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Recommended Reviews - Cantina Do Spade
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Serving ciccheti and wine since 1448. The final stop on the ciccheti noshing day and a winner. Why? They have a sit down restaurant where you can supplement those little bites with true Venetian classics. Bigoli in squid ink anyone? Tip: Go at lunch or in the early evening (before 18:00) for the best selection. The sit down restaurant offers sampling plates of cicchetti if dining later in the evening. While it has been discovered by international tourist, you are afforded a very good view into the food culture of Venezia. To start, don't pass on the assortment of ciccheti for two. From perfectly grilled sweet shrimp finished with a lemony EVOO, to blistered but perfectly tender sepia, a squid "meatball" (squid filled with airy meatball), grilled sardines and the item the restaurant is known for, the outstanding sarde in saor (sardines in vinegar) that top hardboiled egg halves. Vinegar has made the sardines tender, onions, add sweetness, great salinity and a strong umami finish. The fritto misto, excellent. Perfect timing on the cook of each seafood item, moistness throughout. Dusted in flour, aggressively seasoned, deep fried to a golden crispness. Shrimp, calamari, lagoon fish, sardines with heads and bones attached, and an unknown fish with the gelatinous texture very similar to that of an eel. All with their own flavor. All great together. Very good selection of wines from the Veneto. Very inexpensive at around €20 - €30 per bottle. Absolutely zero complaints if you follow their suggestions. Casual, energetic, fun service. Fluent English though leading with Italian is welcome. Cash only at the bar. Credit cards accepted in the restaurant. 2 week advanced reservations required that will be cancelled if not confirmed by voice 24hrs in advance. The perfect way to end a ciccheti crawl through the back streets of Venezia.
Truly a gem--MUST TRY!! Thankfully, this restaurant reminded us that Venice doesn't have to be known as the city of "tourist menus" and horrid food. Great food, service and price, but book ahead as it's full typically the day of. I've been to Venice twice in the past few years, and have been victim to horrible food too often. This place was DELICIOUS! The calamari was the best I've ever had (same for my partner). Lightly battered and perfectly salted, a spritz of lemon on top was the ideal finish. The daily risotto (asparagus and shrimp) was well done. The spaghetti with clam was perfectly al dente and balanced in a light butter sauce. The finishing panna cotta with caramel was also great. Drinks were well done, with great alterations to suit any taste.
This little restaurant/bar gets crowded quite easily and be advised that if you're trying to make your own tapas plate at the bar you can only sit at the bar and if you sit in the restaurant they won't allow you to order from the bar. I definitely recommend sitting at the bar to choose from the different tapas they have. The fried calamari on the stick, meatball and grits, and shrimp were my favorites and were all perfectly seasoned. I don't think I've ever had such good calamari. Everything else was also very good. I would definitely recommend stopping by this place for a quick drink/snack.
Yum! I was recommended here by a local who considered this a cheap but delicious restaurant that has all your typical Italian food needs including plenty of seafood, which was what my friend and I were looking for. We both tried their lunch special, which was a seafood risotto for 6 euro (larger portion for 12 euro). In terms of portion size and price, it was well worth it! It was my first time eating risotto so I didn't know what to expect, but my friend has had that kind of dish before and she really liked the sauce and how they made our dish. We also both got to enjoy a spritz at 2 euro each. So worth it! They also have little fried seafood appetizers at the front to-go. We both got a calamari fritta at 2 euro each, and it was SO good. They also offer fried tuna balls, fried anchovies, fried shrimp, and other delicious goodies for around 1 euro each. Try it while you can! They also speak a little bit of english here which is convenient for some. Also no service charge here.
First, ignore the person from LA who warns Americans about visiting this restaurant. I'm American, and I was treated wonderfully - as was every other customer I saw over the course of the 2+ hours I spent here. The staff are warm, welcoming, and hard working. But, what you really want to hear about is the food, right? Right! Show up at 6pm if you don't have a reservation. Grab a table (if the whole place isn't already reserved), and head up to the bar to order a few small plates and a carafe of prosecco. Then get cozy and check out the menu. I opted for the gnocchi with truffles, and it wasn't the pitiful "truffle oil" we so often see in the US. The gnocchi was perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned with actual truffle shavings. Stop here! We were brought in by a local, so we knew it would be good. This is Venice! This is Italy!
