limoncello shots in a dark chocolate cup."

"Great place for very nice dinner. We had eight in our party and the staff were awesome. Accommodated food allergies, helped navigate the menu and wines. Just perfect for our first night in Venice. Do not pass this place up. Tiramisu was perfect. And get the cheese plate."

"One of the best restaurants in Venice. If you want a homely atmosphere, homecooked food and Venetian specialities and lots of fish and seafood options, this is the place to visit. Staff are absolutely lovely, food is fresh, home cooked and delicious. The best pasta I have ever eaten! This place is so fantastic we ate there 3 times in 2 days! Booking is advisable. I recommend the spaghetti al a seppia (squid ink spaghetti), frutti de mista (lightly battered seafood and vegetables) and the tortelloni with special of the day, but everything was utterly delicious. This is not a touristy place, and has been going since 1941. Open for lunch and dinner."

"A hidden gem of a traditional Venetian osteria! We hadn't booked a table, but as we dined early evening, we were seated quickly. We decided on the specials of the day; deep fried zucchini flowers followed by a pasta dish with shrimp in a pumpkin sauce. Both were delicious! We liked the house white wine and it was great value at €17 for a bottle. The staff were efficient and friendly. We would return without hesitation."

"Cozy, friendly and welcoming, excellent explanation of questions, recommended by our gondolier for local cuisine. I had the clam spaghetti and it was delicious. My mate had spaghetti al ragu. At the the end of the meal they presented a limoncello in a chocolate (Reese's mini sized) cup. It was delicious! Totally recommend this place!"

"Lunch at Osteria Al Bacareto felt like stepping into old‑school Venetian warmth. The seppie al nero (cuttlefish in black ink) was tasty and beautifully done, with just the right flavours. Dessert was delicious — the tiramisu and mascarpone cream felt like pure indulgence. It was charming to receive a handwritten bill at the end of our lunch, such a classic old‑world touch. Overall, the meal was simple, traditional and deeply satisfying."

"Came here for dinner at around 8:30pm on a weekday, it was situated on a quiet street and the restaurant was not too crowded either. We ordered 2 pastas and one main and the portions were huge. Lasagna did not look that appetising but the taste was great, we were definitely not disappointed by the food. Everything tasted very homely. Staff were really friendly too. The complimentary limoncello at the end of the meal was a nice touch. Total bill came up to be about 90€ which was not that cheap but because it’s Venice and the portions of the dishes were huge I guess it’s acceptable."