Il Mercante In Venezia

06/08/2024: This is one of the finest restaurants I have ever dined at. We enjoyed the 4 course option which included the sweet and sour prawns with spiced onions and the sturgeon marinated in mull wine. Both were exquisite. These appetizers were followed by Durum Wheat Pasta and Scampi with a heavenly chili pepper oil and the Homemade Bronze Drawn Spaghettoni with butter and anchovy cream. Al dente superbness. The third course was Orange and Rosemary flavored Lamb and Duck Breast ‘Pervada’, both entrees sous vied, then baked to tender perfection. The encore desserts were the best Tiramisu and Crème Brûlée either of us had ever experienced. The evening was capped off with a sit down visit by the owner. He explained their 30 year quest to find and reproduce ancient 13th and 14th century Venetian recipes. This is a humble family, dedicated to their craft. We will return to Bistrot de Venise every time we return to Venice.

04/08/2024: I can't say enough good things about Bistrot de Venise. My fiancée and I had gotten engaged mere hours before our reservation and I scheduled the "romance" package for dinner. It came with its own special menu, an exclusive red tablecloth, a rose, two glasses of prosecco, 5 courses, and a special heart pastry, personalized with a congratulatory message. The food was fantastic and is certainly worthy of a Michelin star, especially the scallop risotto. This dish was incredible, and the heat of the food caused some of the thinly sliced ingredients to react and "come to life". It was one of the cooler things I have seen. At many highly rated spots, while the food may be good, the portions are lacking. That was not the case here. We felt full by the end of it and very, very satisfied. The sommellier helped us pair our wine perfectly and the waiter was absolutely wonderful, not snobby, but pleasantly delightful. The ambiance and aesthetic of the place is cozy and artistic and very different from other local establishments. I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Venice. Seriously, you'll be missing out if you don't. Grazie!