Authentic Italian in Venice alert! Authentic Italian in Venice alert! Sorry, I just have to say it like this because of how prevalent low-quality tourist traps can be in this city. But Cantina Do Spade is a breath of fresh air, and a true taste of Venetian cuisine. This is a BUSY restaurant. Reservations are recommended, particularly for the night, but even during the day from what I saw. I luckily arrived around noon, which was already a crowded time, and got seated right away. But within 30 mins after I arrived, I saw how crowded it got by the entrance! The menu consists of the classic "Primary" and "Secondary" sections that you'll see on most menus in Venice. Italians eat in levels. They focus heavy on seafood also. I saw some other people's plates, and those prawns looked divine. I was on a particular mission though, and that was to try the black ink cuttlefish dish that I saw Andrew Zimmern highlight on Delicious Destinations. Seppie al Nero, is a diced cuttlefish dish where they squeeze all the black ink out of the fish and mix it in as they prepare the meal. Be careful, because it can get messy! As weird and off-putting as it may look, it actually tasted pretty good. Definitely worth trying once to say you did it. But if I came back here again, I'd be eager to try other things on the menu because it looked really good. My waiter was awesome, and picked out a great white wine for me when I was indecisive. He also helped me out by lending his phone so I can use the internet to research some info about my tour. Very kind and very good service. The restaurant also had several locals present, so that's a great sign. This is one of the places to go in Venice!
Cantina do Spade was labeled as one of the places where locals go eat. Only except I saw nothing but tourists by the droves inside. At this point I feel like tourists make up 95% of the population on any given day in Venice. We were fortunately seated right away since we came around 12. We ordered a number of dishes since we wanted to try everything. Chichettis - Shrimp was so good. Must eat the brains. - Sardines over polenta was also great. Not quite use to the white soft polenta but still good. - Stuffed squid with capers, olives and bread crumbs was nice - The fish was also delicious. I would suggest to try as many Chichettis as you can. They range from €1-3 Euro a piece. -Meatballs were also good over polenta. Pastas - Black ink spaghetti was very tasty. I'm not use to black ink pasta that wasn't already colored or baked into the pasta. Here they use fresh cuttlefish ink. - Shrimp with pesto, potatoes in fettuccine. It was good but lacked a bit of flavor. - Spaghetti with clams was lackluster although the tiny clams were very good. I think we just ordered too much to enjoy the pasta. That or it just wasn't packed as much flavor as I wished.
Visited Venice with a friend and did a tour called "Eat Like the Locals...Authentic Venice Small Group Food Tour" and this was one of our stops. I highly recommend this restaurant, the food was amazing!! After eating like a "tourist" my first few meals in Venice I was sure glad I found a place where the "locals" eat...it was soooooo much better!!!! We had the Mozzarella in carrozza (fried bread and mozzarella), Polpette in umido con polenta (meatballs with polenta), and Risotto scampetti e vongole (risotto scampi and clams)! Everything was delicious!!! I will definitely dine here again the next time I visit Venice!!
Our airbnb recommended Cantina Do Spade when we arrived in Venice after we asked where to locals go. We tried the second night, and were told we needed a reservation. We returned 7 days later and stopped by and were lucky to get the only open reservation at 7pm. Not only was the mean the best Italian food I've ever had in Italy, it was cheap too! Only 66 Euros for an appetizer, bottle of house wine and three main dishes. The ravioli is to die for! The ingredients are fresh and you can tell that it was made on location. The calamari was also incredible, as well as the pasta with clams. The food is cooked to perfection and you can truly taste every flavor as it's intended. If you're in Venice, I definitely recommend Do Spade. Avoid the tourist traps and eat like a local with the locals. Just make sure you make a reservation first!
We came here for lunch, as I've read many good reviews about their food. As we arrived, there was a line out the door... we decided to wait 30 minutes, and I must say - the food did not disappoint! We ordered so much food, and I everything ordered was amazingly delicious! I think this was one of the best meals I've had in Italy. I highly recommend anyone who loves seafood and pasta to give this restaurant a try! Delicious!
Date of visit: May 28, 2025 This was a stop on a Venice food tour and was a fascinating place! With a long storied history and some fantastic food, we enjoyed this literal "hole in the wall" and probably would have come back here had we had more time in Venice. We tried the deep fried sandwiches and the mac and cheese balls; funny that these are both things that are plentiful back home in Milwaukee--never would have expected to see them in Venice of all places. Word to the wise: The outdoor tables are nice, but the birds--especially seagulls--are not afraid of people and will throw up gang signs as they try to take your food! read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Serving ciccheti and wine since 1448. The final stop on the ciccheti noshing day and a winner. Why? They have a sit down restaurant where you can supplement those little bites with true Venetian classics. Bigoli in squid ink anyone? Tip: Go at lunch or in the early evening (before 18:00) for the best selection. The sit down restaurant offers sampling plates of cicchetti if dining later in the evening. While it has been discovered by international tourist, you are afforded a very good view into the food culture of Venezia. To start, don't pass on the assortment of ciccheti for two. From perfectly grilled sweet shrimp finished with a lemony EVOO, to blistered but perfectly tender sepia, a squid "meatball" (squid filled with airy meatball), grilled sardines and the item the restaurant is known for, the outstanding sarde in saor (sardines in vinegar) that top hardboiled egg halves. Vinegar has made the sardines tender, onions, add sweetness, great salinity and a strong umami finish. The fritto misto, excellent. Perfect timing on the cook of each seafood item, moistness throughout. Dusted in flour, aggressively seasoned, deep fried to a golden crispness. Shrimp, calamari, lagoon fish, sardines with heads and bones attached, and an unknown fish with the gelatinous texture very similar to that of an eel. All with their own flavor. All great together. Very good selection of wines from the Veneto. Very inexpensive at around €20 - €30 per bottle. Absolutely zero complaints if you follow their suggestions. Casual, energetic, fun service. Fluent English though leading with Italian is welcome. Cash only at the bar. Credit cards accepted in the restaurant. 2 week advanced reservations required that will be cancelled if not confirmed by voice 24hrs in advance. The perfect way to end a ciccheti crawl through the back streets of Venezia. read more
3 years ago
The dinner was wonderful, especially the Veal Milanesa alla Bruche. Sofi and Nella made it a very special first night in Milan. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
Another excellent spot for cicchetti in Venice. It's small but worth it for a stop by. They had a variety of tapas, I liked the fried mozzarella the best. They had a nice selection of wines, paired perfectly with the cicchetti! read more
7 years ago
Truly a gem--MUST TRY!! Thankfully, this restaurant reminded us that Venice doesn't have to be known as the city of "tourist menus" and horrid food. Great food, service and price, but book ahead as it's full typically the day of. I've been to Venice twice in the past few years, and have been victim to horrible food too often. This place was DELICIOUS! The calamari was the best I've ever had (same for my partner). Lightly battered and perfectly salted, a spritz of lemon on top was the ideal finish. The daily risotto (asparagus and shrimp) was well done. The spaghetti with clam was perfectly al dente and balanced in a light butter sauce. The finishing panna cotta with caramel was also great. Drinks were well done, with great alterations to suit any taste. read more
9 years ago
This little restaurant/bar gets crowded quite easily and be advised that if you're trying to make your own tapas plate at the bar you can only sit at the bar and if you sit in the restaurant they won't allow you to order from the bar. I definitely recommend sitting at the bar to choose from the different tapas they have. The fried calamari on the stick, meatball and grits, and shrimp were my favorites and were all perfectly seasoned. I don't think I've ever had such good calamari. Everything else was also very good. I would definitely recommend stopping by this place for a quick drink/snack. read more
12 years ago
Yum! I was recommended here by a local who considered this a cheap but delicious restaurant that has all your typical Italian food needs including plenty of seafood, which was what my friend and I were looking for. We both tried their lunch special, which was a seafood risotto for 6 euro (larger portion for 12 euro). In terms of portion size and price, it was well worth it! It was my first time eating risotto so I didn't know what to expect, but my friend has had that kind of dish before and she really liked the sauce and how they made our dish. We also both got to enjoy a spritz at 2 euro each. So worth it! They also have little fried seafood appetizers at the front to-go. We both got a calamari fritta at 2 euro each, and it was SO good. They also offer fried tuna balls, fried anchovies, fried shrimp, and other delicious goodies for around 1 euro each. Try it while you can! They also speak a little bit of english here which is convenient for some. Also no service charge here. read more
First, ignore the person from LA who warns Americans about visiting this restaurant. I'm American, and I was treated wonderfully - as was every other customer I saw over the course of the 2+ hours I spent here. The staff are warm, welcoming, and hard working. But, what you really want to hear about is the food, right? Right! Show up at 6pm if you don't have a reservation. Grab a table (if the whole place isn't already reserved), and head up to the bar to order a few small plates and a carafe of prosecco. Then get cozy and check out the menu. I opted for the gnocchi with truffles, and it wasn't the pitiful "truffle oil" we so often see in the US. The gnocchi was perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned with actual truffle shavings. Stop here! We were brought in by a local, so we knew it would be good. This is Venice! This is Italy! read more
8 years ago
Authentic Italian in Venice alert! Authentic Italian in Venice alert! Sorry, I just have to say it like this because of how prevalent low-quality tourist traps can be in this city. But Cantina Do Spade is a breath of fresh air, and a true taste of Venetian cuisine. This is a BUSY restaurant. Reservations are recommended, particularly for the night, but even during the day from what I saw. I luckily arrived around noon, which was already a crowded time, and got seated right away. But within 30 mins after I arrived, I saw how crowded it got by the entrance! The menu consists of the classic "Primary" and "Secondary" sections that you'll see on most menus in Venice. Italians eat in levels. They focus heavy on seafood also. I saw some other people's plates, and those prawns looked divine. I was on a particular mission though, and that was to try the black ink cuttlefish dish that I saw Andrew Zimmern highlight on Delicious Destinations. Seppie al Nero, is a diced cuttlefish dish where they squeeze all the black ink out of the fish and mix it in as they prepare the meal. Be careful, because it can get messy! As weird and off-putting as it may look, it actually tasted pretty good. Definitely worth trying once to say you did it. But if I came back here again, I'd be eager to try other things on the menu because it looked really good. My waiter was awesome, and picked out a great white wine for me when I was indecisive. He also helped me out by lending his phone so I can use the internet to research some info about my tour. Very kind and very good service. The restaurant also had several locals present, so that's a great sign. This is one of the places to go in Venice! read more
Cantina do Spade was labeled as one of the places where locals go eat. Only except I saw nothing but tourists by the droves inside. At this point I feel like tourists make up 95% of the population on any given day in Venice. We were fortunately seated right away since we came around 12. We ordered a number of dishes since we wanted to try everything. Chichettis - Shrimp was so good. Must eat the brains. - Sardines over polenta was also great. Not quite use to the white soft polenta but still good. - Stuffed squid with capers, olives and bread crumbs was nice - The fish was also delicious. I would suggest to try as many Chichettis as you can. They range from €1-3 Euro a piece. -Meatballs were also good over polenta. Pastas - Black ink spaghetti was very tasty. I'm not use to black ink pasta that wasn't already colored or baked into the pasta. Here they use fresh cuttlefish ink. - Shrimp with pesto, potatoes in fettuccine. It was good but lacked a bit of flavor. - Spaghetti with clams was lackluster although the tiny clams were very good. I think we just ordered too much to enjoy the pasta. That or it just wasn't packed as much flavor as I wished. read more
Visited Venice with a friend and did a tour called "Eat Like the Locals...Authentic Venice Small Group Food Tour" and this was one of our stops. I highly recommend this restaurant, the food was amazing!! After eating like a "tourist" my first few meals in Venice I was sure glad I found a place where the "locals" eat...it was soooooo much better!!!! We had the Mozzarella in carrozza (fried bread and mozzarella), Polpette in umido con polenta (meatballs with polenta), and Risotto scampetti e vongole (risotto scampi and clams)! Everything was delicious!!! I will definitely dine here again the next time I visit Venice!! read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
Our airbnb recommended Cantina Do Spade when we arrived in Venice after we asked where to locals go. We tried the second night, and were told we needed a reservation. We returned 7 days later and stopped by and were lucky to get the only open reservation at 7pm. Not only was the mean the best Italian food I've ever had in Italy, it was cheap too! Only 66 Euros for an appetizer, bottle of house wine and three main dishes. The ravioli is to die for! The ingredients are fresh and you can tell that it was made on location. The calamari was also incredible, as well as the pasta with clams. The food is cooked to perfection and you can truly taste every flavor as it's intended. If you're in Venice, I definitely recommend Do Spade. Avoid the tourist traps and eat like a local with the locals. Just make sure you make a reservation first! read more
We came here for lunch, as I've read many good reviews about their food. As we arrived, there was a line out the door... we decided to wait 30 minutes, and I must say - the food did not disappoint! We ordered so much food, and I everything ordered was amazingly delicious! I think this was one of the best meals I've had in Italy. I highly recommend anyone who loves seafood and pasta to give this restaurant a try! Delicious! read more
ordered clam spaghetti, appetizer (big prawn + squid), house white, panna cotta with berry sauce. about 32 euro. generally the seafood are fresh n tasty! the clam was fresh, well seasoned, spaghetti cooked right. love it!! big prawn had a tast of fresh salt water :p squid was crispy both were grilled n seasoned. panna cotta was light. (generally lighter than average american dessert in terms of cream n sweetness) ** Venetian's version of Japanese Izakaya :D (or say it the other way around , who know who started first, one thing in common is they both love and know how to cook and eat seafood , applause!!) ** love this restaurant n their food. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
Take me BACK! This was by far the best ciccheti spot in Venice, and you can tell because the locals eat there too. For under 30 euro we got two glasses of wine and a plate loaded with gorgeous fish, the best calamari I've ever had, and very good chicken wings. We sat in the alley and it is a memory and a meal I'll never ever forget. read more
This place is a little gem! Seems it's tucked away in the corner of a back alley, but it's away from the crowds but can't say it wasn't busy! Tried a few cicchetti, the risotto, and gnocchi. The food was exactly how I imagined it would taste in Italy. Molto bene! The risotto was moist, not at all dry, very flavorful and finger-lickin good. The gnocchi was perfectly soft with a meat sauce perfectly covering each piece. They let us bring our own wine and just provided the cups. No corkage fee in Venice! (At least nowhere I went). Prices were also reasonable which is a big plus as many surrounding restaurants nearby tend to overprice for a lot less quality. I would come back again and again! read more
7 years ago
Amazing food! The stuffed cuddlefish is so good!The risotto was very yummy just wish it has seafood it in. read more
11 years ago
Great place for chichetti. Try to come earlier if you do not have a reservation cause this place does get packed. They also take reservations seriously. We came around 1130 for lunch and tables reserved for 130pm was already held at that time. If you're a small group of maybe 2, 3 or 4, standing outside with your drink and a small plate of chichetti would be fine too. We got about 6 different types of their chichetti. All seafood. And my favorite was the sardines over polenta. Delicious! Not that everything else lacked flavor, their selections were pretty good compared to the other ones we checked out. We also got four other dishes to share: Polpetti over polenta, shrimp and pesto pasta, pasta Alla vongole and pasta Al Nero. Yea, so we over ordered and couldn't finish all the pasta, but they were great. Alla Vongole comes with the small sweet clams and is very tasty. Al Nero is straight up squid ink and not the black noodles. You can taste the sea from it but is not overpowering. The pesto and shrimp pasta is very rich in flavor. I'd definitely recommend Do Spade to anyone visiting Venice. read more
7 years ago
The best Zuppa de Pesce anywhere, Bar none. Generous portions. Amazing squid ink pasta. Incredible boat-fresh antipasti misto. read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
We read the amazing reviews so decided to check it out. One waitress was really nice and the other was pretty rude. We had the mussels to start and they were over cooked as they were very small and falling out of the shell. The main fried calamari and vegetables was really good. Some of the freshest squid we had. My seafood risotto was kinda of disappointing in terms of flavour and because it was mostly mussels with 2 small pieces of half a shrimp. I had it twice in the last 2 weeks (1 in Venice and 1 in Croatia and they had a ton of different seafood plus a lot more flavour). The Spritz was good. For the price I was hoping for better food. read more
7 years ago
This restaurant has a very authentic vibe to it as it feels like most of the customers are locals. The staff doesn't speak much English We ate here our first night in Venice and it is a charming place that feels much like eating at someone's home. We had the meatballs served over polenta which was good and I really loved the linguine with clams. Definitely worth stopping in for a meal. read more
4 years ago
You need reservations. But if you bug them enough, they will give you seats! Or maybe we got lucky? We wanted tapas and I must warm you, it's expensive! I paid 2.5 euros for one piece of shrimp! On the bright side, I was able to get one piece of everything. I prefer trying than eating. They had a wide variety of seafood, meat and veggies. I ordered mainly seafood and cheese options. The food is reheated in the microwave. This was a very expensive meal for the portion size and level of freshness. There is free wifi and a tiny bathroom. Your meal comes with plain grits - this helped balance some of the salty options. read more
7 years ago
9 years ago
Fantastic meal option in this area - the most high quality food we ate on our trip for the cheapest price. It's great for Cicchetti and has delicious house wine and cocktails, as well as a full service restaurant with seafood, pastas, meats, etc. If sharing dishes and ordering house wine, you can eat here for about ~10 euros pp. The service was great and the ambiance was very quaint. read more
We were actually trying to find this place one day but ended up somewhere else.. but found this place again randomly the next day. Cute little restaurant with a counter to order little tapa style dishes. Service was good - they made some recommendations but were a little slow to come by. We had the sardines - yum! The sauce was fantastic. I ordered the squid Ink pasta, this was the first time I've had it, and wow it was rich. But it was delicious and had chunks of squid in it as well. It's definitely heavy, but if you haven't tried it, it's pretty good. The mushroom ravioli was also fantastic. You can't go wrong with this dish. I didn't like the fried seafood and vegetables platter - a little too greasy and really nothing special. I'm not sure what a gingerino is but I didn't like it. Also, don't order your espresso until after the meal, cause they won't serve it to you. Lol! The tiramisu was good as well! read more
12 years ago
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3 years ago
